Royal Gorge: From Above and Below
My first full day in Colorado Springs took me to Royal Gorge — and the weather wasted no time reminding me how unpredictable it can be. It turned out to be the coldest, wettest day of the week. When I booked the train and subsequently decided to walk the bridge, I hadn’t planned on sleet, wind, or rain, but Colorado had other ideas.
Bundled only in a light rain jacket, with my gloves still at the hotel and not in the car like I thought, I made my way across the suspension bridge, camera in hand. The rain shifted to sleet as I walked, the pellets audible against my jacket. The bridge swayed in the wind, which is kind of unsettling if you're not expecting it, and add water to the wooden planks can be "fun". Despite the chill, the view was incredible — gray clouds hugging the canyon rim, mist curling around the cliffs, and far below, the glint of the train tracks I’d soon be following.
By afternoon, the rain had mostly subsided as I boarded the Royal Gorge Route Railway but you could see more clouds in the distance headed my way. Watching the canyon walls rise on either side through rain-streaked windows felt like entering another world. The sound of the rain against the glass mixed with the rhythm of the train, and the gorge seemed even more dramatic from below — raw, powerful, and alive. At one point, I caught a glimpse of a small herd of bighorn sheep standing impossibly still on a narrow ledge high above the train. I wasn’t quick enough to get the shot, but that fleeting sight might be one of my favorite memories from the day — a reminder that some moments are meant to be experienced, not captured.
Two sides of the same place, both unforgettable in their own way.
