The Ultimate Guide To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park , an amusement park atop Royal Gorge!
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is home to one of the world’s highest suspension bridges and some great thrilling rides!
Royal Gorge is a deep and long canyon, about 1200 feet deep and ten miles long, shaped by the Arkansas River over several thousand years. Such a naturally formed deep but narrow canyon, towering red granite walls, and the flowing Arkansas River are some of the rarest sights in the world!
While Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers a great way to explore the bottom of Royal Gorge Canyon, the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park offers spectacular views of Royal Gorge from the top and breathtaking rides along the edges of the towering canyon walls!
Explore the Royal Gorge canyon from America’s highest suspension bridge & Zip Line!
The Royal Gorge Bridge, about 1000 feet above the Arkansas River flowing at the bottom of the Royal Gorge canyon, is the highest suspension bridge in the US. The Royal Gorge Bridge stretching across the canyon is now a pedestrian-only bridge that offers breathtaking views of the deep Royal Gorge canyon!
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park also offers several chilling rides atop the gorge, including aerial gondolas, zip lines, a sky coaster, and several other fun activities.
Here is my ultimate guide to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, featuring directions, rides, and things to do in Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, along with recommendations on hotels and restaurants near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.
Getting To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
The best way to get to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is by flying into Denver or Colorado Springs and then driving to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City!
Royal Gorge Route Railroad is located in Canon City, Colorado. Canon City is located 116 miles south of Denver and about 46 miles from Colorado Springs. Royal Gorge Bridge & Park Address: 4218 Co Rd 3A, Canon City, CO 81212.
Airports Near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: Colorado Springs Airport (COS), Colorado Springs, Colorado, located about 50 miles from Canon City, is the closest major domestic airport to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, which’s serviced by several major Airlines.
Located about 135 miles north of Canon City, the Denver International Airport (DEN), Denver, Colorado, is the closest international airport to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.
You could fly into one of these Colorado airports, rent a car, and then drive to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City.
Train Services To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: While there’re no direct train services to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, you could either take a direct Amtrak train to Denver Union Station. Or use Amtrak’s train-bus mixed services to get to Colorado Springs or Pueblo Amtrak stations located close to Canon City.
Upon reaching, you could either rent a car, hire a taxi, or use one of the ride-hailing services like Uber/Lyft to get to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City. The Colorado Department of transportation / CDOT also has a bus service connecting Pueblo to Canon City.
Bus Services To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: Like Amtrak train services, Greyhound also connects several US cities to many Colorado cities, including Denver, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo, from where you can hire a cab, rent a car, or use CDOT bus service from Pueblo to get to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City.
Things To Do In Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
You must walk the Royal Gorge Bridge & ride the aerial gondola at Gorge Bridge & Park!
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is an amusement park atop Royal Gorge with several rides and activities for all age groups. The park is mostly known for its thrilling zip lines and aerial gondola rides, but also has a few family-friendly rides, activities, and several dining options.
Royal Gorge Plaza Theater: The plaza theater is a great place to begin your Royal Gorge Bridge & Park venture. The theater features several historical artifacts and photos and plays a short film related to the Royal Gorge Bridge’s history.
Royal Gorge Bridge: The Royal Gorge Bridge is now pedestrian-only, and so you could leisurely walk across the bridge and enjoy the sweeping views of the canyon and the wild Arkansas River flowing at the bottom of the canyon.
Aerial Gondolas: The iconic red gondolas of Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, fitted with wide glass windows, offer expansive views of Royal Gorge and is a lifetime experience! The aerial gondolas gliding across the gorge, about a thousand feet above the canyon’s bottom, is a must-do in Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. The aerial gondolas are open year-round, and unlimited gondola rides are included with the general admission tickets.
You could ride the aerial gondolas to the other side of the gorge and then either ride the gondola back or walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge.
Cloudscraper Zip Line: While not for the faint heart, the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park’s Cloudscraper Zip Line is the highest Zip Line in the US and is a lifetime experience for thrill-seekers. The state of the art zip line has a modern barking system that allows riders to zip hands-free. The zip line runs parallel to the bridge and aerial gondolas, but from the south rim, so you would need to walk across the bridge or ride the aerial gondola to get to the starting point of the zip line.
Royal Rush Skycoaster: This is another chilling ride in Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, located on the gorge’s south rim. The spine-tingling skycoaster first lifts you up in the air and then swings outward towards the canyon, extending 1200 feet over the edge of the south rim, places you almost fifteen hundred feet above the bottom of the canyon.
Via Ferrata: Via Ferrata is an Italian term that means “Iron Path,” is a protected rock climbing route along granite rock walls at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. The Via Ferrata attraction is accessible only via a guided climbing tour and offers a one-of-a-kind rock-climbing experience!
Tommy Knocker Playland: Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a great place for the entire family, including the little ones. While the zip lines and zip coasters are not for kids, but the Tommy Knocker Playland is a play area built exclusively for the little ones. The play area includes a carousel, slides, tunnels, and many other engaging activities.
Dining In Royal Gorge Bridge & Park: There a few great dining options within the park with great views of the canyon, including the year-round Cafe 1230 and three other seasonal dining options – Cliff Side Patio, Grill on the Hill, and Bridge View BBQ.
The breathtaking views and the rides at such a height and at the edge of the gorge make Royal Gorge Bridge & Park a year-round destination in Colorado! You can check the schedule and book your tickets online on the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park website.
Once done exploring Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, I highly recommend visiting Royal Gorge Route Railroad for an epic train ride along the flowing Arkansas River at the bottom of the Royal Gorge canyon!
Lodging & Dining Near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Ride & Dine on Royal Gorge Route Railroad when visiting Royal Gorge Bridge & Park!
Exploring Royal Gorge Bridge & Park should not take more than 4-5 hours, but when at Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, I highly recommend riding the epic train ride offered by Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a scenic train ride along the Arkansas River at the bottom of the Royal Gorge canyon. To add to the experience, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers delicious onboard food services and packages, including Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner Train Rides.
However, to visit both the attractions, you would need to stay in Canon City, where there are no luxury resorts and boutique hotels, unlike other Colorado cities. There are a few big brand chain hotels and a few locally owned bread and breakfasts.
Hotels Near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
While Canon City is the closest town near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, there’re very limited lodging options, including Hampton Inn Canon City and a few motels – American Inn Motel Canon City, Colorado Inn Motel, and Best Western Canon City.
Dining Options Inside Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
There a few dining options inside the park along with some great views of the canyon, including Cafe 1230, Cliff Side Patio, Grill on the Hill, and Bridge View BBQ. The Cafe 1230 is open year-round but other restaurants inside the park are seasonal.
Restaurants Near Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
The best dining option in Canon City is onboard the Royal Gorge Route Railroad! However, if you’re looking to eat outside, you will find quite a few great locally-owned restaurants, including El Caporal Family Mexican Restaurant, Canon City MUGS, a sports bar and grill, Pizza Madness, a great pizza joint, and Bunk House Burgers serving delicious comfort food.
Afternoon Tea at Royal Gorge Mansion
This is a unique dining experience offered by Royal Gorge Route Railroad, where you could enjoy a cup of tea along with other savory treats in the beautifully decorated Royal Gorge Mansion. Your choice of tea is served with a tray full of delicious bites, including sandwiches, scones, jams, and more.
I hope you enjoyed reading the post, The Ultimate Guide To Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, and I hope this will help you plan your trip to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. This is one of the most unique amusement parks in the US and a must-see attraction in Colorado!
Happy feeding your soul!
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