On the banks of the Arkansas River where it spills out of the mountains, the Best Western Canon City puts whitewater and canyon country at the doorstep in Canon City, Colorado, where the Royal Gorge country begins.
The Royal Gorge is the headline act. The towering bridge spans a sheer 1,000-foot chasm just west of town, the scenic railroad rolls along the river floor, and rafting outfitters launch into the rapids all summer. Closer in, the Museum of Colorado Prisons, the cliff-edge Skyline Drive, and Holy Cross Abbey add history and views, and festivals like the Royal Gorge Whitewater celebration bring the town out.
Spacious rooms come with a microwave, refrigerator, and free Wi-Fi, and a complimentary breakfast opens the day. An indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, and fitness center ease sore muscles after the river, and the hotel welcomes pets. For rafters, railfans, and history buffs alike, Canon City makes a fitting home base.