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Is the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park a Tourist Trap?

     

    My sister invited us to the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park in Canon City, CO. As a member of the military (she’s served 20 years – Air Force) she was eligible for discounted half-price tickets. Thinking this was a great opportunity to check out the Gorge since it was on our list to do, we headed down for a visit.

     

    Built in 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge spans over 880 feet across the gorge. At 956 feet high, it is one of the world’s highest suspension bridges. Today the park includes more than 360 acres and 21 rides, shows, and attractions to explore.

     

    The crowds were light when we arrived shortly after 2, park photographers greeted us at the entrance to take our group picture before we moved into the park. The entry courtyard consisted of a carousel, restrooms, and a gift shop. If you’re interested in taking the Aerial Tram, go through the gift shop to join the line.

     

    Crossing the Bridge

    We skipped a few buildings to head down to the bridge first. You might remember that The Boy doesn’t do heights. As we crossed the bridge, he was the first to point out the view between the wooden floor planks extending down 950 feet below. The sound of the planks creaking did not appeal to him either, but he bravely looked out at the mountainous view and the Arkansas River below from the side of the bridge about 1/3 of the way across.

    The wind started to pick up as we moved toward the center. Be sure to hold on to your hats. I heard one dad bemoan that he had “spent a lot of money on that hat” for his son after his son’s hat flew away. That there is a learning curve daddy.

     

    Once we reached the middle of the bridge, we could feel the bridge sway in the wind. I looked up at my son and noticed that he was not in a happy place. Not wanting to make the rest of our group hurry, I told him to finish crossing without us. Which he did, quickly.

     

    Pan for Gold

    On the other side of the bridge are a mountain man trading post and a station to pan for gold. Check for showtimes as there is a 5-minute old western shoot out skit. Badly acted and slightly painful to watch, the skit will appeal to kids under 8.

     

    Move up the hill to visit the petting zoo with llamas, donkeys, and goats. Across the street, you’ll find a small animal park with elk and bison. Follow the path up to the other side of the aerial tram. You can get back to the gift shop from here.

    We decided to head back to the other side by going over the bridge again. Take a minute to stop at the platform lookout above the Plaza Theatre to take pictures of the bridge.

     

    The next area, Plaza Theatre/Historical Expo, had live music and a magic show. Remembering the shoot-out skit, we decided to skip it.

    Incline Railway

    Back across the bridge, we joined the line for the Incline Railway. Declining 1550 feet at a 45-degree angle in a 5.5-minute ride, the metal cage cars take approximately 30 people at a time down to the base of the gorge. The cars are standing room only with no seats or room for strollers.

     

    Trip to the Royal Gorge

     

    At the base, you can see up close the railroad tracks, the Arkansas River, and white water rafters. This location really gives you a different perspective of the bridge up above.

     

    Ariel Tram

    Before we left, we stopped at the Ariel Tram to travel across the gorge again. Dividing up into who wanted to go and who would rather wait, the go-ers boarded into the tram. Be forewarned that the operators pack the tram to the gills; the capacity of the cabin is 35 passengers.

     

     

    My sister and I got on and decided that there were too many people on board and too stuffy/hot on the inside to enjoy the ride. Being on the short side height-wise, we decided that being packed in the middle with no real view was not worth the trip. We quickly got off as the operators crammed more people in.

    At the end of our visit, we stopped at the visitor’s center for some snacks. Prices for kids’ meals were under $5 and adult meals were under $8. Snacks like pretzels and malts were under $4.

    Time to Visit

    The total visit time for the 10 of us with light crowds was 4 hours.

    Admission

    Everything I mentioned is included in the admission, currently $29 for adults 13+ and $24 for children 6-12. For an extra charge for each activity, you can enjoy the Royal Rush Skycoaster, the Cloudscraper Zipline by ZipRider, and the Royal Gorge Via Ferrata. At the discounted admission price of $12.50, we had an enjoyable afternoon. However, at full price, I do not think it would be a good value. Be sure to check for discounts and coupons; season passes are available. Children 5 and under are free.

    Is the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park a tourist trap? Of course it is! But I think it’s one your family will enjoy. Wall Drug is a tourist trap too but I think if you have the chance, you should visit Wall Drug. However, Wall Drug (which is free) is right off the interstate while the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is located an hour west of I-25 and Pueblo.

    Tips for Visiting:

    1. If you want to ride the Gondola, queue up first thing upon arrival. Morning arrival is best as too much wind can shut down this ride.
    2. Split up your crew into two groups if necessary – those who don’t mind heights and those that do. One parent can take a turn with the chickens, I mean individuals fully cognitive of heights, crossing over at a quicker pace and the other can do the same crossing back. This allows the second group to cross over more leisurely.
    3. It’s Colorado – so push the water intake.
    4. Check for discounts.
    5. Crossing over with littles might make your parenting protection alert go into overdrive. Strap them into strollers, backpack carriers, or use “kid leashes”.
    6. Hold on to your hat!

     

    Theresa Jorgensen

    Theresa Jorgensen

    Theresa Jorgensen is a mother to four children including twins. She recognized the necessity for a comprehensive resource of hotels that cater to big families with rooms and suites for 5, 6, 7, or 8 people in a single room while traveling with her own family. In 2008, she established SixSuitcaseTravel to compile a database of such hotels. Over time, the website has grown to include travel advice, itineraries, road trip suggestions, national park guides, and more. Theresa takes pleasure in assisting other big families in creating unforgettable travel experiences.