17 fabulous things to do in Colorado Springs

08.11.2024 - 12:09 / lonelyplanet.com

Nov 7, 2024 • 9 min read

At the foot of the Rocky Mountains in eastern Colorado, beautiful Colorado Springs retains many of its small-town charms.

Natural attractions in the shape of dramatic Pikes Peak and the vertical sandstone towers of the Garden of the Gods are the main draw here – yet Colorado Springs’ charming neighborhoods make it feel like the cozy mountain outpost it has always been. And after time in town, you’ll surely want to head into the foothills to find amazing hiking, mountain biking and outdoor adventures.

Both in the city and out in nature, here are the best things to do in Colorado Springs.

The Garden of the Gods public park is an absolute must-see for Colorado Springs visitors. Designated a National Natural Landmark in 1971, the gorgeous vein of red sandstone at the park is about 290 million years old, with its mountain backdrop particularly striking. Explore the network of paved and unpaved trails, enjoy a picnic and watch climbers test their nerve on the sometimes flaky rock. Bear in mind that scrambling up the rocks is prohibited, and a permit is required for climbing and bouldering.

Those interested in the lives of Native Americans and 19th-century homesteaders in the region will enjoy Rock Ledge Ranch, a living history museum near the park entrance.

Located along Hwy 24, Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a great place for hiking, running, mountain biking, rock climbing, cycling and horseback riding. Rock climbers have access to over 80 bolted climbing routes; if you fancy a bird’s-eye view, you may be tempted by paragliding. A family picnic area includes wheelchair-accessible picnic sites, and the 789-acre park also has also a free-ride area for bicycles. It also contains many miles of trails of varying difficulty, including the Section 16 trail, which leads out of the southwestern corner of the park on a nice 6-mile loop.

The skyline around Memorial Park fills with hot-air balloons of wonderful colors and shapes every Labor Day weekend at the Labor Day Lift Off, a festive and free three-day event complete with musical entertainment. Running for some 40 years, the event sees amateurs and professionals launching technicolor hot-air balloons into the sky — and you won’t want to miss the early-morning balloon launches and the Saturday-evening “balloon glows.” Adventurous visitors can also pre-book balloon rides from one of the launch sites within town.

History aficionados will love the neighborhood known as Old Colorado City, where the town was founded in 1859. The historic district was the first capital of the Territory of Colorado – and its former Wild West dens of vice now host restaurants, art galleries and souvenir shops. The area has a friendly vibe and maintains its 19th-century