Royal Gorge Colorado

In answer to your question, you must pay to get into the park, which then will allow you to see the gorge from above. You can then take the tram, the bridge, or the cable car/gondola type thing over the gorge. You also will access to the touristy stuff for the kids plus concessions.

I found the park to be very interesting. The inclined railroad to the bottom of the gorge was great. The bridge does a great job of inducing vertigo. The history and information regarding how it was constructed was fascinating.
The best way to go through the gorge is on a raft. Beats the train trip by a factor of 100. Class three and four rapids which means they are the biggest waters a novice should be running (ability to swim strongly is required, however). You will get wet, cold and maybe dump trucked at Sunshine rapids or smashed into the gorge wall at Wallslammer, make it this far and then hope that Boateater isn't hungry. Worth the price of admission.

ddndoug wrote:
We are planning a trip to the Colorado Springs area next month. The wife is wondering if Royal Gorge Bridge Park is worth paying the admission fee to get into the park, or can you enjoy the gorge without entering the park?

Doug

Not to bad mouth the Springs but if you just drive on out RT 24 to Buena Vista and the Collegiates you will see what I would consider the Real Colorado, not the Touristy part - Independence Pass - 14'ers - Aspen - Lakes - Streams - Beaver Dams..............

Just so much to see, might as well go to the Big, Beautiful and Wild side.

JMHO,

If you can, take the train ride through the gorge. Ride in the open car if you can, you have to stand the entire way, but the views are well worth it. It's a beautiful trip along the river at the bottom of the gorge and I think the best way to see it.

If you just walk across the bridge, you don't get to see much, mostly due to all the people. You catch the train in Canon City. It's been several years since I took the train ride, but I think I just paid for the train and not the park admission.