Where the sparkling waters of the Arkansas River tumble along through the Rocky Mountains, the Sweetwater River Ranch waits to become your secluded Colorado mountain vacation home. Located on Hwy 50 in Texas Creek, half way between Salida and Canon City, this seasonal campground is open from April 28 through October 31 and offers a convenient online reservation to help you plan your trip. With stunning views of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, this Royal Gorge area site offers the best of mountain living, with resort-like amenities.
For your accommodations, choose from comfortable motel rooms, deluxe, camping and pioneer cabins, or spacious RV and tent sites. The small, personal camp is the perfect retreat when you really want to get away from the bustle and hassle of the real world. Encompassing a half mile of the Arkansas River and 31 acres of riparian wildlife refuge, this is one of the best places in the country to view wildlife, enjoy kayaking, hiking, biking, skiing and rock climbing. The whitewater rafting on the Arkansas is ideal, and for fishing, you can't beat the river's ratio of 4,000 brown trout per mile!
While many exciting attractions lie in close proximity to the ranch, be sure to take a day trip to the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, where a two hour ride will take you over 24 miles of breathtaking scenery in the 1,000 foot deep Royal Gorge. Another great excursion is to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, which is the world's highest suspension bridge hanging 1,053 feet and stretching a quarter mile in length over the Arkansas River. These are only a few of the amazing adventures available in the area, and the Sweetwater River Ranch is the perfect base camp from which to experience them all.
Directions:
Sweetwater River Ranch is conveniently located on US Highway 50, exactly halfway between Canon City and Salida, at milepost 250 (and a half!) We're 1 ½ hours southwest of Colorado Springs, in western Fremont County, CO.
From Denver or Colorado Springs: Take I-25 South to Colorado Springs to Exit 140, Tejon/Nevada Ave. Take Nevada Ave., which is also CO 115 SW, about 40 miles to US 50 in Penrose, CO. Turn right, west, go straight through Canon City, and turn right into our paved driveway 25 miles later, at milepost 250 ½. (Past the Royal Gorge turnoff, & over the bridge at Parkdale).
From Grand Junction, CO: Take US 50 East to milepost 250 ½ (Through Montrose, Gunnison, over Monarch Pass, & through Salida on your way.)
From Albuquerque:
Take I-25 N across Raton Pass & into Colorado. Continue N to Pueblo, and Exit 101, US 50. Turn west through Canon City, and turn right into our paved driveway 25 miles later, at milepost 250 ½. (past the Royal Gorge turnoff, & over the bridge at Parkdale).
Sample driving distances to Sweetwater from:
Albuquerque - 360 miles
Amarillo - 387 miles
Denver - 140 miles
Kansas City - 660 miles
Las Vegas - 786 miles
Salt Lake City - 564 miles
Trinidad, CO - 150