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About Cañon City
A Quick Look at Cañon City History
Cañon City had a bit of a chaotic start. Established in 1860, it was originally developed as a hub to support the Gold Rush (the Pikes Peak Gold Rush in this case) and other mining operations. It made a great pit stop for miners moving to and from areas like Leadville, South Park and other claims and operations in the mountains and along the Arkansas River. The city even supported Cripple Creek with metal extraction via smelters during the Cripple Creek Gold Rush.
The region expanded and shrank with the popularity of mining over the decades. One of the first commercial oil fields was established during the late 1800s as well. The Utes who lived in the region had long since known about the presence of oil due to an oil spring (or “seep”) they used for various purposes. You can actually hike around Oil Well Flats if you want to check out the area. The mountain biking trails are both challenging and fun.
If you thought the presence of oil would translate into the presence of fossils, you thought right! Cañon City’s early history includes the discovery of ancient history in the form of dinosaur bones and other fossils. You can explore the Garden Park Fossil Area, where dinosaur bones and other unique items have been found for decades.
Quick Facts About Cañon City
- Cañon City has the mildest climates in the state. It’s warmer in every season, making it downright pleasant to visit most of the year.
- That fancy tilde you see over the “n” in Cañon is pretty rare when it comes to city names in the United States. It was also, according to some reports, a mistake. Residents wanted “Canyon City,” but a reporter used the Spanish version and the name stayed. We think it’s a very fortunate error that sets the city apart.
- Cañon City is home to one of the world’s highest suspension bridges, the Royal Gorge Bridge.
- The downtown area has been designated as a National Register of Historic Places.
- Dinosaur fossils from Cañon City are displayed all over the planet in museums and private collections.
- Many movies and shows have been filmed in the region, including shots in True Grit and other popular westerns.
- The Royal Gorge Bridge hung an enormous flag measuring at 120 x 75 feet from the side of the bridge to promote Coming 2 America, the sequel to the Eddie Murphy 1980s classic, Coming to America.
What We Love About Cañon City
Outdoor Recreation
Get a taste of the colorful, unique and gorgeous scenery that can only be found in Southern Colorado. If you love the outdoors, check out:
- Echo Canyon River Expeditions
- Garden Park Fossil Area
- Temple Canyon Park
- Arkansas River Fishing
- Arkansas River Walk Trail
- Royal Gorge Zipline
- Tunnel Drive Trail
Scenic Drives
Cañon City was once a central hub — which means all of its roads lead somewhere amazing. Here are some places for a road — or train — trip:
- Skyline Drive
- Gold Belt Tour Scenic and Historic Byway
- Royal Gorge Railway
- Temple Canyon Road
- Adventures Out West Jeep Tours
- Bighorn Sheep Canyon
- Shelf Road
Family Entertainment
These activities are great for the whole crew, from the littlest adventurers to the wildest great grandmas and everyone in between. Check out these cool spots:
- The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
- The May Natural History Museum (en route to the city)
- The Royal Gorge Regional Museum
- Echo Canyon River Expeditions (family floats and more)
- Fremont Center for the Arts
- Royal Gorge Helicopter Tours
Cañon City Signature Events
- Cañon City Music and Blossom Festival — This celebration of spring and the bounty to come features a parade, a pageant, a high school band competition, a fun run and more.
- Sunrise Service at the Royal Gorge — This Easter tradition brings attendees together to watch the sun rise, complete with music and sermon.
- Fourth of July Celebrations — The town and several area attractions put on a big to-do for Independence Day and you’ll love the community atmosphere.
- Harvest Celebration at Holy Cross Abbey: From blossom to fruit, come back to Cañon City to celebrate the harvest. Holy Cross has a winery, so it’s extra fun to visit.
- Local Pumpkin Patches: That temperate climate means pumpkins are plentiful on the farms surrounding the city. You’ll have several to choose from!
- Boo at the Bridge — Take the kids trick-or-treating across the Royal Gorge. Local partners serve up the goodies to costumed children 1,000 feet over the Arkansas River.
- Bridge of Lights — One of the only times you’ll ever get to drive across the bridge. Even better, it will be decked out with thousands of lights!
- First Friday Art Walks — Cañon City has a thriving art community and you can check out all the creativity in the Downtown Historic District on the first Friday of each month.
3 Things You Must Do While You Are Here
- Visit the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park: Discover a marvel of engineering suspended nearly 1,000 feet over the Arkansas River. The Royal Gorge Bridge is truly breathtaking. The rides at the park are, too. Note: You can ride the gondolas as much as your heart desires.
- Venture Along Skyline Drive: This paved road has jaw-dropping views, largely because there’s not much more than road. Fortunately, it is one-way, so you won’t be stuck trying to back up for miles. Take U.S. 50 west outside the city and follow directions to the road. Warning: If you are afraid of heights, this may not be for you. Maybe hang out in town for a bit while the others go.
- Raft Down the Arkansas with Echo Canyon: Raft down the Arkansas River with one of the most trustworthy (and entertaining) crews in Southern Colorado. Echo Canyon offers trips for all skill levels, from gentle family floats to challenging rapids for experienced rafters. You can even include camping and glamping as part of your experience.
The Best Time of Year to Visit
Winter/Fall: There’s a reason Cañon City is called the “climate capital” of Colorado. It has really pleasant fall weather and reasonably decent winter weather. Fall is still pretty hot well into the end of October. You may don those cute sweaters for family photos at the pumpkin patch, but you will likely be tying them around your waist in the corn maze. Early morning fishing trips go from brisk to toasty in a matter of hours.
September and October offer the nicest balance for warmer fall weather. November through March, the main concern is snow. It may not accumulate like the mountains, but blowing winds and snow create white-out conditions. Make sure your car is winter-ready if you’re in the area during this time of year.
Spring/Summer: Snow is heavy in the spring, but the warmer days are also sprinkled in. The river runs heavy the closer it gets to summer due to snow melting off the mountains. White water rafting is more challenging during the run-off, which is great if you’re an experienced rafter looking for a challenge. This is also a good time of year to visit the bridge, as it’s far less busy. Summer is the busiest season and it can be quite hot. However, it’s also a great time for rafting, mountain biking and visiting local art galleries.
How to Get to Cañon City
There are two major airports within a reasonable driving distance from Cañon City. Colorado Springs is closer to the town and offers a much easier route than Denver, but both are still a fairly easy drive.
Colorado Springs Airport
This popular airport is located in eastern Colorado Springs. It is easy to navigate, with quick security lines and frequent inbound and outbound domestic flights. Leaving the airport is fast and simple and it is reasonably close to the most popular parts of the city. Transportation is recommended.
Directions: Take Milton E Proby Parkway out of the airport and follow for about 3.5 miles. Follow signage to connect to I-25 via South Academy Boulevard. Follow South Academy for another 3.5 miles. Take the exit for Highway 115 South and follow that for about 30 miles. Take U.S. 50 West 10 miles into Cañon City.
Transportation Options:
- Off site rental car agency shuttles
- Ride shares
Denver International Airport
Denver International Airport is about 2 hours from Cañon City on the east side of Denver. The airport is large, with frequent domestic and international flights. Security can be slow and the airport has frequent construction projects that can make navigation confusing.
Directions: You can exit the airport by taking Peña Boulevard out of the airport to I-70W/I-225S. I-225 will connect drivers to I-25 and south to Colorado Springs. Alternatively, drivers can also take Peña Boulevard to toll road E-470 south and connect to I-25 near the edge of Denver. It can be very pricey, so be aware of that before you take the exit. Once in Colorado Springs, take exit 135 (South Academy Boulevard) and follow the same directions listed above for Colorado Springs. There are additional routes if you check your map app, but the route through Colorado Springs is the fastest and easiest way.
Transportation Options:
- Onsite rental car agencies
- Off site rental car agency shuttles
- Ride shares
- Groome Transportation to Colorado Springs DIA shuttle
Additional Resources
Check out these articles for more help with your visit:
