Cañon City
Around Cañon City
Photo: Jeffrey Beall · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Colorado · 50k people
Cañon City
Locals say Royal Gorge Region · “Climate Capital of Colorado”, “Heart of the Rockies”
Where the river carves the canyon
Canyon RustArkansas River BlueMountain Sun Gold
Welcome to the Royal Gorge Region! Whether you're here for the river, the mountains, or the small-town charm, you'll find plenty to love. Grab a local brew and join the conversation.
Clubs for Cañon City
No clubs for Cañon City yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Cañon City. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Cañon City. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Royal Gorge Bridge and Park World's highest suspension bridge over the Arkansas River.
- Royal Gorge Route Railroad Scenic train ride through the Royal Gorge.
- Museum of Colorado Prisons History of the state prison system in Cañon City.
- Salida Hot Springs Public hot springs pool with mineral water.
- Arkansas River Famous for whitewater rafting and fishing.
- Dinosaur Depot Museum with dinosaur tracks and fossils.
- Outdoors Raft the Arkansas River
- Outdoors Hike the Royal Gorge trails
- With kids Visit Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
- With kids Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad
- Evenings Craft brewery taprooms
- Evenings Live music at the Salida SteamPlant
- Locals love Whitewater rafting outfitters
- Locals love Hot springs pools
Through the year
- FIBArk Whitewater Festival June The oldest whitewater festival in the US, held in Salida.
- Royal Gorge Whitewater Festival June Raft races and family activities in Cañon City.
- Cañon City Blossom Festival May Parade and spring celebration in downtown Cañon City.
- Fremont County Fair August County fair with livestock, rodeo, and carnival.
- Salida Winterfest December Winter celebration with ice sculptures and activities.
Semi-arid climate with over 300 days of sunshine. Best time to be out is May through October. Best: Late spring through early fall offers warm days and cool nights, perfect for outdoor adventures.
Talk like a local
- “The Gorge”
- The Royal Gorge area
- “Ark Valley”
- The Arkansas River Valley
- “FIBArk”
- The whitewater festival
- “Monarch”
- The mountain pass near Salida
Getaways
- Colorado Springs Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak, and Olympic training center.
- Pueblo Historic Riverwalk, Pueblo Zoo, and Lake Pueblo State Park.
- Alamosa Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
- Breckenridge Ski resort town with vibrant Main Street and outdoor activities.
Local flavour
Rooting for Denver Broncos (NFL), Colorado Rockies (MLB), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL), Colorado Rapids (MLS)
Eat and drink
- Colorado Green Chili Pork and green chile stew, a staple in local diners
- Arkansas River Trout Fresh trout from the river, often grilled or smoked
- Elk Burger Game meat burger, common in mountain-town menus
- Craft Beer Salida's brewery scene, plus local Colorado microbrews
Where people go
- Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Iconic suspension bridge over the Arkansas River, a defining landmark
- Whitewater Rafting Outfitters The Arkansas River is a top rafting destination, with many outfitters
- Hot Springs Mount Princeton and other natural hot springs near Salida
- Historic Downtowns Cañon City and Salida's preserved 19th-century main streets
- Mountain Trails Hiking and biking trails in the Sangre de Cristo and Collegiate Peaks
Heritage and traditions
The Royal Gorge Region is proud of its dramatic Arkansas River canyon, the historic Royal Gorge Bridge, its frontier and prison history, and the vibrant arts community in Salida.
This time of year in Cañon City
- Fall foliage Autumn Aspen trees turn gold in the Arkansas Hills, drawing leaf-peepers.
Say it like a local: “The Ark” — The Arkansas River
Festivals
- Salida Art Walk Monthly First Friday of each month, galleries stay open late with music and refreshments.
- Salida Bluegrass Festival June A weekend of bluegrass bands in the park by the river.
- Salida Chalk Art Festival September Artists cover the sidewalks with colorful chalk creations.
Landmarks with a story
- Royal Gorge Bridge The historic suspension bridge spans the gorge and is a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
- Royal Gorge Route Railroad A scenic train ride along the bottom of the gorge, originally built in the 1880s.
- Museum of Colorado Prisons Housed in the original 1935 women's prison, it tells the story of the state's correctional history.
- Salida Hot Springs A historic bathhouse with the largest indoor hot springs pool in the world.
- Dinosaur Depot A working paleontology lab where visitors can see real dinosaur tracks and fossils.
- Historic Downtown Salida A well-preserved Victorian-era commercial district with brick buildings and art galleries.
Food traditions
- Green chili smothered burritos A Colorado breakfast staple—burritos smothered in spicy green chili, often with eggs and hash browns.
- Arkansas River trout Freshly caught rainbow and brown trout, grilled over a campfire or pan-fried.
- Elk burgers Game meat burgers are a local favorite, especially after a day outdoors.
- Craft beer Local breweries use mountain water to make ales, lagers, and stouts.
- Chile roasting In late summer, locals roast green chiles in roadside roasters, filling the air with a smoky aroma.
Music and arts
- Salida's arts community A thriving scene of painters, sculptors, and potters, with dozens of galleries on F Street.
- Bluegrass and folk music Local musicians gather for jam sessions in parks, cafes, and at the Bluegrass Festival.
A little history
- 1871 The Colorado State Penitentiary opened in Cañon City, beginning the area's long prison history.
- 1929 The Royal Gorge Bridge was completed, becoming the highest suspension bridge in the world at the time.
- 1949 The first FIBArk whitewater race was held on the Arkansas River, now the oldest such event in the US.
- 1880s Salida was founded as a railroad town, becoming a hub for mining and agriculture.
- 1800s The area saw a mining boom for gold, silver, and coal, attracting settlers and shaping local towns.
- Game day FIBArk race
- Game day Running the Arkansas River
- Outdoors Hike the Tunnel Drive Trail
- Outdoors Walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge
- With kids Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad
- With kids See the dinosaur tracks at Dinosaur Depot
People speak with a neutral Western accent, but you'll hear Spanish place names and a few local terms. 'Cañon' is pronounced 'CAN-yon' (the tilde is often dropped), and 'Salida' is 'suh-LIE-duh'. The Arkansas River is always 'ar-KAN-sas' with a hard 's' at the end.
Only here
- The Royal Gorge Bridge is the highest suspension bridge in the US, at 1,053 feet above the river.
- Cañon City is known as the 'Prison Capital of the World' with multiple state and federal facilities.
- The Royal Gorge Route Railroad runs along the bottom of the gorge, a unique ride in North America.
- FIBArk is the oldest whitewater festival in the US, held every June since 1949.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce 'Cañon' as 'CAN-yon' – the tilde is often dropped in everyday speech.
- Say 'suh-LIE-duh' for Salida, not 'sah-LEE-dah'.
- The Arkansas River is cold even in summer – wear a wetsuit if you raft.
- Altitude is high (around 5,300 ft in Cañon City) – drink plenty of water and take it easy the first few days.
- Try a green chili smothered burrito for breakfast – it's a local rite of passage.
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Part of Pueblo area
Nearby
Every areaColorado SpringsColoradoWhere the mountains meet the plains and adventure is a way of life.PuebloColoradoWhere the river meets the chile fields.Salida–Buena VistaColoradoRiver town heart, mountain soulAlamosaColoradoHigh desert heart, wide open skies.San Luis ValleyColoradoHigh desert skies, potato fields, and the Sangre de Cristo range.BreckenridgeColoradoWhere the peaks touch the sky and the town feels like home.DenverColoradoA mile high, full of sunshine, mountains, and craft beer.BoulderColoradoWhere the mountains meet the minds
Cañon City, CO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.