Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, Cañon City, CO

Total Timber Tour Blog Day 16

1 hour drive north from our hotel in Pueblo, CO to the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City, Colorado

We planned a visit to this park 3 years ago but did not get enough time to visit it. We’re so glad we were driving passed this trip (sort of) and made the effort to spend a good few hours there.

The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the world, and the area around it has been made into a typical tourist facility. They also have an incline railway which is great fun, the world’s longest ‘single span’ cable car and, the reason for our visit, a 100ft skycoaster.

Before we describe the ride in more detail, a quick note about Peggy and all the staff, especially the three lads operating the skycoaster – we were treated like VIP’s. We think they were looking forward to our visit just as much as we were looking forward to visiting them. Thanks all, you truly made a day we’ll never forget.

As for the skycoaster. We’ll we’ve done many of these in various parts of the world, in all sizes 100ft, 140ft, 180ft, 200ft, and the massive 300ft version in Kissimmee, Florida. To be honest, after so many, they had just become a bit ‘samey’ and no longer got the adrenalin pumping, even the 300ft version. Well, the one at the Royal Gorge is only 100ft, but you swing out over the gorge with a 1000ft drop below.

What’s it like? Simply amazing. Each time you swing out you feel like you are flying in the true sense of the word. As it was Adrian’s birthday, he did a solo to start the morning, then Ian completed a solo, then we did a tandem to finish the morning off.

What a great way to spend a day in one of the most beautiful and scenic spots we have ever been to in perfect weather conditions – cloudless skies, 75 degrees and zero humidity. If you are in the Denver area for whatever reason, try and get to the Royal Gorge, even if you don’t ride the skycoaster – you won’t be disappointed.

On the way to the hotel, the mandatory holiday stop at the Adidas outlet and Adrian had serious birthday cash to spend. Greeted in typical friendly American style we were asked if we knew about this week’s promotion “Buy any bag and get 30% off it, then take 30% of the rest of your purchases too” – this on top of already discounted outlet prices. We found a bag for $19.99 (£10.30) and got $355 (£180) of goods for just $190 (£97). Brilliant.

On way to hotel, our last two photo ops at closed parks – both done before though – Elitch Gardens and Lakeside, both in Denver and 15 minutes apart.

Finished the day off with birthday celebrations including……… writing the blog!!!!!

280 mile drive north through Denver to hotel in Laramie, Wyoming. Checked into hotel to a warning of snow!

2 non-coaster parks tomorrow, one containing the infamous “Sonic Boom” – can’t wait.