Visiting the following attractions will highlight your visit to the Caņon
City area.
Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway - This 1860's style Frontier Town
was built in 1958 and has provided entertainment and unique experiences for
millions of guests over the years. Located on the North Rim of the Royal
Gorge this unique little town has been the filming site for over 20 movies
and the mini-Railway will give you the thrill of your life as it creeps
along the Royal Gorge with awe inspiring views. (719) 275-5149.
www.BuckskinJoe.com/
Caņon City Chamber of Commerce: The Canon City Chamber of Commerce is a
very busy organization providing you with information on the area, annual
events and much more:
www.CanonCityChamber.com (719) 275-2331
Caņon City Public Library - The library is located in a historic
building downtown at 516 Macon Ave. The original pink stone building was
financed by the Andrew Carnegie Foundation and built in 1902. An outstanding
feature of the library is the Local History Center that has reference
material for students, historians and genealogists. It includes documents,
books, newspapers, maps and photographs relating to Caņon City and Fremont
County history.
ccpl.lib.co.us (719)269-9020
Caņon City Municipal Museum - Municipal Museum summer hours, May 1
through Labor Day, are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The
museum is handicapped-accessible and parking is free. Admission is charged.
It is located at 612 Royal Gorge Blvd., on U.S. 50, behind the municipal
building. For more information on special programs or group rates, call
(719) 269-9018.
Caņon City Music & Blossom Festival and Craft Fair - The population of
Caņon City almost doubles during this annual event that dates back to the
1930s. A celebration of springtime, it has grown into a three-day weekend
May 5th - May 7th 2006, featuring an hours-long parade downtown Saturday,
high school band competitions, carnival, arts and crafts in Depot Park, a
rodeo Friday and Saturday nights, and an arts center exhibit. For more
information, visit the website:
www.ccblossomfestival.com/
Centennial Park - Just off 4th Street on the south bank of the Arkansas
River, this park has a duck pond, softball field, tennis courts, covered
picnic tables, a playground and handicapped-accessible restrooms. Boaters
can also use the park for access to the river.
Dinosaur Depot - is a dinosaur museum and working lab that prepares
fossils for display. This is one of the best places in the world to see
fossils and the rocks where they are found. Among the many dinosaurs on
display, is the world's most complete Stegosaurus. Visit the Garden Park
Fossil Area where may dinosaurs have been excavated over the past 125 years.
Located at 330 Royal Gorge Blvd. (U.S. 50). Open year round. A minimal fee
is charged for tours. For more information, call (719) 269-7150 or
1-800-987-6379.
www.DinosaurDepot.com
Fremont Center for the Arts - The oldest community arts council in the
United States is housed in the historic post office building at the corner
of Fifth and Macon in Caņon City. The main gallery features a new exhibit
each month.
Garden Park Fossil Area - This park is six miles north of Caņon City on
Red Canyon Road, which can be reached by turning north onto Field Avenue.
Fifteen different species of dinosaurs have been excavated here, many of
which are featured in museums across the United States.
Historic Downtown Canon City - The quaint atmosphere and historic
architecture of the downtown area warrants a shopping trip to visit the
local boutiques and merchants. A downtown walking tour guide of the
historical district is available at the local Chamber of Commerce. (719)
275-2331
Horseback riding - Several stables provide trail rides in the area of
the Royal Gorge. Among them are the Royal Gorge Riding Stable, open year
around. Winter hours are from noon to dusk. Summer hours are from 9 a.m. to
dusk. (719) 275-4579.
Mountain View Park - A 14-acre park that provides an open area ideal for
both kite-flying and viewing spectacular vistas of the surrounding
mountains. Facilities include handicapped-accessible restrooms, playground
and covered picnic tables. To reach the park entrance in northeast Caņon
City, travel north on 15th Street to Central Avenue, turn right and continue
to Orchard Avenue, then turn left to the 900 block.
Oak Creek Grade - This drive passes through ruggedly beautiful pine and
pinion-covered mountains as it twists through Oak Creek Canyon from Caņon
City to Custer County's Wet Mountain Valley and the towns of Silver Cliff
and Westcliffe. Picnic tables and a campground with vault toilets are found
at the Oak Creek Campground operated by the San Isabel National Forest. The
road is reached by driving south on Ninth Street (Colo. 115) and turning
right onto Elm Avenue at the top of the hill where Lakeside Cemetery is
located. Then turn left onto Oak Creek Grade Road.
Orchards - The area is home to many orchards featuring apples, peaches,
grapes, plums and much more. During harvest time, which can start as early
as late August, visiting the orchards becomes a favorite family outing. Many
sell directly to the public, while some even invite you to pick your own
fruit. Colon Orchard in Caņon City and Happy Apple Farm, Apples-N-Spice -
Singing Hills and Third Street Apples in Penrose are a few that encourage
the public to visit.
R.C. Icabone Swimming Pool - This public pool, (at College Avenue and
12th Street), is an outdoor facility with a wading pool, swimming pool and
water slide (fee charged). It opens May 29 and closes for the summer August
29. Open swims, lap swims, family night and adult only nights are featured.
Adjacent to the pool are lighted sand volleyball courts and basketball
slabs. Call (719) 275-1578.
ccrec.tripod.com/id19.html
Red Canyon Park - This 600-acre park is nine miles north of Caņon City.
It contains interesting and unusual natural red rock formations. The park
can be reached by turning north on Field Avenue, which turns into Red Canyon
Road (Fremont County Road 9). Look for the turn-off. Facilities include
covered picnic areas and handicapped-accessible vault toilets.
Rouse Park - This park is at 1600 Park Avenue, just south of the city
limits in the Lincoln Park residential area. It has three softball fields,
handicapped-accessible restrooms, water, covered picnic tables, playground,
and tennis and basketball courts. Concessions open during softball games and
two of the fields are lighted for night games. For a schedule of events or
reservations, call (719) 275-1578.
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park - Eight miles west of Canon City on US50 is
the world's highest suspension bridge. Parking is provided so you can walk
across and stare straight down 1,053 feet to the gushing Arkansas River
below. Other ways to view the gorge are by incline railway to the bottom, an
aerial tram across the canyon, or by open car rail to the rim. There are
admission charges. 719-275-7507
www.RoyalGorgeBridge.com
Royal Gorge Helitours: For the Ultimate tour of the Royal Gorge - try a
jet powered Helicopter tour!! It doesn't get much more exciting than this...
Flying May through September annually. 45045 Hwy 50 West (just east of the
turn off to the Royal Gorge) (719) 276-9038
www.RoyalGorgeHelitours.org/
Royal Gorge Route Railroad - Hop on board! These 12-miles of track
follow the most spectacular section of Denver & Rio Grande Railroad directly
through the Gorge. You'll see mule deer on far meadows, eagles, and Rocky
Mountain bighorn sheep. The scenery is breathtaking. The train is open
year-round. 1-888-724-5748
www.RoyalGorgeRoute.com
Rudd Park - This park is found in the center of the city, across from
Caņon City High School at Twelfth Street and College Avenue. Facilities
include tennis courts, handicapped-accessible restrooms and a playground.
Shelf Road and Climbing Area - This unpaved, one-lane road is part of
the Gold Belt Tour and should not be used by motor homes or vehicles pulling
trailers. The Shelf Road is a former stagecoach toll road from Caņon City to
Cripple Creek and is carved along high cliffs. It should be attempted only
by experienced mountain drivers. Four wheel drive vehicles are recommended.
Follow Red Canyon Road north (reached by turning north onto Field Avenue)
from Caņon City past Red Canyon Park, reaching a fork in the road. Bear to
the right to access Shelf Road, or left to get to a technical climbing area.
There are picnic tables and toilets located on this BLM property.
Skyline Drive - A one-way paved road that overlooks Caņon City from 800
feet above the highway. It provides panoramic views of the city, Arkansas
River Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. The road was cut
through by state prison inmates. The entrance is located on U.S. 50, two
miles west of Caņon City. Admission is free, although it is closed in bad
weather. The road exits at Fifth Street into a residential area.
Temple Canyon - This 640-acre mountain park features "The Temple" - a
natural, stage-like rock formation that can be reached only by a trail along
Grape Creek, which flows through the bottom of a canyon. From Caņon City,
travel south on First Street to Temple Canyon Road and turn right. Temple
Canyon Road eventually connects with Fremont County Road 3, which is the
back entrance to the Royal Gorge Bridge and park. Fremont 3 connects with
U.S. Highway 50 west of Caņon City at Parkdale.
The Holy Cross Abbey - The Abbey, built in 1925, provides a monastic
presence at the east edge of Caņon City on U.S. 50. It is owned and operated
by the Benedictine monks and is open to the public for self-guided tours. It
houses Native American and monastic museums and a religious goods/gift shop
on the grounds. The Abbey is available to nonprofit groups for retreats. For
museum hours or more information, call (719) 275-8631.
sangres.com/places/central/holycrossabbey.htm
The Museum of Colorado Prisons - features displays from weapons to
uniforms of prisoners and guards, as well as the retired gas chamber. A gift
shop, picnic tables, RV parking and handicapped-accessible restrooms are on
site. Open daily May 1-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and May 15 through Labor
Day from 8:30 to 6 p.m. daily. Winter hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday through Sunday. Admission is charged. For more
information call (719) 269-3015.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey - Be sure to visit the
Winery at Holy Cross Abbey and taste their award winning Colorado wines.
The tasting room and gift shop are first-class and the wines are sure to
please. For information, call (719) 276-5191 or toll free at: (877) 422-9463
Tunnel Drive - The name is somewhat of a misnomer as this is a hiking
trail only. It overlooks the Arkansas River and railroad tracks from the
entrance of the Gorge at the west edge of Caņon City to about the 1.1 mile
marker into the Royal Gorge. It is a narrow trail, originally constructed as
an irrigation ditch that winds its way among the foothills and through three
tunnels of solid granite west of the city. Take U.S. 50 west and look for
the Tunnel Drive turn-off on your left as you curve out of town.
Veterans Park - This small park features a visitors' information cabin,
outdoor entertainment stage, picnic areas, small playground and
handicapped-accessible restrooms. Summer's "Entertainment In the Park"
concerts take place here. It is next to U.S. 50 at the west entrance to
Caņon City.