Nature
Royal Gorge is a steep, narrow canyon of the Arkansas River west of Cañon City, carved over millions of years as the river cut downward through rising granite, creating one of Colorado’s deepest and most confined canyons. Long before tourism, Native peoples used it for winter shelter and as a route toward mountain hunting grounds, and Zebulon Pike’s 1806 expedition made the first recorded European visit. In the late 19th century, the gorge became the center of the Royal Gorge Railroad War as rival railroads fought for this mountain passage. Its later history has been shaped by excursion rail service, Royal Gorge Park, and the high bridge that became its most famous landmark.
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Park Center, Colorado · United States
