The Arkansas River is the sixth longest river in America, weaving its way from Leadville in Colorado to Napoleon in Arkansas where it joins the Mississippi River. Geologists estimate that the river cuts its course one foot deeper every 2,500 years, eventually forming the Royal Gorge as it is known today.

Originally built in 1929 at a cost of $350,000, the Royal Gorge Bridge is a tourist attraction near Cañon City in Colorado. The bridge crosses the gorge 955 feet (291 m) above the Arkansas River and is the highest bridge in the US.

In 2013, most of the park structures on both sides of the gorge were devastated by a man-made wildfire; the fire jumped from the south to the north side of the gorge just west of the bridge and burned over 3,000 acres of the park. The bridge itself sustained only minimal damage and a grand re-opening ceremony took place in May 2015 after the completion of $30 million in repairs and the addition of a gondola lift and the installation of a new zip-line crossing.

The “bridge” experience is outstanding. First one takes a gondola lift across the gorge which gives you a really great opportunity to appreciate the height of the bridge. After that you walk down to the level of the bridge and start walking across. Believe me, it is scary (well, I was scared)! The wind is blowing, the bridge is moving in the breeze, and there are small gaps in the wooden planks where one can see the Arkansas River below! I had to hold on to the railings when I was taking pictures but the experience was great when you are back on terra firma!!

The main span of the bridge between the towers is 880 feet (268 m) and the total length is 1,260 feet (384 m).

In celebration of Halloween, Pumpkins decorate the central section of the bridge which sits at an elevation of over 6,600 feet!

The rapids under the bridge help make the Arkansas River one of the most popular rafting rivers in the US.