A Day in Colorado Springs

At the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs has a little bit of something for everyone. We were in town just for the day so we focused our time on Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods; however, beyond these two there are plenty of other amazing sights to see that were on our list and would have likely done if we had more time but would gladly come back for next time. Check out our list of the top attractions to check out when you make your way to Colorado Springs.

Pikes Peak - This was the primary focus of our trip to Colorado Springs and for good reason too! Colorado Springs is best known for its natural beauty which is abundant throughout Pikes Peak National Forest where the famed Pikes Peak towers 14,114 ft tall. The views are unbelievable and the drive up to the peak is a scenic trek along the Pikes Peak Highway. To read more details about our trip to Pikes Peak click here.

Garden of the Gods - With its iconic red-sandstone rock formations, this now public park once was owned by Charles Elliott Perkins. Upon Perkins’ death, his family gave the land to the city of Colorado Springs providing that it was utilized for public purposes and free to anyone who would want to access the lands. The Park is an extremely well manicured 480 acre behemoth full of 21 miles worth of trails and ample opportunity for technical rock climbing and horseback riding. For further details on our trip to Garden of the Gods click here.

The Broadmoor Seven Falls - Known as “the grandest mile of scenery”, the lead up to Seven Falls is a sight to behold. Surrounded by the grandeur of the Colorado Rockies you can either take the shuttle to the falls or if you are a little more of the adventurous kind you can do either a shorter (~30 minute) or a longer (~60 minute) hike to the top. The falls are made up of seven cascading falls (hence the name) and are flanked by two mammoth rock formations called the Hercules. Cost is $16.50 as it is privately owned land.

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park - If you’re looking for something a little more unique or want to take a break from the long outdoor hikes and trails, step on into this cave of wonder where you can choose from 1 of 3 guided tours which will tell you the history of the caves and teach you about the many mineral deposits within them. They do offer a lantern lit tour which I hear is somewhat exhilarating. They also have a few outdoor attractions including zip lining, a thrill ride or two, and spectacular views of the surrounding mountains.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings - Located nearby the Cave of the WInds, these stone dwellings originally taken from a collapsed Ancestral Puebloan style building in Cortez, Colorado were delivered to their current site via train during the early 1900s and rebuilt to replicate and pay homage to the Puebloan culture. The site includes a museum where you can learn more about the ancient Puebloan people and their culture.

Seven Bridges Trail - This nearly 6 mile trail is unique in the fact that it mostly follows along a gorgeous mountain stream for a majority of the hike giving hikers a spectacular view throughout most of the trail. One additional perk is that it is mostly shaded making this a great hike to escape the sun and summer heat. It gets its name from the seven bridges you will cross if you complete the full round trip hike.

North Pole Colorado Santa’s Workshop - If you’re looking for something that will entertain the kiddos, this uniquely designed village and amusement park is exactly what you need! To be honest, I was surprised when we drove by this place near the entrance to the Pikes Peak Highway and forest; however, upon further investigation we realized that it actually looked really cool. If I was a kid I think I would love this place. Where else can you feel like you’re visiting the North Pole no matter what time of year it is. You can even meet Mr. & Mrs. Clause. Obviously we did not stop here but we did stop in the parking lot just to see it with our own eyes. It reminds you of something out of the Santa Clause movie with Tim Allen.

I hope you enjoyed this list. For more details about our specific adventures to Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods just click the links above. You can also check out the photo gallery from Pikes Peak here and Garden of the Gods here.