Royal Gorge Bridge Bungee Jump Guide (What To Expect)

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a 360-acre attraction near Cañon City, Colorado, roughly 2 hours from Denver and about 1 hour from Colorado Springs. The centerpiece is the Royal Gorge Bridge itself — a suspension bridge spanning the Royal Gorge of the Arkansas River, suspended 956 feet above the water below. The bridge stretches 1,260 feet across the gorge, is 18 feet wide, and is supported by towers 150 feet tall. It was completed in November 1929 and was the highest bridge in the world from that year until 2001, when it was surpassed by the Liuguanghe Bridge in China; it held the title of highest suspension bridge in the world until 2003, when China’s Beipan River Guanxing Highway Bridge eclipsed it. The Royal Gorge Bridge remains the highest suspension bridge in the United States. Its original measured height from 1929 was recorded as 1,053 feet (321 meters), but an independent laser rangefinder measurement in 2005 revised the figure downward to the current accepted height of 955–956 feet (291 meters).

The park was heavily damaged by a wildfire in June 2013 that destroyed most of its buildings and the original Incline Railway. The bridge itself sustained only minor damage. The park was rebuilt and fully reopened in May 2015.

Is Bungee Jumping Available at Royal Gorge Bridge?

Bungee jumping from the Royal Gorge Bridge is not currently offered. The park’s own FAQ states directly: “Although we have had events in the past, we do not currently allow bungee jumping at the park.” Jumping from the bridge was permitted only during a limited-run annual event called the Go Fast! Games, which brought BASE jumpers and bungee jumpers to the bridge by invitation only for a three-day window each September. Those events were held in the mid-to-late 2000s and have not recurred in recent years. Visitors who arrive hoping to bungee jump will not find that option available.

If the event status has changed, the official Royal Gorge Bridge & Park website at royalgorgebridge.com is the authoritative source for current programming.

What Extreme Activities Are Currently Available

The park does offer several high-adrenaline alternatives that are available year-round as ticketed experiences.

Royal Rush SkyCoaster: This is often what people find when searching for bungee jumping at Royal Gorge, and it’s worth being clear about what it actually is: the SkyCoaster is a pendulum swing ride, not a bungee jump. Up to three riders are harnessed together, winched up a 100-foot tower, and released to swing out over the edge of the gorge at speeds up to 50 mph, suspended 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River in a pendulum arc. The SkyCoaster is sold separately from general admission. It was added to the park in 2003.

Cloudscraper Zip Line: A hands-free zip line that crosses the Royal Gorge rim-to-rim, listed by the Travel Channel as a top Colorado bucket list experience. Riders zip across the gorge with views of the bridge and canyon. It requires a separate ticket and was installed after the 2015 rebuild.

Royal Gorge Via Ferrata: A guided climbing route on the granite walls of the gorge, added in recent years as an immersive way to descend into the canyon. This is a physically demanding guided experience suitable for families and requires a separate booking.

General Admission: The Bridge, Gondola, and Park

Standard park admission covers walking the bridge, riding the Aerial Gondola (which crosses 2,200 feet of the gorge at roughly 1,000 feet above the river in enclosed cable cars), the Plaza Theater, and the Tommy Knocker Playland children’s area. The park is open 365 days a year, though individual ride operations may be weather-dependent. Admission prices change periodically — check royalgorgebridge.com for current rates before visiting, as the figures quoted in older sources are no longer accurate. The SkyCoaster and Zip Line each require a separately purchased ticket on top of general admission.

Parking at the park is free. The address is 4218 County Road 3A, Cañon City, Colorado 81215.

About the Bridge and Park

The Royal Gorge Bridge was conceived by Texan entrepreneur Lon P. Piper, who envisioned a tourist crossing purely for the purpose of viewing the gorge — it has never been part of a road or highway system. Construction was led by engineer George E. Cole and required a team of about 80 workers; the bridge was built in roughly six to seven months. The deck is composed of more than 1,250 wooden planks. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Beyond the bridge, the gorge runs approximately 10 miles and reaches depths up to 1,200 feet. The Arkansas River at the bottom is accessible by the Royal Gorge Route Railroad, which runs scenic excursions through the gorge on a separate reservation basis from a depot in Cañon City. The Royal Gorge whitewater section of the Arkansas — including the famous “Royal Gorge” stretch rated Class IV–V — is also a major destination for experienced kayakers and commercial raft trips operating out of Cañon City.

For more on Colorado outdoor adventures, see the guides to Royal Gorge Bridge & Park activities, Royal Gorge region highlights, Colorado and Southwest road trips, and Colorado adventure activities.