When it comes to seeking the best teen adventures NEAR Colorado Springs it’s time to take a one-hour ride to Canon City!
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Family Fun!
For those of you who really love adventure like I do and really love adrenaline adventure, the Royal Gorge Bridge and park is your destination.
Transparency: My trip was hosted, but this is my story and my photos.
Who Would Love the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park?
I’m an adventure-seeking destination teen, who travels with food allergies. My biggest challenge is to find both a way to have fun and eat in one destination and I did!
At the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, you’ll find everything to gawk at, challenge you and enjoy!
Better yet, it’s almost ALL outside, almost!
From a gondola ride across the gorge to an incredible walk across the Royal Gorge Bridge, incredible views, really great eats (and if you have allergies, hint you can eat here).
There is a huge deck if you bring your parents or grandparents. Why do I mention this?
They don’t want to walk they can sit, and there’s a really cool other side of the bridge attraction.
Yep, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park are for EVERYONE!
Here are 7 Teen adventures at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park that I tested out for you first! Let the adrenaline surge! Don’t forget to try out Pikes Peak too, that’s another amped adventure!
7 Teen Adventures at The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
My day was hosted by the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park but I am an honest kid and the truth is what I will share, all of my opinions!
I was lucky enough to have a personal guide (Mrs. Peggy Gair) on this day.
What I learned is through the in-depth experience provided to me during this day was incredible.
Now I am able to share with you the best of the best things to do while you were at the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park as a teen or for anybody actually reading this that loves adrenaline-pumping adventure!
A big hug and thank you to Ms. Peggy for everything she did that day as I had an incredible amount of fun.
Peggy Gair is the Public Relations Manager at the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park.
My day could not have been better, she’s as cool as adults get — she rides everything!!
As Mentioned the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park are not far from…
This is super close to Colorado Springs, so don’t miss it, just about a one-hour drive and so much fun! So take a nap in the car while your parents drive and go early, it gets busy!
1. The Gondola at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
First things first, I rode the gondola over the gorge and then we returned riding the zip line across the gorge.
Oh yeah, you just gotta! It’s like nothing I’ve ever done and I have even zipped over alligators, so this was fantastic and took zipping to a new level!
Riding across the gondola or riding in the zip line you have 1000+ feet below.
Basically, you’re on a single cable and you’re going across in this gondola looking at this incredible view and then on your return trip, you’re taking the zip line.
Now you don’t have to do any of this but I chose to do this because I wanted to see what it looked like on the way over.
Then I could experience it out in the wide-open and that is why I did it and that succession
2. Zip Across The Gorge Woo-Hoo! Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
My thoughts because my mom made me tell you.
In reality, I was just like ‘Let me to the front of the line and let’s go’ that’s how we all think right?
Who wants to wait for the fun, just let it happen.
No worries, jump on and have a great time, but I did not say that to my mom!
Zipline is basically like a bucket swing seat and you get it and you just go and before you know it it’s over.
Now I might suggest purchasing the video at the end so that you could have your moment relive forever and of course, it’s bragging points to show your friends.
You cannot use your phone or have anything in your pockets when you go across the gorge, and you cannot use a go pro.
Therefore, your best bet is to get it captured by The Royal Gorge Staff which they do automatically, and purchase it!
Want a glimpse into what I saw and how it feels to go across the Gorge?
It’s so cool and while it is steep it is calm and peaceful.
You don’t really think about anything except, “WOW cool!” and then you want to do it again because it’s addictive!
3. Royal Gorge Bridge – Even In A Golf Cart (SMH)
You can read my mom’s part of this on her post about the Royal Gorge Bridge. However, I’m going to give you a little bit of insight.
My mom is terrified of heights and there was no way she was walking across the bridge which most of the people that go there do.
Luckily, Ms. Peggy was so easy going my mom sat in the front and held on to her.
Ms. Peggy, I am so sorry!!!
Talk about mom’s embarrassing their kids, she totally wore me out with her insane fear of heights, even though I understand.
If your parents or grandparents or your siblings are afraid of heights you can request help getting across the bridge.
This is a service they do at no additional cost.
Now you know where this is going my mom was totally scared of the bridge so we were given a ride in the golf cart across the bridge.
My only regret is that I never stopped her set foot on the bridge unfortunately because my mom is total chicken.
However, I did cross the bridge back and forth.
Never fear I am heading back and my mom can ride on the cart.
I personally will be walking and heading to the Pittsburgh Flag for photos! End of story!
4. Tommy Knockers Playland at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
Once across the bridge I suggest going up to the area where there are quite a few elective activities to totally enhance your time there.
Officially it is referred to as Tommy Knockerland but also as the children’s play area.
Remember this, don’t think you’re too old for the fun that I had because even as I am 15 I had a blast panning for Gems.
The fun has no age limits, it is just fun. Be you, experience as much as you can.
Even my mom was into getting her hand-molded into a wax mold.
I have never seen this done before so that is super cool to watch in it’s another thing you can do!
Also, if you are young enough you can ride the carousel but if you aren’t don’t worry what I’m about to drop on you will work well for teens!
5. Royal Rush Sky Coaster – You Gotta!
Zip First. Then Skycoaster it! Total Amp Charge!
So we got there at 10 o’clock and in that little bit of time I did the zip lining and the gondola, and then we cross the bridge and I did the mining.
My stomach was just starting to rumble but before we could let that happen it was time to do the Royal Rush Sky Coaster. I think you should empty out your bladder before you get on this.
Don’t go on this if you’re afraid of heights only go on it if you can suck it up and stand it and I did it! Wait, did I tell you Ms. Peggy went with me and she made it even more fun.
We went up together and WOW what a rush, there are just no words.
Here’s a great clip from us taking off and landing, and with every second there’s a heartbeat-skipping, trust me!
Process: Royal Gorge Bridge and Park: Before the Skycoaster
Here you’re going to get suited up into a vest hardest combo or something of the sort. I’m not really specific on what it was but just know you’re getting strapped in tight.
They’re going to pull you back high and then sell your butt off over the gorge so you can see it only so far out and you’re going to go back-and-forth about six more times.
The initial freefall, the view, and then coming back and having it happen over and over a few more times is what will definitely set up your adrenaline.
I have that feeling of losing my stomach, not sure what else to call it, but it’s great!
And then there’s my mom’s narrative on my experience — she gave me this so I want to share it too!
6.The food at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
You are going to get hungry, trust me!
I’m a teen what did you think I was going to talk about? I absolutely needed to eat especially after that Royal Rush Sky Coaster.
When you drop and lose your belly you need to fill it back upright?
I have severe food allergies and you already know this so I won’t bore you with details but I will tell you that it is possible to definitely eat here if you have food allergies!
Make sure to always ask like I did but I ate on the side where the Royal Rush Coaster as it ate some burgers that just rocked.
Fresh and fantastic and I am not just saying it. Do watch the wind it tried to take my burger, but I am a teen and strong and fought it! I ate faster and that solved the wind issue.
7. Digest and Bird It Up
While you are digesting and before you remind your mom who is afraid of heights that you are heading back over the bridge, go to the bird show.
The biggest attraction to me was the popcorn (just kidding but Ms. Peggy and I got our popcorn faces on!).
There’s delicious popcorn and it’s only about three dollars and some change so make sure to get that before you go into the show.
If you’re lucky you’ll get to see live animals they do that in between the history movie.
Make sure to walk around to get the history and background of how the bridge was built, it is in the back and sides of the theater.
Cross The Royal Gorge Bridge To End Your Day
After you see the movie and get to see the animals, I suggest going back over the bridge.
Make sure to take note of all the different flags of all the different states and stop and take a picture of your state.
Again, my mom was so afraid that we never stopped, I will get this opportunity again and I am going to stop by every flag!
Tips & Thoughts About The Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
- Personally, I think this is a six-hour experience. Based on my fun, I could have used a few more hours and we did this in 4.
- I think lines vary day-to-day and if you are like me you will want to cover the areas piece by piece.
- One thing you want to know and what Miss Peggy told me is that you can get there as early as 8 o’clock. While the park itself is not open the bridge is.
- Think of all the flag pics you can get with not many others on it! Yeah, that is total teen time, plus you can go across and back a few extra times.
- All the other attractions open at 10 A if I heard right, check the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park to make sure.
- Don’t worry if your parents can’t go there during the summer because they’re open 365 days a year which means there’s always a chance to go there and experience this!
- Trust me, I will return here there is just too much fun stacked into one place to not go back. There is just so much to do for the entire day, you were kind of just get lost in it.
- Don’t forget to take a ton of pictures because again this is Instagram and Snapchat worthy and definitely is teen bucket list perfect! NIKO~