I lived in Fremont County for most of my life. Growing up, the Royal Gorge Bridge was part of many adventures and it is a well-known attraction in the area. Surprisingly enough, that’s not the only thing you can do there.
I spent the weekend in the Royal Gorge region going on Colorado outdoor adventures that are well known to the area. Rafting, railroads, dinosaurs, climbing, and cabins — learn how to spend a weekend in the Royal Gorge Region.
1. Stay At the Royal Gorge Cabins
Opened just 4 years ago, the Royal Gorge Cabins are a real picture of luxury in the area. Many of the hotels are 8 miles or more away from town. The Royal Gorge Cabins are some of the only indoor accommodations you can come by.
The benefit of staying there is you get to be as close to all the attractions as possible. The cabins are also a great place to get away and enjoy a quiet weekend if you’re not looking or adventure.
I love these cabins for their adorable interior. They offer the Barr Trail coffee blend from Pikes Perk which can be enjoyed near the indoor/outdoor fireplace. There is a gorgeous view of the Sangre de Cristo mountains poking out from behind the wet mountains, and the little hammock swaying in the grass beneath the cabin.
They also offer glamping tents, for a camping experience with a little extra oomph. You can read more about the cabins here!
2. Traverse the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park Up the Via Ferrata
The Royal Gorge Bridge is known as America’s bridge and the highest suspension bridge in North America. This beast has survived the everyday elements and time. It has also survived a wildfire that took the entire Royal Gorge, except the bridge just a few years ago.
The bridge has been a part of family memories for decades and they are always looking for new ways to increase the fun. They currently have leisurely gondolas, a thrilling zip line, and an exciting skycoaster.
More recently, the Royal Gorge Bridge has added a new attraction, the Via Ferrata. Meaning “iron path” in Italian, the Via Ferrata is an exhilarating climb up rebar steps drilled into cliffsides. Each climber is secured to the cliffside via cables to keep them safe, should they fall.
This particular Via Ferrata is just up the side of the gorge for the thrill you’ve been looking for in Southern Colorado.
3. Take an Echo Canyon River Expeditions
We got all “suited and booted” at Echo Canyon River Expeditions to take a trip on the Arkansas just a little bit up the road from 8-Mile Hill. We got dressed in a full-length wet suit, little booties, a splash jacket, a life jacket, and a helmet. Before getting suited up, you choose either a Family Float, a trip down Big Horned Sheep Canyon, and, of course, the Royal Gorge.
With the water runoff starting to come down from the tips of the mountains, the water was running around 1,300 cubic feet per second (CFS).
For Big Horned Sheep Canyon, this makes for a nice fun level of rafting without you feeling in danger of falling out of the raft. These waters are usually about a class I or II.
I chose to raft the Royal Gorge since I had never done it before. Echo Canyon peeps told me that at 1,300 CFS, the water would be fun and not too scary at all. During the season, the Royal Gorge can be anywhere from a class II to a class V depending on the type of runoff you get that year.
At this particular time, the rapids were deemed a class 4. With the amount of snow we got this year, it’s likely the Royal Gorge will be shut down for a few weeks because the water level will be too high.
In other words, this was the perfect time to raft the gorge. Echo Canyon has been taking people down the river since 1978 and they are damn good at it.
4. Ride the Royal Gorge Railroad Route
After getting off the river, it was nice to take the Royal Gorge Railroad Route train ride from Canon City through the gorge and underneath the infamous Royal Gorge Bridge.
We sat in the Vista Dome and I could see the bird’s eye view of the gorge while also enjoying a cold or hot beverage in addition to a meal if desired.
Passengers get a nice commentary of what the Royal Gorge used to look like when it was first discovered. They told us about times people fought over who owned it. You also get to see the rapids you just went through on your rafting trip.
For the 2-hour train ride, you’ll see old water pipelines spanning 8 eight miles along the river. Above them, there are old crumbling homes that used to reside on the cliffsides just above the water. You’ll learn the history of when Teddy Roosevelt visited the area too!
5. Have the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience
The Fremont County area is known for the dinosaur fossil discoveries. In fact, if you take a trip up Skyline Drive you’ll be able to see real dinosaur tracks!
The history of Canon City’s dinosaur discovery has led the area to create a Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience. A place where you can go see the dinosaurs up close and even watch them move and roar like they would if they were alive.
There are over 16,000 square feet of history and with guided tours. On top of that, there are full-scale dinosaur cast fossils and an outdoor ropes course for young kids and for older kids too!
6. Enjoy Some Tasty Cuisine
Obviously, we can’t be letting you go on adventures without nourishing your bod. There are a variety of amazing food options that are worthy of visiting when you come to the area. Some of my favorites are below.
- 8 Mile Bar and Grill
- DiRito’s Italian Restaurant (Get the gnocchi, it’s so good!)
- The Owl Cigar Store (They have incredible burgers and shakes)
- MoMo’s Sushi Restaurant
There are other chain restaurants in town, but these local restaurants are worth visiting while in town! And if you have the opportunity, please try and visit Florence Brewing Company in Florence, Colorado.
Watch the Video!
Watch the short video of my trip there!
