Royal Gorge Bridge has Amazing Activities in Beautiful Setting
Looking for adventure in Colorado? The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, near Cañon City, offers amazing outdoor activities to enjoy this beautiful and popular Colorado destination.
Whether you like to scale the cliffs, paddle along the river, or walk across the bridge, the views of the Royal Gorge are nothing less than spectacular.
The Royal Gorge Bridge, built in 1929, is 956 feet above the Arkansas River. The bridge suspends with 4,200-steel cables and 1,257 wooden planks between granite and gneiss rock. Local Family Attractions & Places To Visit in Colorado.
The 18-foot-wide bridge spans 1,260 feet from rim to rim, and private cars aren’t normally allowed on the bridge, except for special events and times.
Back in 2013, 90 percent of the 360-acre park was destroyed by a fire in the gorge, yet almost all of the wooden planks survived. Then, the park reopened about a year later with a new 14,500-foot visitor center and Poma-Leitner Aeriel Gondolas. Local Family Attractions & Places To Visit in Colorado.
Cross the gorge on zipline, gondola, or bridge
Royal Gorge Bridge & Park has several amazing activities for families. Your paid ticket includes entrance to the park, an aerial gondola ride across the gorge, and walk across the bridge.
Additionally, the private park offers other activities such as ziplining across the gorge, riding the Skycoaster, and climbing canyon walls on the via ferrata course. Watch a live bird show or let your children spend some energy at the playland.
The park, owned by Cañon City, was a gift from the federal government in 1906. Although not a national park, there is a $2 discount for those with an America the Beautiful National Park Pass. All About the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park – Royal Gorge & Bridge Park
The park is open 365 days a year, weather permitting (although the Cloudscraper Zip Line and the Royal Rush Skycoaster closes in January and February for maintenance). Rides begin at 9 a.m. but can close at any time because of the weather. Top Colorado Attractions – places to See in Southern Colorado
The day we visited, wind estimates were over 25 mph, according to a park associate, so rides, including the gondola and zipline, closed for safety.
One of the more interesting ways to explore the splendor of the gorge is on the via ferrata (hiking and climbing using a harness and carabiners) or taking a rafting trip along the Arkansas River (done through an outside vendor).
At the park, there are various dining and snack options on both sides of the bridge.
Live Birds of Prey Show
On the west side of the bridge, the Plaza Theater has a couple of nature shows, along with history and artifacts about the bridge. I suggest watching the “Birds of Prey” live bird show, which included an up-close experience with a Harris’s hawk, great horned owl, and a black vulture.
Our tight schedule didn’t allow for the rafting ride, but I hope to come back soon to try that experience. The views of the rafters from the bridge looked like it was a fun time.
Yearlong Activities at Royal Gorge Bridge
Royal Gorge Bridge has several activities throughout the year:
- Earth Day celebration with educational displays and nature tours
- Easter Sunday Service at The Bridge
- Nature’s Educators at the Plaza Theater, Memorial Day through Labor Day
- Deja Bluz, a Labor Day festival with blues and rock-n-roll music
- Boo at The Bridge, which includes a costume contest and trick-or-treating
- Bridge of Lights in November and December
For more specifics on events, visit Best Things To Do in Colorado – Spring & Summer Events.
To learn more about Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, visit https://royalgorgebridge.com.
For more stories on beautiful scenery, check out Love Geology? 15 Ways to Explore Petrified Forest – Travel Like A Tourist.