13 Most Interesting Things to Do In Cañon City in 2024

Are you wondering what are the best things to do in Cañon City? Maybe you’ve heard about the Royal River Gorge but are wondering once you get there what there is to do in Cañon City (pronounced like canyon). I sure was!

The truth is it’s a sleepy little town, and a great deal of the things to do revolve around the Gorge.

That being said, it’s a great stop for a night or two on a road trip of Colorado.

Originally developed as a potential hub of commerce in 1860 thanks to its location along the Arkansas River, the city never really exploded the way the founders hoped.

What that means for us is a huge focus on the beautiful river and outdoor activities.

In fact, it’s renowned for its large public parks and notable paleontological sites, such as the Garden Park Fossil Area, which has been designated as a National Natural Landmark.

The Royal Gorge Railroad, which provides picturesque excursions over one of the most beautiful old railroad tracks in the United States, is another major attraction.

Read on to learn more about the 13 best things to do in Cañon City:

1. Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

Built in 1929 and spanning 955 feet across the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park features the tallest suspension bridge in the United States.

The bridge is a part of the 360-acre entertainment park, Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, which underwent a new reconstruction in 2013 due to damage from wildfires.

The Cloudscraper Zipline, the tallest zipline activity in North America, rises 1,200 feet above the roaring Arkansas River.

Today, the park offers a wide range of outdoor attractions on either side of the bridge. Plus, there’s the exhilarating Royal Rush Skycoaster and an aerial gondola that takes guests on a 2,200-foot ride across the Arkansas River.

Here are the highlights:

Walk the bridge (a weird experience!)
Watch the indoor film about the history of the park
Enjoy a zip line across the gorge ($45)
Ride the free gondola across the gorge
Enjoy the large play areas designed for kids with things to climb on and a beautiful carousel
Get your high flying thrills on with a swing over the gorge ($90)
Or put in some work and go climbing on their Via Ferrata ($prices changing)

Having done the seriously awesome Zipline at the Broadmoor, we opted out of this short ride, but it’s clear people were loving the adrenaline rush.

2. Royal River Gorge Whitewater Rafting

Having never been before I was both excited and terrified for this experience.

There are a couple of different options for rafting, which will help tailor it to your experience level! We started with the Big Horn Sheep rafting that actually takes you close to the park, but does not go through it.

Once you raft through the park, you are heading in to more intense rapids and a full day of rafting.

3. Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience

David and Zach Reynolds, a father and son from Cañon City, own and run the Royal Gorge Dinosaur Experience, a family museum where you can interact with dinosaurs.

With views of the majestic Royal Gorge Bridge and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, the museum spans 16,200 square feet and features cutting-edge exhibits and displays, including a life-sized dinosaur park that features 16 animatronic dinosaurs.

Real dinosaur fossils illustrating the Lower Arkansas Valley’s prehistoric past are on display with full-scale casts of dinosaur fossils. There are two adventure ropes courses available, one of which being a junior course for younger guests.

There is also a 775-square-foot paleo lab, a Kids’ Dig area, and a Dolby-enhanced theater that shows different documentaries about dinosaurs.

4. The Royal Gorge Route Railroad

Based in Cañon City, the Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a charming scenic excursion railroad that takes people on two-hour rides along the most famous part of the now-defunct Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

President Theodore Roosevelt and other famous people from history have called this section of railroad one of the best in the country.

Operating since 1999, the firm offers year-round trips from the Royal Gorge to adjacent Parkdale, Colorado. Trains cross the massive Royal Gorge Bridge directly beneath it, using a special hanging bridge that architect C. Shallor Smith developed in 1879.

All trips include delicious food options (which is always a big plus), such as sharing appetizers, breakfast burritos, and burgers made from grass-fed Angus and buffalo. Fine wines are also served to go with the meals.

Plus, sometimes there are special trains like murder mystery evenings, cab trips, and gourmet meal trains.

5. The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, founded in 2002 on the premises of the historic Holy Cross Abbey in Canon City, is a highly regarded winery.

In addition to award-winning Chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, syrah, riesling, and merlot varieties, this stunning Wet Mountains vineyard also makes a delicious apple wine made from fermented apples grown at neighboring Colon Orchards.

Every day, the public is welcome to visit the tasting room, which offers free tastings of the best wines produced by the business.

During the summer, there are VIP wine and cheese tastings available; bookings are needed at least 24 hours in advance in order to secure sampling times.

5. Tunnel Drive Trail

Not actually a drive, but a great crushed gravel path that you can walk (or in my case run) along for 2 miles out. It winds along the river and takes you through at least 2 long tunnels and a number of arches.

For walkers, joggers, and bikers, the gorgeous trail offers unparalleled canyon and river views as it crosses an old railroad track above the Arkansas River.

Three granite-blasted tunnels with crushed gravel pathways lead to breathtaking views of pink and white granite boulders that formed over 1.7 billion years ago.

Trust me, it absolutely gorgeous and we saw plenty of others on the trail, so you don’t feel secluded.

There is a good parking lot at the trailhead, but you can also take the paved path in from town if you’re looking for a nice long run.

6. Red Canyon Park

Red Canyon Park is a 600-acre park situated in the magnificent Fountain Formation, which originated in the Ancestral Rocky Mountains more than 290 million years ago.

Under the jurisdiction of the City of Cañon City, the park features stunning red rock formations that have been sculpted by erosion over time into distinct monoliths and canyons that resemble formations in the neighboring Front Range and Flatirons.

The entire park is open for exploration, both on and off track. Parking is available about a mile off Red Canyon Road. Paths lead to notable structures in the park, such as The Arch, an erosion-sculpted red stone arch.

It’s important to be aware that several areas surrounding the park are privately owned. They should also heed any warning signs to prevent unintentional trespassing.

7. The Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center

There is a regional history museum called the Royal Gorge Regional Museum and History Center inside Cañon City’s Municipal Building.

This building was built in 1927 with the intention of being partially used as a museum. Today, the museum, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, features exhibit halls that are managed by the Heritage Center and provide information about the geology, natural wonders, and social and cultural history of the area.

On display are fossils of dinosaurs found in the area that date back over 450 million years, as well as an amazing collection of historical photos from the area taken in the 1870s.

8. Garden Park Fossil Area

Over the past 120 years, the Garden Park Fossil Area has been one of the most important places in the United States to study dinosaurs from the Late Jurassic Period.

Numerous fossils found at the site during the past century are on exhibit at prestigious museums across the country, such as the Denver Museum of Natural History and the renowned Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.

The site, which is recognized as a National Natural Landmark, a Colorado Research Natural Area, and a Bureau of Land Management Area of Critical Environmental Concern, has also yielded discoveries of late Jurassic animal and reptile species.

The Oil Well Flats Trail System has fifteen miles of visitor routes that are open to hikers, bikers, and campers. The Dinosaur Flats region of the park offers 4×4 riders access to unpaved roads that can be used for target practice.

9. Diana’s Pumpkin Patch

Diana’s Pumpkin Patch is a family-owned business in Cañon City that was started to protect young trees from the drought in the area.

The seasonal pumpkin patch, which has been providing a sizable and difficult corn maze every year for more than a decade, is currently one of the most well-liked family-friendly fall attractions in the area.

Access to the maze and all other fall festival attractions is available for a normal admission cost. Throughout the season, Saturday and Sunday evenings are when guests can roast hot dogs over an open campfire or choose their own pumpkins at the pumpkin patch.

On weekends, there are food vendors that offer hamburgers, barbecued chicken, and other grill favorites from America.

10. The Gold Mine Rock Shop

The Gold Mine Rock Shop is proud to offer the widest variety of rocks in Colorado, catering to a wide range of interests such as jewelry making, fossil collecting, geology, and rock hounding.

In this place, ardent collectors can lose hours finding the ideal specimen to include in their holdings. Select from an extensive selection of semi-precious stones, such as amethyst, quartz, and sapphire, available in their original mined state or exquisitely cut and polished to breathtaking clarity.

Young rock hunters can try their hand at panning for their own rocks and vividly colored gemstones, as well as enjoy sifting through the fossils and arrowheads.

11. Arkansas River Walk

I absolutely love finding murals and this river walk has many of them on the underpasses. It made for some fun hunting to see what would be next.

We parked at huge park next to the Botanical Gardens and discovered as we walked up to the path that there was a also a great Frisbee Disc Golf course.

You’ll find a pretty flat path for a long run or a bike ride, to just have an easy day of exploring. Then stopping for a picnic at a park.

12. Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive, which runs through Cañon City and Fremont County for 2.6 miles, is one of the most scenic drives in Colorado. Built in 1906, the drive traces the path of a steep razorback ridge that is reachable from US Highway 50.

A gradual but sharp incline traverses up the ridge, via a route similar to a rollercoaster ride and a very narrow peak that slopes southward by hundreds of feet on either side.

There are many pullouts situated along the road, providing people with the opportunity to appreciate the breathtaking scenery.

This is a drive with sheer drops on each side, so know your comfort level before heading out. It has plenty of spots to pull over for great photos as well.

13. Pizza Madness

For more than a decade, Pizza Madness has been voted Fremont County’s finest pizza. Located in an environmentally conscious setting, the establishment prepares award-winning pizzas with locally sourced, fresh, premium ingredients.

The restaurant features a small arcade with a selection of video games for younger patrons, and its eating area is decorated with vibrant, varied artwork created by local artists.

A range of sauces and toppings are available for handcrafted pizzas, which are produced using handmade pizza dough that is tossed in-house.

Along with their famous hot and cold sandwiches, spaghetti platters, and crispy baked chicken wings with a range of delectable sauces, they also provide calzones.

There’s wine by the glass and fountain beverages as well that go well with cold microbrews.

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13 Most Interesting Things to Do In Cañon City