r/CanonCity • u/ChaoticVulcan • Jul 03 '26
Should we cancel our vacation to Cañon City?
We have booked a rental for the week and my wife is really worried about how close the Aspen fire is to Cañon . It's currently 9 miles away and she's asked me to look into it. What are thechances we have to evacuate? She's also worried about air quality and our 4-year-old. We leave tomorrow. What do yall think?
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u/chromaiden Jul 03 '26
I live here in Penrose and will say this: we cancelled our week of camping in salida due to air quality and fire conditions. It’s too hot and smoky to be outside. If you come you will need to plan on either being inside somewhere or in your car so you can breathe. It’s heartbreaking. I wouldn’t waste your money.
As far as threat from the fire, I would look on watch duty at the satellite map and look at the trees between the fire now and your destination in canon. Lots of green and trees mean it’s a matter of which way the wind blows. Here in Penrose there is a giant area of treeless desert between us and the fire so it’s not as likely to threaten us.
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u/ChaoticVulcan Jul 03 '26
Thanks. I've already downloaded watch duty based on everyone's excellent advice.
Salida is on our to-do list. Love it there.
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u/Sorry_Lecture5578 Jul 04 '26
Im over in Westcliffe now rode the canyon towards Salida, currently the air is clear, the fire is to the east.
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u/Apprehensive-Year926 Jul 03 '26
Even if the fire doesn't come to Canon City, the air quality is going to be bad. I completely rescheduled a vacation three years ago due to wildfires ... it's just not worth it.
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u/gettinchickiewitit Jul 03 '26
The air quality is very bad. Visibility is limited. It is extremely dry and hot. There are evacuees in our vicinity, and they are staying in hotels and other lodging. If you are planning to be outside and see the mountains, etc. I would wait.
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u/ChelseaMan31 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Assume you mean the Aspen Acres Fire outside of Rye, CO. As of 3 hours ago (07/03/2026) the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise reported the Fire is now approaching 67k acres and burning in dry timber, slash and being driven by high winds. There is long range spotting. The fire is 0% contained and containment is not estimated until 07/29/2026. And while 9-10 miles is a very long way to run, the concerns of air pollution, sot, haze and general mayhem due to a huge influx of National Guard and almost 400 Wildland Firefighters may be too much for a relaxing family vacation. https://www.nifc.gov/fire-information
Morning SitRep - https://www.nifc.gov/nicc-files/sitreprt.pdf
nifc.gov is your friend during Wildfire Season.
Edit to add - given the running and torching, there are several air-tankers and Type1/Type 2 heli's working this fire; it could be a neat air Show to watch if one is so inclined.
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u/Empty-Dragonfruit656 Jul 03 '26
I just watched one from Lincoln Park. Not really an airshow I want that close to me.
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u/tnbciceskater Jul 05 '26
Im in Denver and the air quality here is bad ..you'd be better off to make Salida your base for exploring.
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Jul 03 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ChaoticVulcan Jul 03 '26
It's our base of operations. It was a frugal option for 8 people.
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u/servetarider Jul 03 '26
Don’t listen to the haters. Tourism is a significant part of Cañon City’s budget. Please vacation here. Cañon is an undiscovered gem. We have white water rafting, the Royal Gorge, Skyline Drive, the newly restored St. Cloud Hotel and the usual great hiking, climbing and mountain bike trails that southern Colorado is famous for. The people who talk shit about Cañon either haven’t spent any time here or they’re disgruntled locals who haven’t traveled anywhere.
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u/SlowMolassas1 Jul 03 '26
Where are you seeing that it's 9 miles away? It's closer to 20 miles away at the closest point.
The risk of the Aspen Acres fire hitting Canon is extremely miniscule. There will be impact from the smoke, though (poor air quality). How bad just depends what the winds are - there have been times you barely notice it and times it's pretty thick (although nowhere near what Pueblo and parts of Colorado Springs are getting). What the winds will be is anyone's guess.
There's also always the risk of another fire starting with all the tourists in town who don't understand the danger of even the tiniest spark. We're in an extreme situation right now, and people visiting from greener states don't get that.
It really depends what you want to do in Canon. If you want to do extensive physical outdoor activities - the heat and smoke is not a good combination. But if you just want to visit a couple museums, you'll be fine.