The Royal Gorge Route, guess why it's named that, departs Canon City for a 2 hour excursion 12 miles in length each way along what used to be a transcontinental link between Denver, Colorado, and Salt Lake, Utah. Originally constructed as 3 foot narrow gauge the line was converted to standard gauge. The last run of Rio Grande trains 1 and 2 between Denver and Salida occurred on 27 Jul 1967. Today's Royal Gorge Route excursion has operated since 1999.