Royal Gorge, CO
Royal Gorge is a Spectacular Canyon Adventure on the Edge of the World
by Celeste Lipford and Terry Lipford - last updated on 11/11/2024
As we were proceeding east on route 50 heading for Colorado Springs, we drove by a billboard displaying info about Royal Gorge, and we both read it and said to each other "lets go see it". Royal Gorge had not been in our original trip plans, but as soon as we saw that billboard that described what we would see, we decided that it was worth the time to stop and see it. As you can see in the map, it is located 48 miles southwest of Colorado Springs and 121 miles east of Gunnison, CO.
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Royal Gorge, Colorado, is a place of awe-inspiring natural beauty and thrilling adventure. This iconic destination is renowned for its world-famous Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, an engineering marvel that spans the dramatic chasm carved by the Arkansas River, offering visitors jaw-dropping views that will leave you breathless. The suspension bridge, one of the highest in the world, allows you to gaze down at the turbulent river hundreds of feet below, surrounded by towering granite walls.
Interesting Royal Gorge Facts
- The Royal Gorge bridge was built nearly 100 years ago, with construction beginning in June of 1929.
- The bridge was the world’s highest suspension bridge up until 2001. The bridge is 955 feet above the Arkansas River.
- The towers of the bridge stands 150 feet high.
- The bridge is over ¼ mile long.
- The bridge is 18 feet wide.
- The bridge was constructed in just seven months.
- Over 30 million people have visited Royal Gorge Park.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt once visited the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park when running for office in 1936.
- Dinosaurs used to roam the Royal Gorge region over 100 million years ago.
- Royal Gorge is 48 miles from Colorado Springs, CO.
- The Bridge spans the Royal Gorge above the Arkansas River, a 1,469 miles (2,364 kilometers) long river that eventually becomes a major tributary to the Mississippi River.
Where is Royal Gorge, CO Located? 3D Map
On our way to Royal Gorge from Telluride, we traversed Colorado on route 50 which took us across Monarch Pass. As we proceeded east from Gunnison, we saw a highway advisory electronic billboard which said "Warning - Wintry Conditions at Monarch Pass". Since we had never been there, and were unaware of the road, we at first thought that the warning might be a mistake - until we got near the top of Monarch Pass (11,312 feet).
There was a full-tilt winter storm going on all the way up the western side of the pass, with a considerable amount of snowfall, icy road conditions and the wind was blowing strongly. It slowed us down tremendously, as route 50 is a series of switchbacks as it crosses Monarch Pass.
The suspension bridge that crosses Royal Gorge is the highest bridge in the United States. Without being aware, or without having planned for it to happen, we managed to cross the # 1 and # 5 highest bridges in the United States during this trip. The Royal Gorge Bridge is 955 feet high (and is the # 1 highest bridge) and the Glen Canyon Dam Bridge is # 5 in the United States at 700 feet in height.
Just in case you were wondering, the highest bridge in the world is the the Duge Bridge in China is nearly twice as high as the Royal Gorge with a height of 1,854 feet (565 meters).
We decided to ride the gondola to the far side, and then to walk back via the bridge. This would give us adequate time to see each conveyance method & everything on the far side of the gorge. The views of the Arkansas River from the Royal Gorge Bridge are truly spectacular. The bridge, suspended nearly 1,000 feet above the gorge, offers sweeping vistas of the river below as it winds through the rugged canyon. The deep, narrow gorge creates a dramatic contrast with the flowing water, and the sheer cliffs on either side enhance the sense of height and grandeur. Looking down, you’ll see the Arkansas River appearing as a ribbon far below, surrounded by jagged rock formations and vast natural landscapes. It's a breathtaking experience.
More Info about Royal Gorge
- Royal Gorge Tickets/Admission Info: Their web page for tickets.
- Royal Gorge Tour Info:
- Royal Gorge Google Images:
- Accommodations near Royal Gorge:
- Places to eat near Royal Gorge:
- Royal Gorge Operating Hours: 8am to 5pm seven days a week.
- Google Reviews for Royal Gorge Bridge & Park
Image Credits:
- All the above images are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC, unless otherwise noted.
Some Useful Links
- Just Traveling Thru Travel Planning Tips
- Royal Gorge History on the "Royal Gorge Route" Website
- Royal Gorge Website
- Hiking in the Royal Gorge area on the "Royal Gorge Bridge" Website
- Google Search Results list for "restaurants in the Royal Gorge area"
- Google Search Results list for "accommodations in the Royal Gorge area"
- Amazon Search Results for "Royal Gorge"
- Youtube Search Results for "Royal Gorge"
- Royal Gorge on the "Get Your Guide" site
- Visit our Youtube Channel
- Half-Day Royal Gorge Whitewater Rafting Tour from the "Get Your Guide" site
- Our Image Gallery for Royal Gorge
- Wikipedia Article for Royal Gorge
- Google Image Gallery for Royal Gorge
Trip Itinerary
Click above map to view a larger Google Map As you can see by the this map, our trip covered 3 different states, approximately 1,600 road miles and allowed us to see some spectacular geography. You might think that a trip of this distance would be something that would result in a "tired of driving" mood - but our stops were so diverse with such incredible geography and fun things to do, that we found that we looked forward to each morning to where we could continue our adventures!
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Note: All images on this page are the property of Just Traveling Thru, LLC unless otherwise noted.
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