Eight springs, one train, and 14,000 feet of Colorado sky: Welcome to Manitou Springs

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Pikes Peak’s front door

Manitou Springs sits right at the base of Pikes Peak in central Colorado, and this small town packs more into a few square miles than most people expect.

Mineral springs, red rock canyons, caves, a mountain summit, and a downtown that still runs on old-time charm.

You can fill a full day here or stretch it into a long weekend without running out of things to do. Pikes Peak looms over almost every view in town, and the best stuff starts right at ground level.

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Sacred waters drew people here long before the 1870s

Native peoples came to these springs long before any settlers showed up, treating the mineral water as sacred and healing.

The town grew around that same draw in the 1870s, when visitors started arriving for the water and the mountain air.

Eight natural springs still bubble up in and around downtown today, each one carrying a different mineral mix.

People have come here looking for rest and fresh air for more than 150 years, and the springs still flow like they always have.

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Bring an empty bottle for the spring water loop

A free walking path links all eight springs through the middle of downtown, and the whole route runs a little over two miles on flat sidewalks.

You can sample water from public fountains at each stop.

The springs carry names like Shoshone, Navajo, Cheyenne, Wheeler and Iron. Some water hits your tongue sharp and fizzy.

Others taste soft or metallic, depending on what minerals sit in the rock below. The loop suits all ages, and an empty bottle is the only gear you need.

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The cog railway climbs to 14,115 feet and fresh donuts

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes you from town all the way to the top of Pikes Peak, 14,115 feet above sea level.

The railway calls itself the highest cog railway in the world. On the way up, you pass bristlecone pines, a creek, canyon walls and a waterfall.

At the summit, wide views open in every direction, and you can grab the famous fresh-made donuts at the top.

This is the same view that inspired “America the Beautiful.”

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Walk through towering red sandstone for free

Garden of the Gods is a city-owned park that protects massive red sandstone formations, and it costs nothing to get in.

The park holds National Natural Landmark status. Paved and dirt trails wind past the rocks, and some paths work for wheelchairs.

You walk among formations with names like Balanced Rock, Kissing Camels and Cathedral Spires, with Pikes Peak rising in the background.

You can cover the park on foot, by bike, or on a guided ride through the red walls.

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Bighorn sheep graze right along the trails

Garden of the Gods is home to one of the region’s best-known bighorn sheep herds, and hikers regularly spot rams and ewes right from the trail.

Mule deer, foxes and wild turkeys also roam the park. Your best chance to see wildlife comes near sunrise and sunset, when the animals move most.

The Cog Railway route up Pikes Peak may pass marmots and bighorn sheep on the way to the summit. The visitor center also runs nature walks and wildlife programs if you want a guided look.

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Climb 2,768 steps straight up the mountainside

The Manitou Incline is a staircase of 2,768 steps built into the slope, gaining close to 2,000 feet in under a single mile. The steps follow the old path of a cable railway line.

Every step you take opens a wider view of the town and the eastern plains stretching out below. You cannot go back down the Incline once you reach the top.

Instead, you take Barr Trail, the Northern Return Trail, or another route back. Reaching the top is a bragging-rights moment most hikers remember.

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This cave has run tours since 1881

Cave of the Winds sits high in the mountains, one of the highest show caves in the country, and it has welcomed the public since 1881.

The Discovery Tour winds through 15 rooms over about half a mile. Inside, you pass stalactites, stalagmites, flowstone and other formations that took thousands of years to build.

Guides walk you along lit pathways and share the geology and history of each room. The temperature holds steady underground, so it feels the same no matter what month you visit.

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Zip lines and a canyon swing hang over Williams Canyon

Above the cave, an outdoor park sits right on the edge of Williams Canyon. Zip lines and a ropes course run high over the drop.

The Terror-Dactyl swings riders out across the canyon at high speed, and a challenge course puts you on walkways above open air.

Even if you skip the rides, the views straight down into the canyon hit hard on their own. You can feel the depth before you look over the edge.

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Some games still cost a penny at this 1933 arcade

The Penny Arcade has kept its doors open in downtown Manitou Springs since 1933.

Inside, you find skee-ball, a large collection of vintage and modern pinball machines, and some games that still cost just a penny to play.

A 12-player horse-derby game has pulled crowds for decades.

The open-air arcade mixes old cabinets with newer games, and the whole place feels like a survivor from another age of American fun.

You can burn through an hour here without meaning to.

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Touch the walls and climb through ancient stone rooms

The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are reassembled stone structures set into a cliff face, and you can walk right up to them.

Most rooms let you step inside, touch the walls and climb through. The self-guided tour moves at your own pace.

A small museum on-site displays pottery, tools and other artifacts. Red sandstone cliffs frame the whole site, giving it a look that matches the Four Corners region.

It is a hands-on history stop you do not find many places.

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Colorado’s first capital hides a few blocks away

Old Colorado City sits a short drive from Manitou Springs, and most visitors do not realize they are standing in the first capital of the Colorado Territory.

Founded in 1859, the town earned that title in 1861. It now holds status as a preserved National Historic District. Bancroft Park anchors the district and hosts free community events throughout the year.

Brick-lined streets run past locally owned shops and art galleries inside Victorian-era storefronts that keep the old frontier feel.

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Explore the Manitou Cliff Dwellings in Colorado

If you want to get your hands on history, head to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings at 10 Cliff Dwellings Road in Manitou Springs, just west of Colorado Springs off U.S. Highway 24.

The 40-room complex is self-guided, and you can touch walls, climb ladders and enter most rooms except the kiva. Leashed dogs are welcome.

An on-site museum covers Ancestral Puebloan life and history. The site stays open year-round on a seasonal schedule, with some winter and holiday closures.

Check the official website for current hours and admission before you go.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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