Canon City: Red Canyon and the Royal Gorge Bridge
Table of Contents
Story and photos by Scott Kendall
If you want to experience more of the magical landscapes around Canon City and the Royal Gorge, Colorado Jeep Tours is the place to go. From scenic jeep tours, whitewater rafting, zip lines, hiking, train rides, and other outdoor adventures, Colorado Jeep Tours can hook you up.
After rafting the Arkansas River earlier this summer with Colorado Jeep Tours, we took a fantastic jeep tour through the beautiful Red Canyon. Mike, our knowledgeable guide, took us on a fun, educational tour through Red Canyon on a beautiful October morning.
In the photo on the right, Mike is explaining how The Arch was formed and how early settlers used it as a lookout for game and enemy warriors.
Captivating Canon City
Canon City is a scenic one hour drive from Colorado Springs. Known for the Royal Gorge Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in America, and the 14 prisons in the town, Canon City is a great escape for the day or weekend.
On this beautiful October day, we drove to Canon City from Colorado Springs for an 8:30 tour with Colorado Jeep Tours. CJT also offers whitewater rafting, zip lining, wine tasting, and other outdoor adventures.
Mike, our guide, was very knowledgeable, and we felt safe and sound with him at the helm. Mike began by taking us on a quick tour of the city, pointing out the prisons, The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, historic architecture, restaurants, and other notable landmarks.
We then headed out of town to Red Canyon, a public park open for camping, hiking, and exploring. Named for the red coloring of the rocks and soil, the area is full of interesting formations, wildlife, and plants. Mike explained how erosion has shaped the landscape over the years, with The Arch and The Window being some prime examples of what the water and wind can do.
Red Canyon is also famous for the many dinosaur fossils found in the area. Bones of ancient dinosaurs like the Allosaurus and the Stegosaurus from Red Canyon have found homes in the Denver Museum of Nature and Science as well as other museums and universities throughout the world. We were also entertained by some modern day creatures as we saw a flock of turkeys alongside the road to Red Canyon.
Red Cliffs, Dinosaurs, and Turkeys
Art and Architecture Around Canon City
Art can be found everywhere, and not just in museums. Canon City certainly has its share. One piece we found fascinating was a military statue of a soldier carrying his wounded buddy out of harm’s way at The Winery at Holy Cross Winery. Known as the Dust-Off Memorial, created by local renowned bronze sculptor Robert Henderson, this moving piece of art has graced the grounds at the winery since being brought in for a balloon festival a few years ago.
We also saw some very well done wood chainsaw carving on our trip to Red Canyon, including the two shown here. The horse, buffalo, Indians and lion come to life at the hands of the skilled local artisan. Canon City is also full of historic architecture, and even the cattle ranches join in the art scene with their creative brands.
The Magnificent Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park is one of the biggest tourist attractions in Colorado. The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the United States, spanning the Royal Gorge 1,000 feet above the Arkansas River below.
In addition to the thrill of walking across the bridge, visitors can enjoy whitewater rafting during the warmer months, hiking, zip lining, gondola rides, jeep tours, and just hanging out enjoying the views. There are many tour operators in the area like Colorado Jeep Tours which can help you plan activities for your visit.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey sits adjacent to the historic Abbey in Canon City. With picnic tables set outside on the lovey grounds, we enjoyed our crisp Chardonnay while listening to the soothing live music from a talented solo guitarist. The winery also offers a limited menu of food items to enjoy along with your wine. Tastings are limited, so it is best to call ahead.
Explore Colorado's Magnificence in Canon City
So, head to Canon City and the impressive Royal Gorge Bridge to take in the majesty of Colorado. Immerse yourself in the beauty and majesty of Red Canyon, the Royal Gorge, and the impressive architecture and attractions in the area.
Scott Kendall is the Founder, Editor, and frequent contributor to PlayStayEat. He is a former Navy Officer, teacher and tennis coach who is an avid traveler and writer. Scott has traveled extensively throughout the United States and overseas to Italy, France, England, Croatia, Slovenia, and others. In addition to his contributions to PlayStayEat, much of his published work can be seen at scottkendalltravels.com.