Colorado Springs

Red sandstone formations rise into the sky like petrified flames in front of Pikes Peak – the Garden of the Gods is one of the most spectacular natural landmarks of any American city. A trip to Colorado Springs combines mountain adventure, Olympic history, and a laid-back downtown at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. For a Colorado vacation with plenty of nature, the city makes an ideal base.

A Health Resort at the Foot of the Mountains

In 1871, General William Jackson Palmer founded Colorado Springs as a refined resort for wealthy guests, with wide streets and no saloons. The mineral springs of Manitou Springs, gold strikes in nearby Cripple Creek, and the clear mountain air drew visitors and tuberculosis patients alike. The song "America the Beautiful" was born in 1893, when Katharine Lee Bates gazed out over the plains from the summit of Pikes Peak. Today the city is shaped by the military, with the Air Force Academy and several bases, as well as by sports: the U.S. Olympic Committee is headquartered here.

Things to See in Colorado Springs

The Garden of the Gods, which is free to enter, offers hiking trails and climbing routes among the red rock towers. A scenic highway and the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, the highest of its kind in North America, lead up Pikes Peak; at the summit, the famous high-altitude doughnuts await. The United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum tells the stories of sports legends through interactive exhibits. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo on the mountainside is the highest-elevation zoo in the U.S., with giraffe feeding and views over the city. The Air Force Academy, with its striking chapel topped with aluminum spires, can be partly visited.

Neighborhoods and Food

Downtown around Tejon Street has restaurants, breweries, and galleries. Old Colorado City to the west, once a supply town for gold prospectors, preserves historic brick buildings with craft shops and pubs. Historic Uptown north of the center is a neighborhood of Victorian houses around Colorado College. Neighboring Manitou Springs draws visitors with its mineral springs, hippie flair, and the notorious Manitou Incline, a steep staircase of more than 2,700 steps. Restaurants in Colorado Springs serve bison burgers, Colorado-style green chile, and craft beer; the brewing scene is remarkable for a city of this size.

The Great Outdoors in Colorado Springs

Few cities offer so much nature within reach. North Cheyenne Cañon Park with waterfalls such as Helen Hunt Falls, the hiking trails of Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and Palmer Park in the middle of the city are popular destinations. Cyclists use the Pikes Peak Greenway along Fountain Creek. In winter, the ski resorts of the Rocky Mountains are just a few hours away; in summer, you can go rafting on the Arkansas River and watch the sunrise over the rocks of the Garden of the Gods.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

The small Colorado Springs Airport lies on the eastern edge of the city; many visitors fly into Denver, about an hour and a half's drive to the north. You'll need a car for most destinations. The best time to visit is from June to September, when Pikes Peak is free of snow; in fall, the aspens turn golden. Because of the altitude, drink plenty of water and acclimatize slowly. Day trips lead to the caverns of the Cave of the Winds, to the Royal Gorge with one of the highest suspension bridges in the U.S., to Cripple Creek, and to Great Sand Dunes.