Best things to do in Cañon City

Feel the adrenaline rush as you splash down the rapids of beautiful Arkansas River during a river rafting and tubing tour from Canon City. You'll experience Colorado whitewater at its finest, while you paddle alongside your expert guide past towering walls of the challenging Royal Gorge, one of the top-rated rafting runs in the country. First-time rafters can opt for a less challenging family-friendly rafting trip through Bighorn Sheep Canyon--even children older than 5 can join in that one. Most tours last either half a day (starting by 1pm at the latest) or full day, and are not suitable for persons under the age of 14. Available from April 1 until Labor Day.

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park boasts the highest bridge in the United States, spanning the gorge at 291 m (955 ft) above the Arkansas River. You'll appreciate the view by crossing the bridge on foot to peer down into the canyon below. In the park, you'll find a sky coaster that carries you over the gorge at high speeds. A gondola ride down the river adds a little romance to the great outdoors, while ziplines and mini trains allow you to give your feet a rest. Start at the visitor center to purchase tickets and pick up a map of the area.

Offering scenic views of Canon City and Arkansas River Valley, Skyline Drive is one of Colorado's hidden gems. The drive was built in 1905 by inmates from the nearby prison who were awarded time off of their sentence for every month they worked on this short scenic roadway that winds and falls like a roller coaster about 240 m (800 ft) above the surrounding terrain. If you're afraid of heights, think twice before testing your driving skills.

The tallest dunes in North America are the centerpiece in a diverse landscape of wetlands, grasslands, forests, alpine lakes and tundra.

Visit the park website for extensive information about the park, including planning your visit, weather information, campgrounds, Medano Creek conditions and forecast flow, Medano Pass Road conditions, nature and science, and more:

http://www.nps.gov/grsa

About the Great Sand Dunes Facebook Page

The Great Sand Dunes Facebook page was established by the National Park Service in 2008 as an interpretive outreach forum to strengthen public connections to park resources, and to encourage visitors to share experiences of the park with each other. You are welcome to "like" and comment on status updates, links, photos, and video clips posted here by park staff and visitors.

If you wish to express a comment or question about something related to the park in a formal and official capacity, please visit the park's contact page for email, phone numbers, and physical addresses:

http://www.nps.gov/grsa/contacts.htm

Guidelines for the Great Sand Dunes Facebook Page

While this is an open forum, it is a family-friendly one. Be aware that we may remove posts and comments that are inappropriate.

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The tasting room at The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey is in an Arts and Craftsmen cottage that was built by P. H. Troutman of Denver, Colorado, in 1911. The sweeping arches and post and beam structure are fabulous examples of this architecture. The winery produces 14 wines, 10 of which are complimentary to taste. Linens from Provence, pottery from Spain, Tunisia, Portugal and France, and a vast array of food, wine and travel books are just a sampling of the beautiful items sold in the tasting room.

Tackle the wicked whitewater on Colorado's supreme rafting river during a rafting and tubing trip from Buena Vista. Put on a wetsuit and paddle alongside your safety-minded guide, before charging down a foaming river cutting its way through Brown's Canyon and Royal Gorge. With a variety of trips to choose from, you can opt for the one that suits your skill level--from a family-friendly scenic float down mild waters, to action-packed adventure for fierce die-hard adrenaline seekers. Although no previous experience is necessary to take these half-day, full-day, and multi-day trips, there is an age limit (minimum age 6).

Take a deep dive into the Rocky Mountains at Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine to find out more about the fascinating history of Colorado's gold rush days. Discovered by Mollie Kathleen Gortner in 1891, the mine produced gold for decades until 1961, when it was closed and turned into a seasonal tourist attraction. Don your hard hat and start your tour by descending 300 m (1,000 ft) underground. As you follow your miner/guide you'll see real gold veins and historic mining equipment. Finally, you'll get to ride aboard the air-powered tram-air locomotive. Back on the surface, more historic equipment and outbuildings wait to be explored.

Four Mile Ranch is a nationally recognized Jim Engh-designed golf course.

"Top Ten Places To Play" Golf Magazine

#4 "Best New Public Course 2008" Golf Digest