WELCOME TO ROYAL GORGE COUNTRY! In 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge was built, spanning the chasm over the Arkansas River. Towering an amazing 1,053 feet above the river, it reigns as the highest suspension bridge in the world. In addition to the abundant wildlife and spectacular scenery, the Arkansas is the most popular river for whitewater rafting in the United States. Don't miss the world's steepest incline railway built in 1930. The Arkansas River is at the heart of Royal Gorge Country and has left an indelible mark upon the land and communities that reside along its banks. In addition to the abundant wild-life and spectacular scenery, the Arkansas is the most popular river for whitewater rafting in the United States, offering a suitable experience for both families and thrill seekers alike. The Arkansas River begins its journey in Colorado's highest mountains, carving its way 315 miles through the state of Colorado. The last and most spectacular geographic obstacle the river must traverse is the famous Royal Gorge, first discovered by Zebulon Pike in 1806. Even before the Europeans ventured west, the Ute, Sioux, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Comanche and Arapahoe Indians all frequented this land. The Arkansas offered a convenient source of drinking water, and the area was known for its temperate winters. As an added bonus, a number of natural hot springs throughout the area offered relief from the cold. In the 1870's, homesteaders, ranchers, traders, fur trappers, coal miners and gold and silver prospectors descended on the area. As the need to transport ores upstream grew, the Denver & Rio Grande and the Santa Fe railroads, each already having tracks in the Arkansas Valley, fought (literally) to have the right to lay tracks through the Royal Gorge. Eventually, after a lengthy legal fight and considerable violence, the Denver & Rio Grande won. Nowadays, visitors can ride the Royal Gorge Route which follows the most famous portion of the old line-24 miles round trip-from Cañon City to Parkdale and back. It's been called one of the most scenic train rides in the world... | | Royal Gorge Bridge & Park • Buckskin Joe Frontier Town & Railway • Museum of Colorado Prisons • Garden Park Fossil Area • Shelf Road Climbing Area • Skyline Drive • Dinosaur Depot • Red Canyon Park • The Royal Gorge Route • The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey Cottonwood Stables
877.487.2494 • rocknrow.com
Trail rides surrounded by the Sangre de Cristos. Play Dirty ATV Tours
877.288.2656 • Playdirtyatvtours.com
Texas Creek is considered by “those who know” to be the All Terrain vehicle Capital of Colorado. Royal Gorge Heli Tours
719.276.9038 • royalgorgehelitours.com
See Spectacular views of Royal Gorge from a Jet powered Helicopter. Rock ‘n Row
877.487.2494 • rocknrow.com
Rock Climbing for beginner to advanced. Dinosaur Depot Museum
719.269.7150 - 800.987.6379 • www.dinosaurdepot.com
330 Royal Gorge Blvd #A, Cañon City, CO 81212
One of the best places in the world to see fossils and the rocks where they are found. Royal Gorge Rafting and Whtewater Bar and Grill
www.royalgorgerafting.net
719-275-7238
Colorado river rafting vacation packages at their absolute best
Adventure Outfitters
Canon City, CO
800.530.8212
Download Brochure
Raft Masters
Canon City, CO 800.568.7238 Echo Canyon River Expeditions
800.497.0643
One of the oldest, largest and most respected white water rafting companies in Colorado. Performance Tours
800.328.7238
Rafting in Colorado on a scenic whitewater raft trip is genuine Colorado adventure at its best! River Runners
877-378-1972
River Runners Hot Springs & Cool Rafting Packages. Raft with River Runners and get 2 for 1 Hot Spring Tickets. Visit River Runners Riverside Rafting Resort & Grill in Buena Vista, Colorado or River Runners Royal Gorge Rafting Center in Canon City, Colorado. River Runners the Whitewater Professionals Since 1972.
Download Brochure
| | January 2012
January 6 First Fridays, The Artists's Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
January 14 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
February 2012 February 3 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
February 11 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
February 11 10th Annual Chocolate Lovers' Walk, Downtown Cañon City, 11am-3pm. Sponsored by the Cañon City Music and Blossom Festival, 719-239-1743 March 2012 March 2 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
March 10 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
March 15, 22, 29 Spring Fling at the Winery at Holy Cross Abbey,4-7pm, 3011 E. US Hwy 50, 719-276-5191 April 2012 April 6 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
April 7 Egg Hunt, Pioneer Park, 10am, Florence; Rouse Park, Cañon City 719-784-3544
April 8 Easter Sunrise Service, South Rim of Royal Gorge,6:30-7:30am, 719-275-7507, royalgorgebridge.com
April 14 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence May 2012 May (Date TBD) VMCCA Car Show, The Abbey, 719-275-3561
May 1-31 Fremont County Appreciation Month & Military Appreciation Month, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, 50% discount for Fremont County residents and active and retired military and their families with photo IDs, 719-275-7507
May 4 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
May 4-6 74th Annual Music & Blossom Festival, Cañon City,719-242-4506, ccblossomfestival.com  May 4-5 140th Annual Royal Gorge CPRA Rodeo, 7pm, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds, 719-252-3707
May 5 Blossom Day 5k/5mi Race, starting at Centennial Park and running along The Arkansas Riverwalk, ccblossomfestival.com
May 5-6 Spring Arts & Crafts Show, Depot Park, 719-784-3126
May 12 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
May 13 Mother's Get in Free Day, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park,719-275-7507, royalgorgebridge.com
May 19 8th Annual Brew Ha-Ha, Veterans Park, 3-10pm,
719-275-2790, fremontarts.org May 20 Car Show, Main Street, Florence, 719-784-3544
May 26-28 37th Annual Black Powder Shoot & Rendezvous, Florence Mountain Park, 719-598-5715 or 719-275-8724 June 2012 Tuesdays, June through August Entertainment in the Park, Veterans Park, Cañon City, 7-9pm
Wednesday Nights, June through August Entertainment in the Park, Pioneer Park, Florence, 7-8:30pm, 719-784-3544
Wednesdays, June through Oct. Cañon City Farmers' Market, near the Train Depot on 3rd St., www.ccfa.coop
Thursdays, June through Sept. Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 719-784-3544
June 1 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
June 2-3 Annual Royal Gorge Holy Smoke BBQ Showdown, Abbey football field, 719-371-1202, holy-smoke-bbq.com
June 2 Street Dance, Louie's in Florence, Noon-Midnight, 719-784-3015
June 2 Artist Gallery, studio tour, Florence, 719-784-3544 June 2, Brain Freeze, Veterans Park, Canon City, CO, 5th Annual Brain Freeze homemade ice cream making contest . Held in in conjucntion with The Holy Smoke BBQ contest at The Holly Cross Abbey Field on the east end of town on Highway 50 in Canon City, CO. Last years event had 4 ice cream makers, making 4 different flavors. $1100 dollars in prize money for ice cream contest
June 9 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
June 9-10 29th Annual Howard Chili Cook-Off, contests, motorcycle and car shows, craft show, flea market, auction, concessions. Howard Fire Station, 8274 Hwy. 50, 719-942-4213
June 9 Cañon Car Club Show, Centennial Park, 719-275-3842
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
June 17 Father's Get in Free Day, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park,719-275-7507
June 23-24 Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival, Whitewater Kayak & Recreation Park, two days of rafting and kayak races, games, music, food, microbrews and wine. July 2012 July 4 Fourth of July Celebration, fireworks, Skyline Drive, 9pm
July 4 Celebration, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, live entertainment, 719-275-7507
July 6 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
July 14 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
July 14 Harvest Fest Art Competition Showing at Abbey Winery, 3011 E. US Hwy 50, 719-276-5191
July 27-29 22nd Fiddlers Along the Arkansas, Veterans Park, sponsored by Loaves and Fishes, fiddlersalongthearkansas.com
July 28-Aug 5 Fremont County Fair, County Fairgrounds,719-276-7390, fremontcountyfair.com
August 2012 Wednesdays, June through Oct. Cañon City Farmers' Market, near the Train Depot on 3rd St., www.ccfa.coop
Thursdays, June through Sept. Florence Farmers' Market, Pioneer Park, 719-784-3544
Aug. 3 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery;wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
Aug. 4 Fit N Fun 5K/10K Run, Pioneer Park, Florence, 719-784-3544
Aug. 11 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists atwork, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
Aug. 18-19 CPRA Rodeo, Fremont County Rodeo Grounds,719-252-3707
September 2012 Sept. (Date TBD) Skyline Drive 10k Run, 719-275-1578, ccrec.org
Sept. (Date TBD) 8th Annual Skyline Drive Open, 719-275-2331
Sept. 7 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
Sept. 7-8 Holy Cow Moosic Festival, Cañon City, benefit for Fremont County non-profits, 719-371-1202
Sept. 8 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
Sept. 14-15 Junktique Open Aire Antique Affair street market, Florence, 719-784-3544
Sept. 15 Florence Pioneer Day Celebration, parade at 10am, craft booths, food vendors, 719-784-3544
Sept. 15 Evening Street Dance, Florence, Main & Santa Fe Ave., Noon-Midnight, 719-784-3544 Sept. 21 Winemakers' Dinner, Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 719-276-5191
Sept. 22-23 Harvest Festival on Winery Grounds, celebration of wine, food, arts and music, Winery at Holy Cross Abbey, 719-276-5191 October-December 2012 Oct. 5 First Fridays, The Artists' Gallery, Meet the artists, peruse the gallery; wine, hors d'oeuvres. 5-8pm, 416 Main St., 719-345-4070
Oct. 6 Rim to Rim Royal Gorge Run 10k/5k Run, Royal Gorge Bridge, Info & registration online at rimtorim.net
Oct. 6 Penrose Apple Day Parade, 719-372-3994
Oct. 12-13 Octoberfest, Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, German bands,food and fun, 719-275-7507
Oct. 13 Second Saturdays, Wander the shops, enjoy music and watch artists at work, refreshments served. 3-5pm, Florence
Oct. 13 Ghost Walk, streets of Florence, 719-784-3544
Oct. 20-21 Paint The Town 8th Annual Plein-Aire Festival, Florence,719-784-3544
Oct. 20-21 Eureka Days, 4rd Annual (Kick in the Butt BBQ), Florence, 719-784-6895
Oct. 31 Halloween Trick or Treat, Florence and Cañon City Downtown Merchants, 5-7pm, 719-784-3544
Nov. 26 Florence Christmas Light Illumination Celebration, 719-784-3544
Mid-Nov.-Dec. 26 Santa Express, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, every Friday and Saturday at 6:30pm from mid-Nov. through Dec. 26
Dec. 1 Christmas Parade of Lights, downtown Cañon City, 719-275-2331 Contact us at the Cañon City Chamber of Commerce at 719.275.2331 or rgcountry.com to order Colorado's Royal Gorge Country Visitor's Guide. | | | MAP OF THE AREA | | |
|
|
webbanner.jpg)
