Royal Gorge Park
Near Cañon City, Colorado

Who would expect the world's highest suspension bridge to be stretched across a canyon in Colorado?  And, who would expect that bridge to be the central attraction, of an old-fashioned roadside tourist trap? Well, both are true, and perhaps the biggest surprise of all is, Royal Gorge Park is actually a kitschy, fun place to spend a few hours.

The view from the center of the bridge.

Strictly enforced.

Being a Florida resident, I had to take this picture.  Imagine, the flag of Florida, a state where the highest point is only 345 feet above sea level, flying over a 1,000 foot canyon, surrounded by mountains.  What could be more out of place?

If walking across a narrow suspension bridge was the only thing to do at Royal Gorge, the park probably wouldn't draw much of a crowd.  That's why the park has several other attractions, including this incline railway, which quickly drops you 1,000 feet to the bottom of the gorge.

You ride inside tiny cages, just big enough for two people each.  There's no room to sit, so you have to stand for the entire journey.  Halfway down, the track widens from three rails to four, allowing just enough room for the car heading uphill to pass.

The incline railway at Royal Gorge is the world's steepest, boasting a 100% grade (meaning the track is at a 45 degree angle).  The railway was built in 1931, by the same engineer as the bridge.

Once you reach the bottom, you're activities are somewhat limited.  You're confined to a long, fenced sidewalk, that provides great views of the river, but doesn't let you wander to the water's edge.

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