Where to Stay in Colorado’s Newly Named Pikes Peak Wonders Region: Royal Gorge Cabins

Early this summer we stayed in the gorgeous Royal Gorge Cabins. These year-round cabins offer a beautiful place for your Colorado winter getaway in the newly named Pikes Peak Wonders region.

Central Colorado’s newly labeled Pikes Peak Wonders region is a hotbed of recreational adventures, geological quirks, historic attractions and a 14,115-foot-high mountain that inspires countless travelers from around the world to explore the region year-round.

Accommodating those visitors with luxury and comfort, Royal Gorge Cabins offer luxury travelers, glampers and campers alike a memorable home base for exploring the region’s many wonders.

The cabins, along with sister operations including an acclaimed restaurant and the region’s largest whitewater rafting outfitters, comprise one of the top adventure resorts in the country, according to U.S. News & World Report.

The Colorado Tourism Office (CTO) announced in October a wholesale renaming of regions throughout the state, selecting descriptive labels rather than the previous geographic names. Pikes Peak Wonders comprise the Royal Gorge region, headwaters of the Arkansas River and Garden of the Gods was formerly called the South Central region by tourism officials.

“CTO nailed it,” said Andy Neinas, owner of Echo Canyon River Expeditions and Royal Gorge Cabins, one of the oldest tourism companies in the region. “I’ve lived here for most of my adult life, and I still find wonder daily in rugged caps of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and the colorful desert landscape. It’s tough to get bored around here.”

Opened in 2017, the cabins are located within minutes of the Arkansas River and the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park, Royal Gorge Route Railroad, historic Cañon City, Dinosaur Experience and many other attractions and year-round recreational offerings.

In developing the architectural footprint and interior design of the cabins, Neinas and his team sought inspiration from the mountains. The cabins are decorated in contemporary mountain style with fireplace mantles created from locally sourced timber from the original Royal Gorge Bridge, which was damaged after wildfires destroyed much of the park in 2013.

The resort’s one- and two-bedroom cabins are open year-round, and with fully equipped kitchens and generous space for gatherings, Neinas reports they have become popular for holiday gatherings. The resort also includes glamping tents, open from April to October. Popular among travelers looking for a luxurious but close-to-nature experience, the tents include one or two queen beds and a variety of luxury touches like pre-built fires in private ring rings, comfortable deck seating, plush towels and other high-end amenities.

Less than an hour from Colorado Springs, the cabins are located in Colorado’s “Banana Belt,” a microclimate oddity that occurs because the Arkansas River Valley on the lee side of the mountains and the upslope and downslope winds divert moisture away from the region. With typically moderate winter-season temperatures – sometimes as warm as 60 degrees, but nearly always in the 40s and 50s – and plenty of sunshine, the Royal Gorge region is often pleasantly warm, even when nearby Colorado Springs and Denver are experiencing winter weather.

Rates start at $355 for one-bedroom cabins and $419 for cabins with two bedrooms. For information about rates and booking, visit www.royalgorgecabins.com or call 1-800-748-2953. The resort also offers Glamping Tents during the warm-weather months.