Colorado Explorer

Destination: Cañon City

By Linda DuVal


Photo by: Ron Ruhoff

Set among the rising foothills of the Rockies, Cañon City enjoys a temperate climate paired with some of the most dramatic scenery to be found in Colorado.

Dinosaurs walked here, and the proof is in the footprints, replicated for visitors to view at the Dinosaur Depot downtown. Besides a small but fascinating exhibit of paleontological treasures, you can sometimes watch fossils being worked in the lab. An interpretive hiking trail just north of town lets you explore the place where many of them were found—ask for a map at the depot.

A privately owned park flanks the nearby Royal Gorge, so the only way to see it is to pay admission. But while you're there, take a stroll across the world's highest suspension bridge, which spans a 1,000-foot drop. Or check out the very scary Sky Coaster which swings riders out over the canyon. Park admission includes a ride to the bottom of the gorge on an incline railway, a ride across the gorge on an aerial tram and more. If you have a problem with heights, don't look down!

Not far from Royal Gorge is Buckskin Joe. You might recognize this reconstructed town site from some old Western movies. The G-rated gunfighter show is corny, but kids seem to love it.

No visit would be complete without a ride on the Royal Gorge Route scenic railroad through the gorge alongside the roaring Arkansas River . The trip takes two hours—three if you take the dinner train (a leisurely, elegant meal reminiscent of a time long past).

Or plan to dine at Le Petit Chablis, inarguably the town's finest upscale restaurant. For good Mexican food, stop by the family-owned Ortega's. For breakfast, the locals love the Waffle Wagon, and you just might, too.

Be sure to visit the Museum of Colorado Prisons, where you can see how the criminal half lived in decades past. It's next door to the Colorado State Penitentiary.

If you're in the mood for something more refined, several local museums spotlight the area's history and artists, and the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey offers some award-winning vintages for tasting.

If you have time, take the drive north from town on County Road 69 to remote Red Canyon Park for jaw-dropping scenery. Whitewater rafting is another popular outdoor pursuit in the area—signs for local outfitters are everywhere. It's more thrilling than the train, but a lot wetter!

In the spring, Cañon City celebrates its annual Music & Blossom Festival and the Fremont Art Guild's annual Spring Craft Fair (both May 4-6).

For visitor information, contact the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce: 800-876-7922.

Linda DuVal is a freelance writer and former travel editor of The Gazette in Colorado Springs.