(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A group of thrill-seekers took their skills to new heights over the weekend, balancing across a one-inch rope stretched high above the Royal Gorge Bridge & Park. They walked the line 60 feet above the iconic bridge, while amazed spectators watched from below.
“I looked up and there were these people just walking down this tight rope up above me,” explained Trey Anderson, who visited the area over the weekend. “I was like, whoa, it’s pretty scary.”
Another visitor, Barbara Manfield, said, “It was totally unexpected. Oh my gosh,” when she also saw the stunt.
Heights might be scary for some, but for Community Highlines, the group putting on the event, is not afraid to rise above.
“It’s cool because we don’t get nerves anymore, but that’s a little bit of the fun,” said John Henning, the Founder of Community Highlines.
However, most people say they would rather stay grounded. The group spent the weekend looking down on the Royal Gorge Canyon.
“Got to be an amazing view from up there. It takes a lot of courage to do that, but it’s great entertainment for us,” said Steve Bushey, who watched the stunt.
They saw a different perspective of a Colorado gem. The group says it’s all about focus and staying calm, “which becomes a challenge when you’ve got people cheering down below,” said Henning.
Photo by: Community Highlines
Believe it or not, they’re not even afraid of falling.
“Hey, Brendan, would you be all right with falling in the next 10 seconds?” said Henning.
They do it all for the crowd, even performing tricks.
“I like to tease, my favorite trick is I’ll bounce the line really big, and I’ll dive off the line of the crowd and try to give someone a high five. We’re obviously way too high to actually give a high five, but it’s just fun,” said Henning.
Henning says he even plays games like rock, paper scissors.
“You can bounce up and down about like 20 feet so you can dive off the line off the top, and you fall like 20 feet, and the crowd thinks you’re coming towards and of course, you’re not,” he said.
Through all the games and tricks, it only took them six minutes and forty seconds to get across the bridge walking a thousand feet. Henning says he’s always wanted to high line across the Royal Gorge bridge, because it feels like his backyard.
“Get up there on a high wire, are you kidding me? It’s fun. It looks like fun, but no, I’m not going to do that,” said Mansfield.
Highlining is different from tightrope because they use a looser cable made of plastic rather than steel, but these daredevils still have fears like most people. Henning says his biggest fear is “spiders.”
The group will be back at the Royal Gorge in 2026 on the fourth of July, hoping to walk across the canyon.
