Winter is an amazing time to visit the Royal Gorge Region. This is, after all, a year-round destination, treating you to spectacular scenery and a plethora of outdoor activities all across the calendar. Each season brings its magic, and wintertime—with its deeper quiet and snow-dusted mountain backdrop—is certainly no exception.
And the magic’s all the greater when you get to call one of our cozy Royal Gorge Cabins or glamping tents your home-away-from-home!
Read on for three other prime ideas for enjoying the best that the winter season in the Royal Gorge Region has to offer!
3 Things to Do Near Royal Gorge This Winter
From hot springs soaking to wine tastings, here are three things to do near Royal Gorge this winter while enjoying our luxury cabin camping.
Desert Reef Hot Spring
A mere half-hour from our Royal Gorge Cabins office, Desert Reef Hot Spring operates year-round and provides one heck of a way to warm up on a crisp winter’s day. Set in a semi-arid country, this oasis provides pools of varying heat levels, though the average temperature hovers between 100 and 104 degrees F. It’s a swimsuit-optional experience at Desert Reef Hot Spring during open hours, save for a suits-required window on Fridays from opening to 7 PM.
Are hot springs still hot in winter? Yes: These are geothermal features, so they’re plenty toasty during the cold season. Colorado’s hot springs in winter are a must-see.
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey
The Winery at Holy Cross Abbey set right off Highway 50 in Cañon City’s old agricultural core, opened in 2002, but the monastery grounds it occupies date back to the 1880s. Its viticultural vision stems from enterprising Benedictine monks, and the idea’s been an enormous success: The operation’s wines have won oodles of awards.
Besides enjoying the mountain views from the vineyards, you can sample these stellar wines in the tasting room, open from 10 AM to 6 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 PM on Sunday. The crackling fireplace is pretty hard to resist during these winter months.
Vista Dome Train
Marvel at the jaw-dropping views of the Royal Gorge from the Vista Dome cars of the Royal Gorge Railroad, which chugs along year-round and shows off the 1,000-plus-foot sweep of this epic “Grand Canyon of the Arkansas River.” In winter, this Royal Gorge train ride includes themed excursions such as the “Santa Express”—all the more reason to consider hopping aboard this season!
Prepare Your Trip to the Royal Gorge
The Royal Gorge Region is an absolute hidden gem during the wintertime. It is, for one thing, part of the so-called “Banana Belt” of Colorado, with winter trails often well suited for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running. Yet the snowy Southern Rockies loom a stone’s throw away, with some of the state’s (and the country’s) premier ski resorts lying just one to two hours away. In other words, there’s an awesome diversity of things to do near Royal Gorge in the wintertime—a full array of quintessential Colorado activities!
Meanwhile, crowds are thinner in the Royal Gorge Region this time of year, delivering welcome quiet and more elbow room with the same glorious landscapes.
Treat Yourself to a Winter Getaway at Royal Gorge Cabins
Explore our rustic-luxe vacation cabins and glamping tents, and start planning your winter retreat in the Royal Gorge Region!
