Two nights is enough to see why people come back to the Royal Gorge. This plan puts the big adventure in the middle and keeps the first and last days easy, and it works whether you are staying in a yurt, an Airstream, or one of our homes. Our properties are about 10 miles west of the Royal Gorge Bridge, roughly a 15-minute drive.
Day 1: Arrive and settle in
Check-in is at 4:00 PM. In summer (April through September) you check in at Royal Gorge Rafting on West US Hwy 50 in Cañon City. In winter (October through March) you check in at the Cañon City Outpost, 302 Royal Gorge Blvd. Our office is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so if you arrive on one of those days, a team member calls you that day and meets you to check you in. The FAQ has the details.
Then slow down. Get settled, light the fire ring if your stay has one, and plan an early night. For dinner in town, Rooftop Social is our year-round rooftop restaurant in downtown Cañon City, and Whitewater Bar & Grill has a patio, craft cocktails, and live music from April to October.
Day 2: The adventure day
Pick one main event. From April 15 to October 15 that can be whitewater on the Arkansas River with Royal Gorge Rafting. Trips run from half-day to multi-day, and the rapids range from Class III to V. A full-day trip runs 6 to 8 hours, includes a riverside lunch, and covers both Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Royal Gorge. It is for ages 13 and up.
Prefer to stay dry, or visiting outside rafting season? Royal Gorge Zipline Tours runs year-round, with a Classic course and an Extreme course above the canyon.
Cannot decide? Several packages pair the two, including a rafting and zipline combination day. Check the packages page for what is currently offered, and read the age requirement on each one, because they differ.
Come back to your fire ring at the end of the day or, if you booked one of our larger homes, the hot tub.
Day 3: The bridge, then check-out
Pack the car and check out by 11:00 AM, then finish at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. The bridge is America's highest suspension bridge, 956 feet above the Arkansas River, and the park also has a gondola, a zip rider, and a theater.
The winter version
Visiting between October and March? Swap rafting for ziplining, or for a scenic flight over the gorge with Royal Gorge Helicopter Tours, which flies year-round, weather permitting. The bridge park is open year-round too. For more on what runs when, read the Royal Gorge in every season.
Ready to build your trip? See our glamping stays and luxury homes, or go straight to booking.
