Claimed to be America’s most spectacular train journey, the Royal Gorge route, through the gorge of the same name, is a breath taking three hour scenic and historic ride that traverses the most famous portion of the former Denver & Rio Grande Western line. Narrow ledges and canyon walls reach 2,000 feet above the train as you pass under the world-famous suspension bridge 955 feet above.
This is Colorado’s most famous scenic railroad and a favourite attraction in the Colorado Springs area. Trains magazine named this one of America’s top trains.
The Colorado Springs region is a haven for train enthusiasts. While the Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway may be popular for its sky-high ride to the 14,115-foot-tall Pikes Peak and Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad transports visitors back to mining days on a steam engine, one of the most thrilling rail experiences is the Royal Gorge Route Railroad.
The train departs from the Santa Fe Depot in Canon City and traces the Arkansas River on a 24-mile round-trip journey through granite cliffs, some of which stretch more than 1,000 feet above the tracks, whilst high above the longest suspension bridge in America stretches across the gorge.
The Royal Gorge Bridge was built in 1929 at a cost of $350,000 for visitors to enjoy the engineering marvel and the natural beauty of this geologic wonder. For those so minded, it is possible to walk the 1,257 wooden planks suspended 956 feet over the Arkansas River.
The Royal Gorge Railroad came to be with silver mining in the 1800s. Railroads during that time were built to accommodate the surge in mining activity in Colorado’s mountains. However, since 1879, the Royal Gorge Railroad has been shuttling passengers through the stunning canyon as it travels along the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.
Today, more than 100,000 people experience the journey through the “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River” every year. The valley is 50 miles in length and at a consistent and railroad-friendly water grade of one percent. West of Cañon City the Arkansas River cuts through the Royal Gorge, a high plateau of igneous rocks forming a spectacular steep-walled gorge over 1,000 feet deep. At its narrowest point, sheer walls on both sides plunge into the river, creating a nearly impassable barrier, but an unforgettable sight!