Adventurers Guide to a Full Day in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado is one of the most desired places in the U.S. for those who love the outdoors, and adventure in general. With limitless options in every season for fun activities, Colorado is the perfect place no matter what you enjoy doing for fun. While there are many cities in Colorado that offer a good time, Colorado Springs, just an hour south of Denver, really stands out from the crowd. With options for hiking, biking, climbing, paddling, and just regular sight seeing, it’s easy to spend a day exploring this incredible city. If you are someone who loves a day full of adventure and exploration, this guide is for you. If not- stay tuned for future guides for foodies, leisure adventurers, and more!

The Broadmoor Hotel

To make the most of one day in this amazing city, you’ll want to get up early enough to enjoy the cool morning weather, especially in the Summer. I would recommend starting your day off with a trip to The Broadmoor hotel in downtown Colorado Springs. This gorgeous historical hotel is not only beautiful to look at, but is completely free to wander around. Out back, you will find a large pond that you can walk around to explore the grounds. Make sure to grab a coffee or latte (and a ham and cheese croissant or hand made pastry) from Cafe Julie’s on the ground floor before your walk. This is one of my favorite early morning activities, and it’s always nice to start your day off with a delicious drink!

Pike’s Peak

A must-see in Colorado Springs is the infamous Pike’s Peak. This is the large mountain peak that you can see from anywhere in the Springs, and the tallest summit of the southern front range of the Rocky Mountains (TL;DR its BIG). Now- I will say- the drive up takes around an hour depending on where you start from, and it can be quite nerve racking. This summit sits at 14,115 feet, and has winding roads leading all the way to the top of the 19-mile drive.

One of the best parts of this drive is the stops along the way (particularly at mile 13). There is also a gift shop at mile 10 with some realllly rich home made fudge. The panoramic views from any point up the mountain are incredible year-round, but in early Spring, the snow coated mountains add a really special touch.

Once you reach the summit, you can walk out onto the platforms overlooking the city and miles beyond it. If it’s a clear day, you can see it all. I will warn you (again) that if you are visiting from March-May (it is typically closed depending on snowfall in Winter) you should really consider bringing layers. It can get extremely windy and bitingly cold up there.

While you’re at the summit, make sure you check out the Summit House cafe that has incredible donuts, and the museum inside that tells the history of Pike’s Peak. If neither of these “peak” your interest, there’s a gift shop inside as well, where you can buy a shirt to let all of your friends know that you’ve peaked.

Another warning here- the oxygen levels on Pike’s Peak are at 33%. This can be incredibly hard on anyone who is not used to these levels, and can lead to dizziness. Don’t over exert yourself, and be sure to drink lots of water!

Please also be sure to make a reservation on their website to visit the Summit before you go. Parking is extremely limited at the top, so reservations are required. They may also have you park at a lower point on the mountain, and take a shuttle to the top if you don’t get a specific reservation for the top lot. Entry is $50 for a car load of up to 5 people.

Manitou Springs

While Manitou Springs (and most of these other locations) are technically outside of Colorado Springs, they are close enough to count! Manitou Springs is what we call, the Saint Augustine of Colorado. If you’ve ever been to Saint Augustine, Florida, it’s a quaint, adorable, and historic little town that is filled with entertainment, dining, and shopping.

After your adrenaline rushing, oxygen depleting trip to Pike’s Peak, you’ll need to refuel and relax! There are great dining options I would highly recommend in Manitou Springs- the first being Border Burger Bar. Border Burger Bar has a delicious selection of, you guessed it, burgers, as well as some small plates, sandwiches, and salads. Pretty much anything you get will be amazing- but my personal favorite is the Cajun Chicken Sandwich.

If burgers aren’t your thing, there are a million other options for you, anything from Indian food, to BBQ, to fondue. And if you just want to grab something light- stop by the Colorado Custard Company for some frozen custard.

Afterwards, there is plenty to see around the town, including a fun penny arcade, some eclectic shops, and some gift shops as well.

Seven Falls

Now that you are feeling replenished and ready to go- make a trip over to the Broadmoor Seven Falls. Seven Falls is a series of seven cascading waterfalls that lies in the heart of the mountains. One of the best things about the Falls is the short (paved) walk to the Falls. If you want to feel like you are in a Jurassic Park movie (sans dinosaurs) this will do it. With beautiful cliff sides, rivers, trees, and perfectly manicured plants, this scenery is breath taking.

Once you actually reach the Falls, you’ll have a couple of options. The first, you can take a quick elevator to a look out point called the “Eagle’s Nest”. This look out gives you a great vantage point to see the Falls and the surrounding areas. Alternatively, you can climb the 224 steps up to the top of the Falls for an even better view, and access to a few hiking trails. I will disclose that the staircase you will climb up is bone-chilling for those who are afraid of heights (just check it out online). If that’s you- the Eagle’s Nest might be more in your wheelhouse. Otherwise, make the trek and take a short hike to Midnight Falls, or a longer hike to Inspiration Point.

The entry for Seven Falls is $17 for adults 13+, and must be purchased on site. You may also be required to park off site a few miles down the road and take a free shuttle depending on the day. Please do check hours of operations, as the Falls are not open daily.

Garden of the Gods

Around here, we save the best for last. If you’ve ever heard of the Garden of the Gods, I am sure it has been in the context of someone singing it high praises. There is truly nothing like this. The Garden of the Gods is a gorgeous park with the most magnificent orange rock formations you’ve ever seen. The park is a playground for hikers, bikers, climbers, photographers, and all types of adventurers.

The best thing to do is take an initial driving loop around the entire park via Juniper Way Loop. This will give you a view of all sides of the park and its rock formations. You can then find parking in one of the main lots close to the park, and walk right in. This is one of the coolest spots in town to take some amazing photos and immerse yourself in beautiful scenery.

At the entrances, you’ll find maps showing the various trails, but my favorite is the Upper Loop Trail. This leads to an awesome overlook facing Pike’s Peak. To add to this, this is my favorite sunset spot in Colorado Springs! Make sure to grab a Colorado pizza from Slice 420 to make your viewing experience a million times better (and guarantee everyone around you will be extremely jealous of your genius idea).

To End the Night…

If you are into nightlife, check out downtown Colorado Springs after dark for a variety of bars and restaurants, including the Rabbit Hole for some fine dining. The Rabbit Hole is an underground, Alice in Wonderland themed restaurant with on theme cocktails. If night life isn’t your style, maybe your night ends with the Garden of the Gods, or maybe you head back to Manitou Springs for some ice cream and shopping!

Whatever you are seeking for a fun Colorado adventure, Colorado Springs has it! While this list includes some of my favorite things to do in the Springs, this doesn’t even scratch the surface of what SOCO (South Colorado) has to offer. Happy adventuring!