The Ultimate Colorado Springs Bucket List: 25 Things to Do Before You Leave
Colorado Springs is unlike anywhere else in the American West
At 6,035 feet above sea level, Colorado Springs sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with Pikes Peak as its constant backdrop. The city blends military heritage, world-class outdoor adventure, Victorian spa culture, and a booming culinary scene.
1. Watch the sunrise from Garden of the Gods
The park opens at 5am. Set your alarm. The light on the red rocks at sunrise is indescribable - and you'll have the trails mostly to yourself before 7am.
2. Summit Pikes Peak
Drive the toll road, ride the cog railway, or hike the Barr Trail - but do it. Standing at 14,115 feet above sea level, you'll understand why this mountain inspired "America the Beautiful."
3. Go whitewater rafting on the Arkansas River
Just 45 minutes from Colorado Springs, the Royal Gorge section of the Arkansas River offers some of the best whitewater rafting in the country. Royal Gorge Rafting offers guided trips for all skill levels - from beginner-friendly float trips to heart-pounding Class V runs through the gorge.
4. Soar above the Royal Gorge on a zip line
1,000 feet above the Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Zipline Tours offer the most dramatic aerial views in Colorado. The six-line Classic Course is perfect for first-timers.
5. Hand-feed a giraffe at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The only mountain zoo in America. The giraffe feeding deck is the highlight, but the African Rift Valley exhibit and ski lift to the Will Rogers Shrine are close seconds.
6. Explore Cave of the Winds
500 million years of geology accessible by lantern tour, wild spelunking, or from the air on the Terror-Dactyl, a canyon swing on the edge of a 200-foot cliff that drops riders more than 150 feet into Williams Canyon at nearly 100 mph.
7. Spend a night glamping near the Royal Gorge
Swap a hotel for a riverside yurt or luxury Airstream at Royal Gorge Vacation Rentals - arguably the most unique lodging near Colorado Springs.
8. Dine at WhiteWater Bar & Grill
After a day of adventure, the WhiteWater Bar & Grill in Cañon City is the best post-adventure meal in southern Colorado. Undefeated Flavors. Legendary Portions. Bold American cuisine, craft cocktails, and live music on weekends.
9. Climb the staircase beside Seven Falls
Seven Falls drops 181 feet in seven cascades inside a granite box canyon in South Cheyenne Canyon. Take the elevator through the canyon wall to the overlook, or climb the staircase that runs right alongside the falls.
10. Take on the Manitou Incline
The Manitou Incline follows an old cog railway track straight up the mountain, gaining 2,000 feet in under a mile with grades as steep as 68 percent. It is free, but you need an advance reservation, so book your time slot before you go.
11. Tour the US Olympic & Paralympic Museum
Colorado Springs is home to the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee, and the museum downtown, opened in 2020, tells Team USA's story through nine galleries, interactive sport simulators and a gallery holding every Olympic torch since 1936.
12. Walk through the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are Ancestral Puebloan stone rooms moved to Manitou Springs in the early 1900s. You can walk through three floors of them at your own pace, and no reservation is needed.
13. Taste the mineral springs in Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs grew up around its natural carbonated mineral springs, and several public fountains along Manitou Avenue are free to drink from. Bring a cup and taste how different each spring is.
14. Hike Red Rock Canyon Open Space
For red rocks without the Garden of the Gods crowds, head to Red Rock Canyon Open Space: 1,474 acres of sandstone formations and 16 miles of trails for hikers, bikers and climbers, free year-round.
15. Stroll Old Colorado City
Old Colorado City, founded in 1859, is the oldest part of town. West Colorado Avenue is lined with more than 100 locally owned shops, galleries and cafes in historic brick buildings.
16. Visit the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Housed in the 1903 El Paso County Courthouse, the Pioneers Museum tells the story of the Pikes Peak region, and admission is free.
17. See rare coins at the Money Museum
The American Numismatic Association's Edward C. Rochette Money Museum on North Cascade Avenue covers 2,500 years of money, with one of the largest collections of US coins on public display.
18. Meet the legends at the ProRodeo Hall of Fame
The ProRodeo Hall of Fame is the only museum dedicated to professional rodeo, with exhibits on its champions and Western heritage and live animals on site in season.
19. Watch a steam engine run at the Western Museum of Mining & Industry
At the Western Museum of Mining & Industry, 27 acres of mining history come with operating steam engines, gold-panning demonstrations and guided tours. It is closed on Sundays.
20. Walk the lake at The Broadmoor
Even if you are not staying, a walk around the lake at The Broadmoor, with Cheyenne Mountain behind it, is one of the classic Colorado Springs views.
21. Step into the Old West at Ghost Town Museum
Ghost Town Museum recreates an 1899 Colorado mining town indoors, with a general store, blacksmith shop, saloon and antique arcade machines that still work. It is open year-round, so it is a good rainy-day stop.
22. Visit Santa at The North Pole
The North Pole - Santa's Workshop has been open since 1956 at the base of Pikes Peak, with rides, shows and visits with Santa. It is a family favorite, so check the season before you go.
23. Get close to giant bugs at the May Natural History Museum
Near Cheyenne Mountain, the May Natural History Museum holds one of the largest private collections of tropical insects in the world, more than 100,000 specimens. It is open daily from May through October.
24. Hike Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cheyenne Mountain State Park has 28 miles of trails at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, good wildlife viewing and a visitor center. You need a daily vehicle pass.
25. See the Fine Arts Center at Colorado College
The Fine Arts Center is a Smithsonian-affiliated museum and theater in a 1936 Art Deco landmark, known for its Southwest and Native American art. It is closed on Mondays.