Royal Gorge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Royal Gorge |
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The Royal Gorge
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 Royal Gorge
Location in Colorado
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| Length | 6 miles (9.7 km) |
| Width | 50 feet (15 m) (base) 300 feet (91 m) (top) |
| Depth | 1,250 feet (380 m) |
| Geology | |
| Type | canyon |
| Geography | |
| Rivers | Arkansas River |
The Royal Gorge is a deep, narrow canyon in Colorado, west of Cañon City. It was carved by the Arkansas River. The gorge starts near Grape Creek, about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Cañon City. It stretches for about 6 miles (9.7 km) towards U.S. Route 50.
The Royal Gorge is one of the deepest canyons in Colorado. It is sometimes called the Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River. At its deepest, the canyon is about 1,250 feet (380 m) deep. It is also very narrow, only about 50 feet (15 m) wide at the bottom. At the top, it widens to about 300 feet (91 m). The river cuts through hard granite rock between Fremont Peak and YMCA Mountain.
Contents
How the Royal Gorge Was Formed
The path of the Arkansas River was already set millions of years ago. This was before the Rocky Mountains began to rise. About 3 million years ago, the mountains started to grow from the flat lands around them. The Arkansas River, which was a small stream back then, began to wear away the rock it flowed over.
Scientists believe the mountains grew about one foot every 2,500 years. Over thousands of years, this small stream became a bigger river. It cut a deep channel through the tough granite rock. This long, direct cutting through hard rock gave the Royal Gorge its unique, narrow shape. Other canyons, like the Grand Canyon, are much wider.
Early History and People
Before Europeans arrived, Native American groups used the Royal Gorge. The Ute people often spent winters there because the canyon offered protection from the wind and had milder weather. Other groups, like the Comanche, Kiowa, Sioux, and Cheyenne, used the gorge to reach mountain meadows for buffalo hunting.
The Rocky Mountain region of Colorado was claimed by Spain. Spanish explorers and fur traders might have seen the Royal Gorge in the 1600s. However, the first recorded European visit was in 1806. Zebulon Pike and his group explored the area. They even rode horses over the frozen Arkansas River.
Railroads and the "Royal Gorge War"
Cañon City was founded in 1860. People hoped to find valuable minerals there. In 1877, silver and lead were discovered near Leadville. This led to a race to build a railway to the mining areas. The Royal Gorge was a very narrow spot along the Arkansas River. It was too tight for two railway lines to pass through side-by-side. There was also no other easy way to reach the South Park area.
Because of this, the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad fought over who would build the line. This conflict was called the "Royal Gorge Railroad War." It lasted for two years and involved small fights between the companies. The U.S. government stepped in to stop the fighting. They created an agreement called the "Treaty of Boston." The Denver & Rio Grande Railroad finished its line. They then allowed the Santa Fe company to use it too.
In the 1890s, the Royal Gorge was an important route for trains traveling across the country. Up to four trains passed through the gorge each day. Over time, new routes were built through the mountains. The Royal Gorge became less popular for long-distance travel. Passenger train service on the main line stopped in 1967. Today, a special sightseeing train still runs through the gorge.
The Royal Gorge Today
The Royal Gorge Route Railroad now offers train rides through the canyon all year. The train travels 11 miles (18 km) through the gorge, starting from Cañon City.
In 1906, a local newspaper editor named Guy U. Hardy worked to create an 8-mile (13 km) park at Royal Gorge. The land was given to the City of Cañon City, and Royal Gorge Park was created.
In 1929, Cañon City approved the building of the Royal Gorge Bridge. This bridge is 955 feet (291 m) above the river. It was the highest bridge in the world from 1929 to 2001. The bridge is the main attraction of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. This is an amusement park with rides and attractions on both sides of the gorge. The city owns the land and the bridge. It leases them to a company called the Royal Gorge Bridge Company, which has managed the park since 1947.
On June 11, 2013, a wildfire started near the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. The fire destroyed 48 out of 52 buildings in the park. The bridge itself was only slightly damaged. Some burned wooden planks needed to be replaced. The park was rebuilt and reopened on August 30, 2014.
In the summer, rafting is a very popular activity in the Royal Gorge. People from all over the world come to experience the Class IV rapids of the Arkansas River. They also enjoy the beautiful canyon views. Some famous rapids in the gorge include Sunshine Falls, Sledgehammer, and Corkscrew. River activities in the gorge are managed by the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA). There are many companies that offer rafting trips through the gorge. On summer weekends, hundreds of rafts can be seen on the river.
Activities like BASE jumping, bungee jumping, and rock climbing are generally not allowed at the Royal Gorge. However, sometimes during special events, bridge jumps have been permitted by the city and the park managers.
The cost to enter the park has changed over the years. In 2023, the price was $32 USD for adults and $27 USD for children aged 3 to 11.
Images for kids
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Gorge and bridge from the south side
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A train on the Hanging Bridge
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Looking east from the bridge
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Gorge and bridge from the north side
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