Garden of the Gods
Towering fins of red sandstone framed by Pikes Peak, free forever by the wish of the family that gave it to the city. The park is the postcard image of Colorado Springs and the best free hour in the state.
1 to 3 hoursDetails →
Colorado
Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is the rare city where a free park of towering red sandstone, a 14,115-foot summit and a Victorian spa town all sit within a half hour of each other.
Garden of the Gods frames Pikes Peak in a way that has been drawing visitors since the 1800s, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway and highway reach the top by train or road, and Manitou Springs below has mineral fountains, an arcade and some of the best patios in the state. Beyond the city, the Royal Gorge offers a bridge, a scenic train and rapids, while Cripple Creek preserves the gold-rush story. This guide covers twenty experiences, eight hotels from the grand Broadmoor to a mountain ranch, and six travel guides that sequence it all, with honest advice on altitude, weather and timing.
Don't miss
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
The canyon-rim classic beneath Pikes Peak — Colorado's veteran show cave since 1881, toured lit or by candlelit lantern, wrapped in a mountain park whose canyon-edge rides dangle thrill-seekers over a 600-foot drop. Underground and over it, one stop.
Garden of the Gods
Towering fins of red sandstone framed by Pikes Peak, free forever by the wish of the family that gave it to the city. The park is the postcard image of Colorado Springs and the best free hour in the state.
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
A rack-and-pinion train climbs from Manitou Springs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, the highest cog railway in the world. Nine miles up, three hours round trip, no driving or hiking required.
Manitou Springs Historic District
A Victorian spa town at the foot of Pikes Peak, with bubbling mineral-water fountains, arcades, galleries and a main street built for strolling. The best place to eat, drink and wander after a day in the mountains.
Things to do in Colorado Springs
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Pikes Peak Cog Railway
A rack-and-pinion train climbs from Manitou Springs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak, the highest cog railway in the world. Nine miles up, three hours round trip, no driving or hiking required.
Pikes Peak Highway
Nineteen miles of paved switchbacks climb from Cascade to the summit of Pikes Peak, past lakes, tundra and hairpin turns. A self-guided audio tour makes the drive a story as well as a view.
Pikes Peak Jeep Tour
A guided jeep trip up America's Mountain, with a driver who knows the road, the history and the best pullouts. A good choice if the switchbacks make you nervous or you want stories with the view.
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
The canyon-rim classic beneath Pikes Peak — Colorado's veteran show cave since 1881, toured lit or by candlelit lantern, wrapped in a mountain park whose canyon-edge rides dangle thrill-seekers over a 600-foot drop. Underground and over it, one stop.
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Ancestral Puebloan stonework relocated to a sandstone alcove above Manitou Springs, with rooms you can walk through and a museum that explains who built them. A short, atmospheric stop on the way to Pikes Peak.
Manitou Springs Historic District
A Victorian spa town at the foot of Pikes Peak, with bubbling mineral-water fountains, arcades, galleries and a main street built for strolling. The best place to eat, drink and wander after a day in the mountains.
Seven Falls
A seven-tiered waterfall tumbling down a granite box canyon in South Cheyenne Canyon, reached by a short walk and a stair climb of more than two hundred steps. Add a zipline for a high-adrenaline version.
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
America's only mountain zoo climbs the slopes of Cheyenne Mountain, with a famous giraffe herd you can feed from a platform and views over the city. A day that suits all ages.
US Olympic and Paralympic Museum
A striking downtown museum devoted to Team USA, with interactive galleries on the athletes, sports and stories of the Games. Colorado Springs is home to the US Olympic and Paralympic Committee.
Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
One of the highest suspension bridges in the United States spans a granite canyon nearly a thousand feet above the Arkansas River, with a gondola, zip lines and rim trails. A day trip about an hour from Colorado Springs.
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
A scenic train ride that runs along the Arkansas River through the bottom of the Royal Gorge, with dome cars, dining options and a bridge overhead. Two hours of canyon walls from below.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
The Broadmoor
Broadmoor district, southwest Colorado Springs
The grand resort on the shore of Cheyenne Lake, opened in 1918 and still the city's most storied address, with golf, a spa, several dining rooms and mountain scenery at every turn.
Check rates →
$$$The Cliff House at Pikes Peak
Manitou Springs, at the foot of Pikes Peak
Manitou's 1873 veteran — the gingerbread-Victorian inn at the foot of Pikes Peak, four minutes from Cave of the Winds, with period suites, a celebrated dining room, and a veranda that has watched the mountain for 150 years.
Check rates →The Mining Exchange, a Wyndham Grand Hotel and Spa
Downtown Colorado Springs
A boutique-style downtown hotel in a restored Beaux-Arts building from the gold-rush era, with a spa, a lively restaurant scene on the doorstep and an easy walk to museums and bars.
Check rates →Garden of the Gods Resort and Club
North of Garden of the Gods, west Colorado Springs
A contemporary resort perched above the red rocks, with pools, a spa, tennis and a dining room that looks over the park. The closest full-service resort to the formations.
Check rates →The Antlers, a Wyndham Hotel
Downtown Colorado Springs
The downtown tower with a story that goes back to 1883, when General Palmer opened the original Antlers as the city's grand resort hotel. A practical, central base near museums and restaurants.
Check rates →Cheyenne Mountain Resort
Cheyenne Mountain, southwest Colorado Springs
A mountainside resort with a golf course, pools, a spa and sweeping views over the city and plains. A relaxed, family-friendly base near the zoo and the Broadmoor district.
Check rates →Alta Hotel Colorado Springs
South-central Colorado Springs
A mid-priced hotel in the central-south part of the city, convenient to the interstate, the zoo and the Broadmoor area, and a sensible base for travelers who want space and value.
Check rates →Ranch at Emerald Valley by The Broadmoor
Pike National Forest, west of Colorado Springs
A remote mountain retreat in the Pike National Forest, run by The Broadmoor, with cabins and lodge rooms, wilderness activities and a quiet that you will not find in town.
Check rates →Colorado Springs guides
Colorado Springs in Three Days: Red Rocks, Pikes Peak and Manitou
A practical three-day plan that sequences Garden of the Gods, the Pikes Peak summit, Manitou Springs and a downtown evening, with altitude advice and booking order.
Pikes Peak: Cog Railway, Highway, Jeep Tour or Hike?
How the four main ways up America's Mountain compare, with times, altitude advice, weather planning and which option suits different travelers.
Where to Stay in Colorado Springs: Downtown, Manitou, Garden of the Gods or the Broadmoor
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to choosing a base in Colorado Springs, with hotel suggestions for every style and budget.
Royal Gorge Day Trip from Colorado Springs: Bridge, Train and Rapids
How to plan a day trip to Cañon City and the Royal Gorge, with the bridge, the scenic train, whitewater rafting and tips for timing and combining them.
Colorado Springs with Kids: Zoo, Caves, Trains and Red Rocks
A family guide to Colorado Springs with the best attractions for children by age, plus tips on altitude, pacing and rainy-day options.
The Best Time to Visit Colorado Springs: Seasons, Crowds and Weather
A season-by-season guide to weather, crowds, events and which attractions work best in each part of the year in Colorado Springs and on Pikes Peak.
