Move over Moab, the Royal Gorge Region is quickly becoming a mecca for mountain biking and hiking thanks to its growing number of trail systems and mild year-round weather.
Local non-profit Fremont Adventure Recreation (FAR) has worked tirelessly in the last decade to expand the region’s trails, making it easy for any level of rider or hiker to find a fantastic trail that’s free of crowds and full of incredible scenery.
The Royal Gorge Region’s trail systems and parks are varied and accessible. Discover the trail that’s perfect for you!
- The Arkansas Riverwalk Trail – Cañon City’s Arkansas Riverwalk Trail follows the Arkansas River for more than seven miles, winding through wetlands, groves of cottonwoods, and the John Griffin Regional Park, a nature area located in central Cañon City. This is an ideal trail for those looking for a leisurely walk with beautiful scenery.
- Tunnel Drive – Cañon City has a very special trail that’s ideal for families, wildlife viewing, and taking in the gorgeous Royal Gorge scenery. Located one mile from downtown, Tunnel Drive is a flat, two-mile stroll along an old railroad bed that offers a bird’s-eye view of the Arkansas River and spectacular views of the surrounding canyon.
- Hogbacks Open Space – The Hogbacks is Cañon City’s in-town geologic wonder! Your experience here will treat you to the beautiful Dakota Ridge Hogback Formation. Within all of the layers of the Dakota Hogback formation lie significant fossil resources, including a record of Colorado’s past as an inland sea!
- South Cañon Trails – The South Cañon Trail System connects to the Section 13 trails and offers something for everyone. Discover flowy, easier trails close to town or try to master the technical climb of Hard Time. Since the Eagle Wing Trailhead isn’t very large, we recommend cyclists riding from town park at/near Centennial Park.
- Temple Canyon Park – Temple Canyon Park, just south of Cañon City, is a treasure for anyone looking to avoid crowds and explore a gorgeous, natural landscape.
- Oil Well Flats – In this recreational trail system, located 6.5 miles north of Cañon City, 13 miles of trails interconnect, allowing for a whole day of adventure. Riders and hikers delight in spectacular views of the Royal Gorge, the Arkansas River, and the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. Deep within the trail system, other scenic features include a 200-foot cliff of pitted slickrock, a shaded patch of woods, and an old burn area that’s been transformed into a rolling prairie.
- Red Canyon Park – Short hikes with breathtaking beauty take you up close to red sandstone formations, sheer cliffs, and yawning canyons that overlooked Four Mile Creek.
- Royal Gorge Park Trails – Completed in 2018, the Royal Gorge Park Trails System traverses the gorge’s rim and surrounding hills, giving hikers and mountain bikers over 17 miles of singletrack to explore and incredible views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the Arkansas River as their backdrop. The newest trail added to the Royal Gorge Park Trails is the Point Alta Vista Trail, one mile of re-decked trestles on the old Royal Gorge Scenic Railway route–a classic rails-to-trail success story!
- Newlin Creek – Nestled in the Wet Mountains south of Florence, Florence Mountain Park is an easily-accessible escape from the high mountain desert. Just a few minutes from downtown Florence, the park features pine forests and granite outcroppings.
- Point Alta Vista Trail – This one-mile (two miles out and back) trail is a wonderful option for those who would like a wide, relatively easy trail for hiking, walking, or mountain biking. It goes along refurbished railroad trestles and out to one of the region’s best views.
