After reading these reviews it sounds like summer is the best time to view everything. I too have heard be careful of windy days. We had neither of the above problems.

We were at Royal Gorge Bridge and Park Sunday June 9th, 2007. We got there when the park opened. I always think that's a good time to go! We used coupons and saved $2 per ticket so $8 total for a family of four. So instead of $84 it was $76. It was nearly the same fee to drive our car over (per person) then to pay the whole fee (not much more) and see the whole park. Plus driving over you is just not worth it you can't really take it in like you'd want to, so I'd consider that a waste of money.

First we immediately went to the incline railway which was just gearing up for the first ride down of the day! It's very neat. You get dropped off below at the bottom of the canyon and can view the Arkansas River for a few minutes and up at the bridge, maybe even see the many rafters that come by on the river and then go back up.

Our next stop at 11AM (also a good time) was the aerial tram, we were the second person in line without a problem. The tram wasn't too packed and a very smooth ride. It gave us a unique full side view of the bridge which was gorgeous. You could round trip on the tram or stay on that side. We came back and then walked across the bridge from the beginning and then over to that side.

Everyone enjoyed the views on the bridge and we were even luckier to be there on the day they had the Civil War Re-enactment going on. The bridge "closed" for a short battle so we hurried over and watched. Then we headed to the animal park which was neat, especially the baby white buffalo. The mountain man encampment was full of life due to the Civil War re-enactment guys out there having a "gunfight" in town. The petting zoo was ok, kids always love that. Our 6-8 yr. olds were too big for their ponies (above 48") which other places they can ride at that height. Oh well.

Our favorite stop was at the little ice cream place after the mountain man encampment before heading back over the bridge. The grasshopper ice cream was the best! Don't forget to take your children's picture in the oversized rocking chair. We did not buy other food here or water ($4 a bottle and there was a fountain outside to use for free) as it was expensive. Instead we opted for a late lunch in Salida, CO.

One of the last fun things was watching the tourist helicopters diving down into the canyon repeatedly. Yikes! Oh and don't forget the clock run by water after you get through the gate. Great picture spot, too.

Give yourself a good 4 hrs. to take in this park. It took us 3hrs. and 45 minutes. I would say a minimum of three if it's not crowded would be good.

Some would call this a tourist trap, but when you go at a good time and beat crowds you can quietly enjoy it. Instead of just a bridge there were so many other neat things like the tram, incline railway, petting zoo, animal park, carousel, train (just before the entry spot where you pay so don't forget it's there) the helicopters diving, and the Civil War re-enactment guys being there. It was worth every penny of the $76 we paid for a family of four and I would recommend it--highly!!

I read some reviews of this place and I guess we must have gone during a good time. My family took a trip in August, 2006. I do agree that it was expensive however, we did use the coupons in the travel guides. This helped a little. All the attractions and gift shops were open so we had a chance to see everything and do everything that was offered at the park. My kids were scared at first but one of the things that we did almost immediately, was the incline railway that goes down to the bottom of the gorge. After this, they weren't quite as scared of the bridge and wanted to actually view the bottom of the gorge from the top of the bridge.
We spent a good several hours at the park. I must say however, that the kids probably got more enjoyment from Buckskin Joe but they still had fun here. The food was good but was a little bit pricy. I would recommend this attraction. The views are gorgeous and the bridge is amazing when you think of all the construction that went into it.

The view from the bridge is stunning and the experience of being at the bottom of this 1053 ft deep canyon is nice. From an engineering perspective, the bridge is a marvel. However, these two things: (1) viewing the canyon from above and (2) viewing the canyon from below - do not justify a $20 per person entry fee.

Not only were we charged this excessive fee (full price), nearly every "attraction" and shop was closed in the "park." The "park" is an asphalt entry area to the bridge. To the left is a tramway that crosses the canyon (redundant of the bridge), a gift shop and snack shops (all closed). To the right, is a funicular railway to the canyon floor running ever 20 minutes. The ride is okay if you are not claustrophobic. However, when I arrived at the canyon floor and realize I was dumped into a fenced-in pen, unable to explore, I felt ripped off.

I walked the bridge and the view is glorious. Yet, it was hard to fully enjoy it as the party I was with kept rumbling about the $20 fee. At half that price, it would be worth it and maybe spur us to spend money and have more fun. In the end, I felt it was like one of those old 1950's and 1960's roadside attractions that have great signs, but ae fenced out of view - UNTIL YOU PAY. Then you have an entry ticket to disappointment.

Considering this is the Rocky Mountain State, there are views equal to or greater than this one for free ALL OVER.

This was my second visit and it reminded me of how ripped off I felt the first time. I wouldn't recommend it to a friend.

Tourist trap. What could have been a beautiful state park with the Gorge as a wonderful natural centerpiece has been turned into a family activity park. The bridge itself was a fun walk. The gondola was jam-packed, and most people couldn't see outside. Took the incline tram to the bottom (think "crammed into a phone booth with limited view). The rafters at the bottom appeared to be having a much better time than my family. If you want to see a similar natural wonder, save your money, and go giving the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park instead.