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Colorado Travel Planning Guides : Royal Gorge Country : On The Trail

Colorado's Royal Gorge Region
(Rafting Adventures) - Royal Gorge Region Homepage - (Great Outdoors)
On The Trail

Sponsor Listings


A Raft Masters Adventure

(800) 568-7238
More than 20 years experience providing quality outings for all group sizes. Bases near Denver and Colorado Springs provide easy access for trips from either location. Free wetsuits!


Royal Gorge Bridge & Park

(888) 333-5597
Colorado's Natural Wonder with exciting rides and great views.

Echo Canyon River Expeditions
(800) 575-3246
The most trusted name in rafting since 1978. Located near the Royal Gorge Bridge.

Royal Gorge Rafting and Whitewater Bar and Grill

(719) 275-7238
Colorado river rafting vacation packages at their absolute best.

River Runners
(888) 350-7782
The Whitewater Professionals. Colorado's Best Rafting Trips.

Caņon City's Community Heritage Pass
Two Caņon City Attractions, One Price. Celebrating the artistic, educational & historic elements of our community.

Royal Gorge Route Railroad

(888) 724-5748

The best way to see the Royal Gorge is from the train!


Arkansas River Tours

(800) 321-4352

Since 1973, 38 years of laughs, smiles & thrills.


Colorado Vertical Helitours

(719) 276-9038

See spectacular views from a jet powered helicopter.


B Hotel

110 Latigo Lane, Caņon City

(719) 275-2400

B Relaxed at the B Hotel


The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey

(719) 276-5191

(877) 422-9463

Award-winning Colorado wines. Great books, linens and pottery. Tasting room open daily.


Econo Lodge

(719) 276-6900

(800) 228-5150

Non-smoking rooms. Free high speed wireless internet & local calls. Indoor heated pool & spa. In-room coffee makers. Free deluxe continental breakfast. HBO. Guest laundry facilities. Suites available.


Arkansas River Inn & Suites

(719) 275-3377

(800) 231-7317

22 large family suites that sleep 6, Free high-speed internet, Restaurant, Heated outdoor pool, Enclosed hot tub, Putt-putt golf course, Playground, Guest laundry.


Quality Inn & Suites

E. Hwy. 50 at Dozier

Caņon City

(719) 275-8676

(800) 252-7727

Plan to make the Quality Inn & Suites your vacation headquarters. There are many sights to see and experiences to enjoy within a short drive from the Quality Inn & Suites.


Merlino's Belvedere

1330 Elm Ave., Caņon City

(719) 275-5558

Homemade Italian food recipes for over 60 years. Aged beef, seafood and chicken items. Kids menu. Banquet facilities and catering available. Open 7 days a week for lunch & dinner.


American Adventure Expeditions

Buena Vista, Royal Gorge & Breckenridge

(800) 288-0675

Providing first-class whitewater adventures since 1987. Royal Gorge Country's only riverside outpost with private beach and lunch pavilion. Call for the ultimate Colorado experience!


Florence Chamber

"A Great Little Town"

Antiques, Art, Fine Food and Specialty Shoppes.


Lost Paddle Rafting

(719) 275-0884

(866) 766-7238

Lost Paddle Rafting's friendly & experienced staff will help you choose a whitewater rafting trip that's best for you.


Michael's On Main

(719) 276-2233

For the ultimate in relaxation, dining and shopping be sure to visit the Galleria at Michael's on Main. You'll find a Fine Art Gallery, Fashion Boutique, Chocolate Shoppe, Bistro, specialty Coffee Bar, Gift Shop, Day Spa and much, much more.

Hiking, ATV, and Horseback Riding Trails

Fremont County and the surrounding area boasts more than 20 trailheads. These trails will lead you to explore the great Colorado mountains, canyons and countryside.

For more information on hiking in Colorado and the following trails, please visit a local bookstore or mountaineering shop for a trail guide or topographical map.


*Not all of the trails listed below are shown on the map.

1. Arkansas Riverwalk - Easy
6 miles · In Caņon City along the Arkansas River, winding through forests and wetlands. Trailheads are at Sell Ave. (off 9th St.) to the west and Ash Street to the east.

2. Garden Park Fossil Area Interpretive Trail - Easy
6 miles north of Caņon City, this easy, where many different species of dinosaurs have been discovered.

3. Macey Lakes - Easy
16 miles · Rather gentle and very scenic. Access is off the Rainbow Trail south of Horn Creek Trailhead.

4. Mosca Pass - Easy
6 miles · The lowest crossing of the main section of the Sangres, offering a wonderful view to the south of Blanca Peak. Featuring many good car-camping spots.

5. Newlin Creek Trail - Easy
5.5 miles · Trailhead off Hwy 67 just south of Florence, in the San Isabel National Forest, crossing through pine and fir forests as it climbs 1360'.

6. Red Canyon Park Trails - Easy
Red Canyon Park is a 600 acre wonderland (just 10 miles north of Caņon City off Red Canyon Road) with many trails to the amazing red rock formations and vertical spires.

7. Sand Gulch Trail - Easy
A secluded hike (just north of Caņon City off Red Canyon Road) offers tremendous views of the Sangre de Cristo Range as well as beautiful canyon scenery and wildlife.

8. The Bank - Easy
Just north of Sand Gulch (and including part of the Shelf Road Climbing Area), this area of BLM land offers trails, spectacular views, wildlife and camping.

9. Tunnel Drive - Easy
2 miles · This trail is flat (except for the 1st 200 yards) following the Arkansas River making its way through 3 granite tunnels. Trailhead at the west end of Caņon City off Hwy 50.

10. Rainbow Trail - Easy/Moderate
Accessed from the trailhead by the Alvarado Campground south of Westcliffe, running along the base of the 14,000' Sangre de Cristo Range. It features grand views of the Sangres, the Wet Mountain Valley, diverse wildlife, wildflowers and aspen groves.

11. Beaver Creek Trail - Moderate
Located northeast of Hwy 67/Florence, off Phantom Canyon Road, providing solitude as it follows the Beaver Creek above Penrose. A popular trail when the mountains are still snow-packed.

12. Big Cottonwood Trail - Moderate
10 miles · Located ~ 3 miles west of Cotopaxi off Big Cottonwood Road, a favorite for fishermen.

13. Comanche Lake - Moderate
9 miles · Trailhead located at the Alvarado Campground, one of the most popular in the Sangres.

14. Cottonwood Creek Trail - Moderate
8 miles · A favorite of outfitters and campers, leading to a large, grassy basin. Access south off the Rainbow Trail from the Alvarado Campground.

15. Goodwin Lakes - Moderate
12 miles · A popular destination for hikers and fishermen to 3 medium-sized lakes. Access off the Rainbow Trail north of Alvarado Campground.

16. Hermit Trail - Moderate
12 miles · Used by 4-wheelers as well as hikers. Featuring 3 lakes and was the setting of much of the John Belushi movie, "Continental Divide.

17. Horn Lakes - Moderate
5 miles · Trailhead located at the end of Horn Road, south of Westcliffe, leading to a large basin at Horn Lake with great camping.

18. Lake of the Clouds Trail - Moderate
10 miles · A steep upper section leads to 3 mountain lakes in a basin known for its own weather microsystem. Accessed from the Gibson Trailhead off Hermit Rd in Westcliffe.

19. Music Pass - Moderate
8-12 miles · (Length depends on where you park your vehicle). The view is considered one of the most scenic valleys in the range. Located south of Westcliffe on Hwy 69.

20. North Taylor Trail - Moderate
10 miles · One of the most spacious valleys in the Sangres. Trailhead south of the Gibson Trailhead. Megan Lake lies at timberline and is the crash site of a WWII military plane.

21. South Colony Trail - Moderate
12 miles · Leads to the very popular Crestones: Crestone Peak and Crestone Needle. The deeply rutted road is heavily traveled by brave drivers as well as hikers.

22. Stultz Trail - Moderate
3 miles · Located 7 miles south of Caņon City on Oak Creek Grade (CR 143), traversing forest, scrub oak and high-mountain meadows as it climbs in elevation.

23. North Colony Trail - Moderate/Difficult
18 miles · Not the steepest trail in the range, but its length makes it one of the more lightly-used trails. Features include a waterfall and a series of rock outcroppings.

24. Temple Canyon Trail - Moderate/Difficult
10 miles south of Caņon City off Temple Canyon Road, following Grape Creek which flows through "The Temple", a natural rock formation that is said to be haunted.

25. Venable Lakes - Moderate/Difficult
12 miles · A popular trail to the Venable Falls, one of the most scenic in the Sangres. The trailhead is located at Alvarado Campground.

26. Marble Cave Trail - Difficult
12 miles · The Marble Caves, with stories of hidden Conquistador gold and chained-up skeletons. Accessed between South Colony Road and Music Pass Road.

27. Stout Creek Trail & Bushnell Lake Trail - Difficult
The Stout Creek Trail, (off the Rainbow Trail), offers a steep trek to some of the best waterfalls in the state. From the same trailhead is to Bushnell Lake at 11,500'.

28. Tanner Trail - Difficult
7 miles · 10 miles south of Caņon City on Oak Creek Grade (CR 143), climbing to over 9,000 feet and offering spectacular views of the Arkansas River Valley.

29. Texas Creek Trail - Difficult
16 miles · Accessed from the Gibson Trailhead off the Rainbow Trail, ends at a huge boulder field at timberline.




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Fremont County Heritage Commission
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Florence
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Royal Gorge Bridge
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Royal Gorge Railroad
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Caņon City and Florence
Gold Belt Scenic Tour
Communities West of Caņon City
Hiking, ATV, & Horse Trails
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