Welcome to Cañon City, home of the Royal Gorge Bridge —the highest suspension bridge in America.
In addition to the activities available at , the area offers a variety of outdoor adventures for the entire family year-round.
Things to Do
History
Things to Do in Cañon City
Cañon City is an outdoor lovers' paradise, with hunting, fishing — including the best fly fishing in the nation — boating, bicycling, golfing, hiking, swimming, camping, horseback riding, ATV trips, and mountain climbing all available to experience in the area. The Arkansas River, which carves through the Gorge, is considered one of the top spots in the country for whitewater rafting.
One of Cañon City's signature attractions is , which offers a plethora of exciting activities for all ages. Cross the bridge's 1,257 wooden planks — suspended 956 feet over the Arkansas River — for sweeping views of the canyon beneath your feet, or sit back, relax and soak in the sights as you cross the canyon in a gondola. Other Park experiences including the thrilling Royal Rush Skycoaster, Cloudscraper Zip Line, and a Via Ferrata course.
Immerse yourself in the Royal Gorge with a ride along the rim with Colorado Jeep Tours, who also offers rides along the Gold Belt Tour through mining districts of the 1800s — Cripple Creek and Victor. Book seats aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad for a scenic, round trip train ride through the Gorge, complete with dining service and special events throughout the year.
Other popular Cañon City experiences include shopping in Historic Downtown, tasting award-winning wine at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, and touring the Gold Belt Byway, which includes two exciting and very scenic routes Cripple Creek — our local gaming town located some 9,000+ feet in the mountains. There's plenty of fun, excitement, beauty and spirit in the Cañon City area.
With lots of room to roam, you can leave all your 'big-city' hassles and worries behind as you bask in the warmth of the sunshine abundant to the region: Cañon City boasts 325 days of sunshine per year.
Popular Cañon City Attractions
Cañon City Events & Festivals
Connect with the Cañon City community during family-friendly events and festivals hosted throughout the year. Enjoy stellar performances by local bands at the in May, or join in on the action at the Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival in June.
Upcoming Cañon City Events
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History of Cañon City
Cañon City was founded in 1860 for the purpose of excavating possible mineral deposits in the area. Cañon City is also the home of the Royal Gorge, a 10-mile long steep canyon carved in granite by the rushing Arkansas River.
Experience the history of Cañon City by visiting this historic town. Main Street in Downtown Cañon City, listed on the National Register of Historic Places is a great place to start. Don't forget to save with area discounts and deals on lodging, attractions, dining and more!
A History Built by Trains
No gold or minerals were found in the history of Cañon City but the discovery of silver and lead in Leadville, Colorado, in 1877 prompted a race to build rail access to the area. In the 1890s, the Royal Gorge region was used as a passenger route for transcontinental rail travel. As many as four trains per day went through the gorge, though in time, the establishment of alternate routes through the mountains made the Royal Gorge fall from favor for transcontinental use, and passenger train service on the main line was discontinued in 1967.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad, a leisure train, now follows the route through the gorge. In 1929, Cañon City authorized the building of the Royal Gorge Bridge, which stands at 1,053 feet above the river and is one of the highest suspension bridges over water in the world. The bridge forms the heart of , a theme park owned and run by the city.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Ancient Dinosaur Bones
Another significant element in the history of Cañon City is the discovery of dinosaur bones in the area in the early 1870s. Today, you can see and learn more about Cañon City's prehistoric past at the 10,000-square-foot campus of the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience.
Here, visitors of all ages can view full-scale dinosaur fossil casts, interact with hands-on exhibits and displays, and walk among giants of bygone eras in their Dinosaur Wild Walk, featuring 16 life-size animatronic dinosaurs. For more modern thrills, dinosaur enthusiasts can scale a three-story ropes course that brings you face-to-face with a T-Rex.
Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience
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