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Canon City & Cripple Creek, CO II

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We continued exploring the area around us by hiking around the bridge in the city park, visiting Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument & taking a train ride.  The bridge crosses the gorge 955 ft. above the Arkansas River. It was the highest bridge in the world until 2001 when a bridge in China was completed, still the highest in US.  The bridge was built in 6 months in 1929 and designed by George E. Cole. View of the gorge looking east. Rugged mountain terrain surrounds the gorge.  Cactus are blooming  Perspective view of bridge and gorge   Fellow hiker i.e. looking for hand-outs Right time of year for cactus blooming! Today we journey to Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, a hidden gem! Rock formations were amazing along the route Became a National Monument in 1969.  Fossils from Florissant are in over 20 US and UK museums & universities. Today's landscape features ponderosa pine, spruce, fi...
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Canon City & Cripple Creek, CO I

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Travels continued in CO to area west of Colorado Springs.  A lot of history of gold mining, ruff characters and scenic sites! We found a campground west of Canon City, Royal View Campground.  The first pic is the view we had out our front window into the Royal Gorge with the Arkansas River flowing through it.   This "pedestrian only" bridge was bridge in 1929 for $350,000   Skyline Drive - a 3 mile one-way road paralleling US 50 built in 1932. Views points of the surrounding mountains and Canon City can be seen from various view points. There is a special treat.  Dinosaur Tracks trace back 107 million years.  Wet lands have fossilized and turned to stone. They use the 1935 Women's Prison as a museum today.  Main Prison is still active today but only retains minimal security personnel. Original tower still stands. Gas Chamber Larry loves his off-roading, back road between Canon City and Cripple Creek...
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