Point Alta Vista
Come and see what is described as the best view in Colorado! Anyone, nay everyone, visiting the Royal Gorge Region should check this out. Enjoy an easy one-mile hike along The Point Alta Vista Trail, a newly groomed and packed gravel trail that includes a revamped railroad trestle, to the spectacular Alta Vista vantage point.
Running through private property, the historic Royal Gorge Scenic Railway first opened as a public attraction in 1954. For 52 years, its small train with open-air cars brought thousands of visitors with their cameras and easels out to enjoy the view. The train was shut down in 2012, and access was discontinued due to the high cost of dismantling and removing the trestles, combined with their inaccessible location. For more than eight years, the only way to access this incredible view point was to endure a difficult eight-mile round trip hike or bike on the One Track Mind Trail.
New owners have moved in and are committed to “not hogging the view.” They have worked for the last five years with Fremont Adventure Recreation and the local community to re-establish public access. Now the refurbished, re-decked trestles of the old railway bring you to the view of a lifetime and also connect to the larger, 20-mile trail system in the 5,000-acre Royal Gorge Bridge and Park.
Point Alta Vista Trail is a renewed must-stop for anyone visiting the Royal Gorge Region, whether you’re coming to see the Bridge & Park or to hike, mountain bike, raft, or seek out dinosaur tracks.
No matter what brings you to the Royal Gorge Region please read about how you can be a responsible visitor and Leave No Trace, Care for Colorado!