The Royal Gorge

Thursday, July 30, 2015
Today was our last full day here in the Colorado Springs area before heading East and away from the mountains so we decided to spend the day just soaking up the mountain beauty by heading to the Royal Gorge which is just west of Canon City.

Our drive took us through the very scenic front range

There were hundreds of the mountain sunflowers in the fields and alongside the road

and views like this of the mountains in the distance

After about an hour and a half of driving we arrived at the Royal Gorge Park and Bridge.  What a sight!!

At the very bottom (over a thousand feet down) we could see these rafts going down the Arkansas River in what appeared to be very challenging water. Railroad tracks run alongside the river for the Royal Gorge train that takes people through several times a day from Canon City. (we weren't able to take that trip)

From outside of the park we could see the gondola cars going across the gorge and knew we had to go in to take a ride and get better views.  Besides we wanted to walk across the bridge.

The outside deck gave some fantastic views of the park and its facilities

As well as this neat water clock on the deck

We could also watch people taking the zip line across come in

But we could also get on the gondola cars which is what we most wanted to do

On the other side, we started the very steep walk downhill toward the bridge.  One of the things we could see was signs still of the devastating fire that went through here in 2013 destroying most everything except the bridge (though some of its boards were badly burned)

In the distance we could see this ride that swung people out over the gorge

We also passed a large kiddie playing area with a carousel, slides, net and climbing area and bouncy horses as well as picnic tables with beautiful views.

  Below that area were a couple of buildings with among other things a little theater where they had an aerial act, magic performance and movie.  We watched the short acrobatic act and left.

The wild flower plantings around this spot were very pretty

and we now were close enough to the bridge to get a good view

Along the bridge were each of the fifty state flags

And some fantastic views of the gorge and the Arkansas River below

After lunch on the deck of the visitor center, we decided to ride the gondola back and forth one more time before leaving just so we could enjoy the view  yet again.

After that we took the ride on the little train that goes around about a mile of the area with cute little points of interest.

On our return, we again enjoyed the beautiful scenery as the sky got darker and darker and we could see rain in the distance.

In Canon City we saw a sign for a river walk so followed it and discovered a lovely walking path right next to the Arkansas River so we could actually be beside it not 1000 feet above it.  We felt like we'd come full circle in our travels since we camped on that river back when we were in Little Rock, Arkansas in early May.

We also passed a restaurant/gift shop that has closed with this huge rocking chair in front of it.

Frank and Bette were not with us for this trip as they were getting the oil changed in their MH and were going to visit a friend in Canon City tomorrow while we were traveling to the repair shop so they figured they'd visit the gorge at that time.  It seemed strange not traveling together.