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Cañon City offers year-round outdoor recreation options for the whole family. The greatest fly-fishing in the country, along with boating, fishing, hunting, and rafting. There are several activities in the vicinity, including mountain climbing, mountain biking, golfing, hiking, camping, horseback riding, and swimming. Tourists will enjoy exceptional Colorado Jeep Tours around the Royal Gorge's rim and Gold Belt Tour, which passes through the Victor and Cripple Creek mining towns from the late 1800s.
Their trips are all quite picturesque and suitable for people of most ages and abilities. Cañon City also provides award-winning wine tasting at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, shopping in its historic downtown, and the opportunity to learn about the background of the Pikes Peak region by traveling the Gold Belt Byway, which features two thrilling and breathtaking routes from Cañon City to Cripple Creek, the nearby gaming town located at an elevation of over 9,000 feet (2743.2 meters) in the mountains. In and around Cañon City, there is a lot of fun, adventure, beauty, and energy. The area is also known for nestling the renowned Royal Gorge Bridge, Park, and Train that will take visitors on an unforgettable scenic tour.
All You Need To Know About Royal Gorge Train
Over a century has passed since the Royal Gorge Route Railroad first entered Cañon City's rich history. The arrival of the first railroads in Leadville in 1880 marked the start of a new era for the Royal Gorge region. Since then, the railroad in Cañon City has utilized several locomotives, some of which are still in use today.
Tourists come to enjoy a luxurious and breathtaking train trip through the Colorado Rockies. Recently, Trains magazine chose the Royal Gorge Route Railroad as one of the Top 8 Train Rides in America. The train offers mouthwatering food that is freshly made on board as riders take in the gorgeous views and first-rate service. There are up to four daily departures from the railway. Murder Mystery Dinner Trains and First Class Lunch, as well as Dinner Trains, provide a multi-course, romantic meal together with a selection of world-class wines.
- Daily departure time: 9:15 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM, and 6:30 pm on the weekends.
Choose Your Seat Wisely And Enjoy The Scenic View
Reserve A Coach
Train riders will unwind in spacious, huge rectangular windows with high-back seats that offer picturesque views of one of Colorado's most impressive canyons.
- Ticket price: $79 per adult and $74 per child
Book A Seat In The Vista Dome Or Deluxe Class
The Royal Gorge and the massive Arkansas River are the finest and most spectacularly viewed from the VIP Dome vehicles. It offers peaceful trips around the canyon with comfy booth-style chairs. Tourists will enjoy cozy table seating in the Vista Dome or deluxe class with a full-service bar, excellent assistance, breathtaking views, and mouthwatering cuisine. Either with friends or family, it is a pleasant spot to hang out in a painstakingly preserved railway car.
- Ticket price: $109 per passenger above 13 years old and $104 per child
Ride Colorado’s Most Scenic Railroad
People riding the Royal Gorge Route Railroad in Colorado will experience the romanticism of train travel. Their voyage starts at the iconic Santa Fe Depot, from where they will board a beautiful train for a breathtaking ride down the twisting Arkansas River, along with breathtaking panoramas of the railway-obstructing 1,000-foot (304.8-meter) granite cliffs. During their unforgettable excursion, they will pass through the historic Territorial Correctional Facility, which was built in 1871. This jail, sometimes known as the Old Max, is currently a medium security facility. The original rock wall of the earlier buildings may be seen if riders pay special attention to the area behind the jail. The Colorado Prison Museum is accessible and open all year. Additionally, they will explore the Royal Gorge Bridge, one of the state's most well-known sights, which hangs 1,053 feet (3320.95 meters) over the railway.
The open-air car on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad offers passengers one-of-a-kind views of the bridge. The train will stop at different spots, including the Hanging Bridge, which is located at the Royal Gorge's deepest and narrowest point. The distance between the canyon's sides is only 30 to 40 feet (9.1 to 12.1 meters). The bridge developer built a 175-foot (53.34-meter) plate girder hanging on one side beneath A-frame girders that cross the river and are fastened to the rock cliffs.
The marvelous Arkansas River is located below, where white-water kayakers and rafters test their skills on this difficult river. Another stop is at Parkdale. It is the ultimate destination for the passengers. When the Denver & Rio Grande took over in 1880, the station that had earlier been home to a small village of Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway employees and been known as Webster was renamed Parkdale. It is a well-liked base camp for tourists and fishing enthusiasts due to its excellent location on the Arkansas River and proximity to the Royal Gorge.