Garden Park Fossil Area - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

Marsh Quarry explores one of the more prominent fossil areas. The short trail visits two overlooks both with educational information. The views from the Upper Overlook are worth the short hike.

The Indian Springs Trace Fossil Locality Natural Area contains trace fossils of animals that lived during the. Ordovician Period, 450 million years ago.It is considered North America's best site of trace fossils because its shows the movement of the ancient animals. Tracks left by the animals walking, swimming and burrowing in what had been a tidal lagoon's mudflat.

The Royal Gorge Route Railroad is a heritage railroad based in Cañon City, Colorado. A 1950s-era train makes daily 2-hour excursion runs from the Santa Fe Depot through the Royal Gorge along a famous section of the former Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad.

The Museum of Colorado Prisons was initially known as the Colorado State Women's Prison when it first opened its doors in 1935.The Museum was established with a view to collect, preserve, conserve, exhibit, and interpret the historical heritage of the Colorado Prison System. The Museum was also opened to serve as an incentive for historical research, education, and scholarly writings on the subject. It was equally meant to be a means to deter criminal activity.

Fremont Peak looms over the desert community of Cañon City Colorado and makes up an imposing section of the northeast rim of the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River. This scrappy little desert peak is part of a very small sub-range of mountains called the Gorge Hills. It is the highpoint of a narrow ridge of land with abrupt drops on both the east and the west. As a result, a visit to this peak is a pleasantly invigorating desert outing with knock-out views.

Phantom Canyon Road is one of the most scenic and historic drives in Colorado, in the Western United States. This unpaved scenic road connects Cañon City and Victor, going through Phantom Canyon and increases in elevation from 5,500 to 9,500 feet.The road is part of the Gold Belt Scenic Byway. The route contains many narrow roads and high wooden bridges. The road is popularly used for mountain biking and off-roading.