Spring is here and with it can come a sort of lull between winter and summer in terms of outdoor recreation in Colorado. The ski slopes are starting to dry up, but mountain conditions aren’t quite warm nor predictable enough for hiking and camping quite yet. That said, the travel and fun doesn’t have to stop – and if you’re in Colorado Springs or Denver, this time of the year can be perfect for a Cañon City trip.

Only about an hour from Colorado Springs (and two hours from Denver), my partner and I recently took a day trip down to check out our neighbor to the south. She’d never been there before and while I’d been many times, there were plenty of Fremont County activities still on my list.

I started the planning process beforehand, booking a 1 p.m. slot at a local hot spring. I built the rest of the trip around that.

After a scenic drive down Highway 115, we made our way to Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. This iconic landmark is impressive and everyone should see it at least once. While I’d been there before, I had yet to check out the new glass-floored gondola cars, which travel across the canyon at more than a thousand feet above the floor of the gorge.

We spent about two hours at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, talking our time as we walked across the bridge, watching the educational video in the on-site theater, and taking the gondola back to our vehicle on the other side of the canyon. A visit can be extended by adding the zipline, the canyon swing, or a via ferrata experience into the mix.

From there, we made our way to Skyline Drive – a narrow one-way route above Cañon City that delivers big on views and thrills. Driving this route only adds about 15 to 20 minutes to the trip with the option to stop at the top. Plus, it drops you in a part of town that makes it easy to visit Main Street and it’s many shops and restaurants.

For our food stop, we popped by World’s End Brewery at its new location – just across the block from its old location for those familiar, and now complete with an updated feel that includes arcade games, skeeball, and pool tables. We took about an hour to enjoy some smashburgers and a beer and then we were on our way to Desert Reef Hot Spring.

Desert Reef Hot Spring is a clothing-optional hot spring destination located in Florence – about 25 minutes from downtown Cañon City. It offers a more relaxed atmosphere compared to many more commercialized resort-style hot springs around the state. It’s adults-only, peaceful, and quiet (read more about it here).

Reservable soaking sessions are for two and a half-hour slots. After getting our fill, we were on our way back to the Springs.

In total, the trip took less than eight hours. For two people, we spent about $70 at the Royal Gorge, $50 at lunch, and $70 at the hot spring for a total of $190 – or $85 per person; still less than a lift ticket for one at many of the state’s ski resorts – and it included four activities with less than three hours total of driving. It’s an itinerary I’d recommend to anyone looking for a quick getaway for two – just make sure you book those hot spring reservations ahead of time.

Those looking for more adventure and less sight-seeing may want to check out mountain biking at the Oil Well Flats, rock climbing at Shelf Road, or local rafting options.

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