Things to Do in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs attracts outdoor lovers for good reason—the landscape rests on high desert and rests at the conjunction of the Southern Rocky Mountains to the west and High Great Plains to east. It offers abundant sunshine, yet boasts the most active lightning strike areas in the United States. Colorado Springs is home to multiple military bases, an air force academy, training grounds to future Olympians and several top museums. While there's plenty of indoor fun to be had, the biggest attractions in the region are under the big, blue Colorado sky.

Take a walk through the Garden of the Gods

The dramatic landscapes of the Garden of the Gods feels like a completely different world.

The Garden of the Gods Park, just 15 minutes northeast of Colorado Springs hotels, is an expansive 480 acres of fairly flat terrain filled with miniature to mammoth rock formations varying in color from bright red to pinkish white. Begin your adventure at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, the perfect starting point for a park that offers so many options like hiking, biking, rock climbing and guided nature walks. The numerous trails for hiking and biking are varied in difficulty, but a 1.5-mile trail is wheelchair accessible so everyone can take in the landscape. If you're extra adventurous, you can also book a rock climbing session with a local guide. While the park offers the iconic views and outdoor adventures, the center also offers options to explore new interactive museum exhibits and enjoy its Geo-Trekker Theater movie experience. Another highlight to visiting the Garden of the Gods is that admission to the park and center is free for everyone.

Watch top pilots take flight

You won't want to miss the spectacular sight of the Cadet Chapel at the United States Air Force Academy—especially in winter.

See where tomorrow's winged warriors are training today by visiting the United States Air Force Academy, located on a sprawling, 18,500-acre campus on the east side of the Rampart Range of the Rocky Mountains. Visitors can only get to the campus from the North Gate, just 20 minutes north of downtown Colorado Springs, and must have a government-issued ID for access. Start your tour at the Barry Goldwater Air Force Academy Visitor Center, where you can watch a short movie about the academy experience. You can then learn more about its history exploring the exhibits that are also reflective of the academy’s four “pillars of excellence”—character development and academic, athletic, and military training. A short walk takes you to the Cadet Chapel, the crown jewel of the campus, with its 17 spires reaching more than 150 feet into the air. The modern glass-and-steel structure is sometimes closed for private events, so contact the academy to make sure the chapel is open during your visit.

See where future Olympians train

A visit to the U.S. Olympic Complex gives you an insider’s look at world-class training facilities for future Olympians.

The Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center is a massive 35-acre compound near downtown where some 500 athletes and hopeful future Olympians live and train. Just pay close attention to the young people you see walking around this campus, as you may see some of those same faces again during the next Olympic Games. Walking tours are provided every day throughout the year, but keep in mind it's not a great rainy-day option since much of the tour is outdoors. During the tour, you'll watch a short movie about the complex, see some of the areas where athletes practice at this flagship training center and view Olympic memorabilia in the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame. The sculpture garden also offers a chance for a great photo opportunity of capturing you jumping midair next to the "celebrating" bronze statues.

Go beyond the typical zoo experience

There's so much more to do at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo than just passively look at animals.

At the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, you'll discover far more to do than your typical zoo. Make sure to set aside enough time to enjoy the numerous daily animal shows, where the staff demonstrates how to train and care for them. For a small additional fee, you can hitch a ride on the Mountaineer Sky Ride—an open-air chairlift over the zoo and up to a mountain overlook, where you'll enjoy amazing views before catching a ride back down. If you're traveling with toddlers or preschoolers, sign up in advance on the zoo’s website for a 1-hour program designed for your child's age group. If you have kids older than six, the zoo offers an Animal Care 101 class. You can also visit the historic Will Rogers Shrine, included in the price of admission and just minutes up the Russell Tutt Scenic Highway from the zoo’s entrance. The 8,136-foot observations deck provides breathtaking views of the city and Pikes National Forest.

Visit the peak of inspiration

The Pikes Peak Cog Railway offers a unique way to get up the mountain, along with some truly unforgettable views.

Head to Pike National Forest to witness its majestic namesake Pikes Peak, a Colorado “fourteener.” This impressive mountain reaches an elevation of 14,115 feet and draws athletes each August to run up and down its face in the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon—a climb of 7,815 feet. Luckily, you can scale this mountain in style without breaking a sweat on the Pikes Peak Highway. This 19-mile drive along the toll road ($15 per adult, $5 per child, $50 per car) starts 25 minutes away in Cascade and takes you to the Pikes Peak summit, where you’ll enjoy sweeping mountain views the entire way. The really fun way to ascend this mountain, however, is via the 3-hour narrated-tour on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. At the top, you'll have about 30 minutes to look around, stroll through the visitor center and hum "America the Beautiful"—Pikes Peak was the inspiration for the song—before boarding for the ride back down.

Cross the country's highest suspension bridge

Snap a thrilling picture from the span of the country's highest suspension bridge.

The Royal Gorge Bridge & Park is a thrill-seekers paradise in nearby Cañon City, just 1 hour from downtown Colorado Springs. Your adrenaline-fueled adventure options include the zip line across the Arkansas River and Royal Rush Skycoaster, where you’ll strap into a harness and swing back and forth in the sky at 50 miles per hour. Take note—these attractions aren't included with your park admission and will require extra fees. Though the Royal Gorge Bridge is America’s highest suspension bridge, the park also offers tame adventures for all ages. Ride an enclosed gondola across the gorge, kick back with your kiddos on a 1-mile miniature train or catch a video featuring the park's history and scenery in the Plaza Theater. No matter your feelings about heights, you'll find something to do at this unforgettable attraction.