Temple Canyon Park - Canon City, Colorado
A Not-So Well Known Scenic Drive And Nature Getaway With Campgrounds And Trails In Canon City - April 16, 2011
| Introduction to Temple Canyon Park, Colorado
Temple Canyon Park, maintained by the city of Canon City, doesn't
get as much respect or admiration as other places in the area.
Do a web search for this park and note the lack of
recreational and outdoor reports from folks. No doubt some of this has to do with it being in
proximity to Royal Gorge,
the grand daddy attraction of Fremont County.
But I like underdogs and so today I drove on Temple Canyon Road
through the park from Canon City to Parkdale. This park is a
good place to get away from the crowds and tourists, especially during
the summer months. I also noticed a few trails off the main road, and
two campgrounds are located on hills with beautiful mountain views.
If you're the type who likes exploring "off the beaten path" places in Canon City, Temple Canyon Park
is a good option. This appears to be a solid choice for those who like solitude,
but don't want to drive very far from Canon City.
Directions: From Highway 50 on the west side of Canon City, turn south on 1st Avenue.
Then follow the signs to Temple Canyon Park.
(You'll make a right as you leave town.) If you take the road through the park and to its end,
you'll end up near the west entrance of the Royal Gorge and Highway 50 in Parkdale.
Photo Gallery
The most picturesque mountain view from one of the campground areas in Temple Canyon Park.
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Starting my drive on Temple Canyon Road. |
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At one switchback, I zoomed-in on the view of
Pikes Peak way out there. :) |
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Continuing on. |
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The road had a couple of rough spots, but I made it fine in my passenger car. |
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Temple Canyon Road twists and turns frequently. |
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Nice mountain views. |
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Near the park entrance was this trail. #6181 |
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Temple Canyon Park
Oddly, the entrance sign for Temple Canyon Park is old and worn.
A bush obstructs it, making it difficult for drivers to see. Honestly, this park is intriguing to me.
It surely has value as a "nature getaway" in the mountains. What a peaceful place to get awhile for awhile. Yet
after looking at the signs (entrance and exit), it looks like
the city of Canon City doesn't care much about the place. |
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I turned onto a spur road that had camp sites.
From a clearing in trees, I had this grand mountain view. :) |
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Plenty of peaks and hills comprise the park. |
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More mountains on the other side of the canyon. |
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The regulations of the mountain park.
Here are my other Canon City and Fremont County area pages:
Tunnel Drive Trail
Skyline Drive
Fremont County Roads
Western Fremont County
Whitewater Rafting In The Royal Gorge
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Eventually I exited the park
and drove to Parkdale, but at one point, I stopped, turned back and photographed
where I had come from. Nice views, it seems, no matter where you are in Colorado. :)
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