Royal Gorge Park ~ Cañon City, Colorado

There are great destinations to experience everywhere in the Rockies and some are more popular than others. For those who seek solitude, there are wilderness areas where no other human being will be seen, even during a busy holiday weekend. The deep woods destinations are usually only accessible by hiking or riding a 4×4 vehicle and this is why these places have limited appeal. The prime time destinations in the Rockies tend to be located along the paved roads, which are far easier to access. Escaping from the big crowds is not easy to do in the popular Rocky Mountain destinations that have easy access, but a good way to find some extra breathing room is to get an early start on the day. This is especially true at Royal Gorge, because this majestic destination is such a popular place for fun in the summertime sun! 

Royal Gorge is easy to get to, because U.S. Highway 50 runs close by. Pueblo, Colorado is the closest major city and the outskirts of this town actually can be seen in the distance from the mountain peaks surrounding Royal Gorge. Since most visitors commute from I-25 in Pueblo to Royal Gorge, this park does not get busy till closer to noon and those who arrive early will beat the crowds. The early bird definitely gets the worm at Royal Gorge and one of the best ways to stay one step ahead of the game is to campout in Royal Gorge Park!  

Camping in the local area is a good plan for getting a jump start to the day. The Arkansas River Recreation Area is right next door to both Highway 50 and Royal Gorge and the campgrounds along the river are a good option for a Royal Gorge whitewater rafting venture.  The Royal Gorge Park also has a large campground and there are several campsites along the rim of the deep canyon. As can be imagined, the Royal Gorge Park Campground definitely is not a good choice for sleepwalkers, but the views of this deep gorge from the top of the cliff in the morning are nothing less than spectacular!

The reason why doing a local overnight campout and getting a jump start on the day is the best plan will become obvious upon arrival. Royal Gorge is managed as a Cañon City Park, because it is an outdoor adventure complex. It can literally take more than a couple of days to experience all that this outdoor adventure park has to offer, so getting started early will guarantee a full day of fun in the sun.  

The Royal Gorge activities include traditional activities, like white water river rafting, fly fishing, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. the modern outdoor adventure venues include the Royal Gorge Tram, zip-lines that span the canyon, and bungee jumping. There is even something called extreme bungee jumping that will certainly cause participants to say a few prayers! Walking the historic Royal Gorge Bridge is a pastime and there is a children’s entertainment park too.  

The entire Royal Gorge Entertainment Complex covers a lot of ground, so be prepared to do some serious walking and be sure to find shade from the sun in the crystal clear blue skies. This is a high elevation area, so be sure to snack often and stay hydrated, so altitude sickness does not set in.  Royal Gorge is not exactly a good place to get dizzy and fall over sideways, so it is best to take it easy at the first sign of high altitude related weakness. 

The Royal Gorge Park Campground has picnic tables and facilities, but for anything more a visitor will have to go to the neighboring outdoor adventure complex. A visitors center, gift shops and restaurants can be found there, so civilization actually is not that far away. The entire Royal Gorge Entertainment Complex has paved foot paths, so it is also a friendly place for those who have mobility challenges. 

On the downside, for those who have acrophobia challenges, Royal Gorge will be an absolute nightmare to overcome. The fear of heights is the only limiting factor for visitors of Royal Gorge. Those who have no fear of heights will find plenty of options for performing death defying acts that will amaze friends back home!  

Waking up in the Royal Gorge Park Campground definitely has its benefits, simply because there is so much fun stuff to do in this place. Royal Gorge does get busy during the summer season, so making campsite reservations ahead of time is recommended. There are picnic areas in Royal Gorge Park and the sky high views of this majestic deep canyon will create memories that last a lifetime!