Royal Gorge Region

The Royal Gorge region has a rich history of outdoor beauty and recreation. Millions of years ago, the dinosaurs were the first mountain bikers, rafters, and rock climbers in the area. It’s true. You can google it. They had such a good time, they decided to fossilize themselves here for all to see! Check out some of the fabulous opportunities in the region, listed below.

A scenic view of a deep canyon with a river flowing through it, a bridge spanning across the canyon, surrounded by rugged, reddish-brown rock formations, and rolling green hills in the background under a cloudy sky.

Walk the Bridge

America’s tallest suspension bridge - Walk the bridge itself, ride the Gondola across, watch a show in their theatre, take the kids to the playground, or watch the bighorn sheep frolic.

Woman sitting on a large red rock, overlooking a scenic landscape of trees, mountains, and a tall rock formation during sunset.

Hiking in Royal Gorge Region

World class trails with space to roam.  The trails around the Royal Gorge Park encompass thousands of visually stunning acres, a can’t-miss experience.

Two people wearing outdoor gear stand in a shallow, rocky river, fishing with a net or fishing pole. Trees with green and yellow leaves line the riverbank in the background.

Fly Fishing

The fishing in Bighorn Sheep Canyon is unrivaled. The Arkansas is a gold-medal river and, fisherman or not, you won’t regret a fishing trip.

A train traveling through a canyon with tall rocky walls and a bridge overhead, with blue sky and clouds above.

Ride the Train

No matter the season, the Royal Gorge train has something to offer. The Santa-themed trains in the winter are a family favorite. If you’ve got little ones with you and are planning to ride the train, let us know!

A person mountain biking on a dry, grassy trail in a mountainous area with snow-capped peaks in the distance.

Bike the Royal Gorge Region

What are you waiting for, check out the link! They’ll promote it better than we ever could. We recommend the Oil Wells flat trail system.

Three fish tacos with shredded cabbage, pineapple salsa, and creamy sauce on a white plate.

Dining

Local restaurants like Whitewater and 8-Mile Bar and Grill are personal favorites of ours located less than five minutes away. Head to downtown Canon for cocktails and more excellent dining selections.

Two yellow inflatable rafts with people paddling through a rocky river canyon, with a train passing nearby on a track above the river.

Raft the River

The Arkansas river is one of the most scenic rafting rivers in the country. Rafting the Royal Gorge is a bucket list experience that will stick with you forever.

A woman in a white dress sitting on a colorful blanket by a small outdoor swimming pool in a desert landscape, with mountains and a sunset sky in the background.

Soak at Desert Reef

Naturally heated hot springs pools located in the middle of… well, the desert, Desert Reef is a great way to expel all of your pent-up stress. Check out their website for special events!

A rural road stretching through open fields with scattered trees, leading towards distant mountains.

Scenic Drives

Try driving Highway 50 westward and downloading the Bighorn Sheep Canyon audio tour, or take a trip up Skyline Drive (especially at sunset or nighttime) and get a look at Canon City like no other, or cruise down the scenic Gold Belt Byway. You simply can’t go wrong.