The top 5 day trips to take from Colorado Springs

22.01.2025 - 20:59 / lonelyplanet.com

Jan 22, 2025 • 8 min read

There's plenty to do within the city limits of Colorado Springs, from Cheyenne Mountain Zoo to hiking between the sandstone outcrops of the Garden of the Gods, but daytrippers from the city will find adventures on all sides, no matter which direction they find themselves pulled in.

All manner of sights and off-the beaten path gems lie within an hour or two of the Springs, from mighty mountain peaks to the bustling bars and food halls of the Colorado capital. Here's our pick of the best day trips from Colorado Springs.

When in Colorado Springs, the ascent to the top of Pikes Peak should be at the top of your to-do list. The only question is how are you going to get to the top? Nicknamed America’s Mountain, the peak is famous for being the inspiration for the poem which later became the song America the Beautiful, written by Katharine Lee Bates in 1893. Standing tall at 14,115ft above sea level, Pikes Peak offers spectacular 360-degree views over the Rocky Mountains and the distant outskirts of Colorado Springs and Denver.

The Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been shuttling visitors to the summit since 1891, using an old-fashioned cog and toothed-rail system. With new trains, new tracks and a new depot, the Cog Railway offers the easiest and most accessible way to enjoy the mountain, with scenic views and wildlife spotting on the rides up and down. It’s a three-hour round-trip journey, with a 40-minute stopover at the summit so you can grab some selfies. Advance reservations are recommended.

Visitors can also drive up the snaking Pikes Peak toll road, a safe and scenic route to the summit that's open year-round, except in severe weather. Take your time along the 19-mile route and stop at the many scenic rest stops to enjoy the views at your own pace. Athletic hikers can take the scenic route, walking the 13-miles to the summit via the Barr Trail, starting just west of Manitou Springs. A few hyper-fit bikers pedal up, but an easier adventure is to take a guided biking tour on the way down – Challenge Unlimited in Manitou Springs can make all the arrangements.

How to get to Pikes Peak from Colorado Springs: To reach the Pikes Peak Highway, go West on Highway US-24 and turn left onto Fountain Avenue and follow the signs. Don’t leave without at least a half tank of gas since there are no gas stations on the road. Remember to bring an extra layer for cooler temperatures at the top of the mountain; there are webcams on the Colorado Springs website so you can take a peek at the current weather conditions before you set off. The Cog Railway starts its journey at Manitou Springs, 6 miles west of Colorado Springs.

While the Colorado Springs landscape has no shortage of peaks and