Nature at work in the Royal Gorge

Train depot

The Arkansas River begins high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, taking the melted snows and rains on a 1,460-mile path through Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas before it flows into the Mississippi River. Like all rivers, its size and power changes with the seasons and the weather.

While it is usually a calm, beautiful waterway, the news this spring covered massive flooding that occurred in Oklahoma and Arkansas. Two months later, the river still fills the banks of the Royal Gorge as the spring snows melt upstream.

We recently took a train ride through the Royal Gorge and I have to admit that watching the power of the river was as fascinating as the gorge it has created over the centuries. The river flowed with enough force that it was easy to imagine the swift waters carving a path through the hard rocks.

The Arkansas River

The gorge is only about 50 feet across. The train runs from Canon City to Parkdale, a 12-mile trip through the gorge, before making the return trip.

The train boasts a full bar and good food. While we enjoyed both, the highlight for me was the open car where I could use my camera. I stood next to a man who pointed out a number of big horn sheep on the rocks, but I only saw two. A majestic sight, for sure, but too far away for my camera. We also spotted a couple of bald eagles.

It surprised me that several of the people I met have taken the ride many times. They spoke of never tiring of the scenery and the many moods of the Arkansas River.

While Colorado scenic railway rides are major tourist attractions throughout the state, many of today's visitors are searching for more active encounters. The Royal Gorge Park offers gondola rides, a zip line and a sky coaster. For those of us who are more faint of heart, the train ride or a walk across the bridge suffices.

The bridge from the train

In any case, nature has given us a stunning view that we can enjoy from nearly 1,000 feet above or at ground level. A fire in 2013 destroyed much of the park but the bridge only suffered minor damage. The park is bigger and better than ever since it reopened in 2014.

The bridge, at 955 feet above the gorge floor, is 18 feet wide and 1,260 feet long, with 1,292 wooden planks. It was constructed in 1929, and was the highest bridge in the world until a new Chinese bridge opened in 2001. It remains the highest in the US.