Discover 35 hidden attractions, cool sights, and unusual things to do in Colorado Springs (United States). Don't miss out on these must-see attractions: United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, South Cheyenne Cañon, and Manitou Incline. Also, be sure to include Cave of the Winds in your itinerary.
Below, you can find the list of the most amazing places you should visit in Colorado Springs (Colorado).
Table of Contents
United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel
Chapel in the Air Force Academy, Colorado. The United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel, completed in 1962, is the distinguishing feature of the Cadet Area at the United States Air Force Academy north of Colorado Springs. It was designed by Walter Netsch of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill of Chicago. Construction was accomplished by Robert E. McKee, Inc. of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Originally controversial in its design, the Cadet Chapel has become a classic and highly regarded example of modernist architecture. The Cadet Chapel was awarded the American Institute of Architects' National Twenty-five Year Award in 1996 and, as part of the Cadet Area, was named a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 2004.[1]
Address: 2306 Sijan Drive, Colorado Springs
South Cheyenne Cañon
South Cheyenne Cañon, or South Cheyenne Canyon, is a canyon in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. The South Cheyenne Cañon road to Seven Falls is called "The Grandest Mile of Scenery" in Colorado. Seven Falls has been a tourist attraction since it was opened in the early 1880s. Trails from the top of the falls lead to Midnight Falls, near the headwaters of South Cheyenne Creek, and Inspiration Point. The area has been a center for parks, such as the Stratton Park and Colorado College Park. Now, part of South Cheyenne Cañon, including the Starsmore Discovery Center, is in the North Cheyenne Cañon Park. The area sustained a significant flood in September 2013, which closed Seven Falls until Spring 2015. Presently the falls are open again.[2]
Address: 2120 S Cheyenne Canon Rd, 80906 Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Manitou Incline
The Manitou Springs Incline, also known as the Manitou Incline or simply the Incline, is a popular hiking trail rising above Manitou Springs, Colorado, near Colorado Springs. The Incline ascends on the east slope of Rocky Mountain which is itself on the eastern flank of Pikes Peak. The trail is the remains of a former 3 ft narrow gauge funicular railway whose tracks washed out during a rock slide in 1990. The Incline is famous for its sweeping views and steep grade, with an average grade of 45% and as steep as 68% in places, making it a fitness challenge for locals of the Colorado Springs area. The incline gains 2,011 feet of elevation in 0.88 miles horizontal. Currently the Incline has approximately 2,744 steps from the bottom to the summit, although the top step is numbered "2768". The number of steps changes occasionally with trail maintenance and deterioration.
Reservations are still currently required to hike the Manitou Incline which can be made at the Manitou Incline page on the City of Colorado Springs website.[3]
Cave of the Winds
Tourist attraction in El Paso County, Colorado. Cave of the Winds is a cave in the Pikes Peak region of Colorado. It is located just west of Colorado Springs on U.S. Highway 24, near the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. Tours of the complex of caves are given daily.[4]
Address: 100 Cave of the Winds Rd, 80829 Manitou Springs
Seven Falls
Waterfall. The Broadmoor Seven Falls is a series of seven cascading waterfalls of South Cheyenne Creek in South Cheyenne Cañon, Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has been a privately-owned tourist attraction since it was opened in the early 1880s.
The area sustained a significant flood in September 2013, which forced Seven Falls to close until restoration was complete in 2015.
There is no parking at Seven Falls. Complementary round trip shuttle service is provided from the Norris Penrose Event Center. Trails from the top of the falls lead to Midnight Falls, near the headwaters of South Cheyenne Creek, and Inspiration Point.[5]
Address: 6 Lake Ave, 80905 Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Security Service Field
Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. UCHealth Park is a professional baseball stadium on the eastern edge of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Since 2019, it has hosted the Rocky Mountain Vibes, an independent Minor League Baseball team of the Pioneer League. From 1988 to 2018, the stadium was the home of the Colorado Springs Sky Sox, a Triple-A team of the Pacific Coast League.[6]
Address: 4385 Tutt Blvd, 80922-2501 Colorado Springs (Powers)
Barr Trail
Barr Trail is a 13-mile trail in the Pike National Forest that begins in Manitou Springs, Colorado and ends at the Pikes Peak summit. The high elevation trail with a long sustained grade is rated more difficult by the U.S. Forest Service. With a 7,800 feet elevation gain to reach the summit, the Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau states that it is an advanced trail and is the most difficult trail in the Pikes Peak region.
Barr Trail is used for the Pikes Peak Ascent, Pikes Peak Marathon, and the Barr Trail Mountain Race. The Ascent and Marathon start in Manitou Springs in front of City Hall and connect with the Barr Trail from upper Ruxton Ave. Both races ascend to the Pikes Peak summit at 14,115'. The Marathon is an out-and-back race that finishes at Ruxton and Manitou Avenues in Manitou Springs. The 12.6-mile course for the Barr Trail Mountain Race starts at the Cog Railway Depot and ascends to Barr Camp at 10,200', then reverses back down to the trailhead via Hydro Street.[7]
Manitou Cliff Dwellings
Museum in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are a privately-owned tourist attraction consisting of replica Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings and interpretive exhibits located just west of Colorado Springs, Colorado, on U.S. Highway 24 in Manitou Springs.
The attraction was established using replica and reconstructed Pueblo cliff dwellings in 1904 and was opened to the public in 1907. An associated private museum features commercially-developed displays about Ancestral Puebloan peoples from the perspective of white settlers in the American West, including exhibits of archaeological artifacts, tools, pottery and weapons that were taken from Indigenous sites and/or replicated by the company that operates the site. The replica dwellings were created as part of a commercial venture to divert tourists from Southwest archaeological sites by creating a version of a Pueblo dwelling place that was more accessible to early 20th century white American visitors. Visitors can walk through the replica dwellings, and various displays and interpretive material attempt to imbue the entire attraction with a sense of authenticity, despite the fact that the Manitou Cliff Dwellings are fake.[8]
Address: 10 Cliff Rd, 80829 Manitou Springs
Santa's Workshop
Amusement park in Cascade-Chipita Park, Colorado. Santa's Workshop is an amusement park that opened on June 16, 1956 in Cascade, Colorado, located on U.S. Route 24 just west of Colorado Springs at the entrance to the Pikes Peak Highway, at the Northern end of Pikes Peak. Modeled after the Santa's Workshop in Wilmington, New York, the park features a charming North Pole village complete with a variety of shops selling toys, candy, and Christmas decorations. The village is also home to Santa's Workshop itself, where children can meet with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus year round. Much of the staff is dressed in Christmas themed attire, especially those at work in stores and admissions.
In addition to the village, Santa's Workshop is a fully operational amusement park best suited for children ages 2 to 12. It is home to 28 rides, many of which are classified specifically as "kiddie" rides. Family highlights include a small roller coaster, the highest altitude Ferris wheel in North America, a Giant Slide (Helter skelter), as well as a North Pole made of permanent ice in the center of the park. Attractions also include a Tilt-A-Whirl, a Scrambler, a chairlift, a narrow gauge railroad, a magic show, and an arcade. In 2014, Santa's Sleigh, a 30 mph, 2-person zip line was added.
The park is generally open from mid-May through Christmas Eve, and is closed from January to May. As of 2018, admission is $24.00 per person for ages 3–59. Under 3 and 60 or older are free. Military and group rates are available. The park is still owned and operated by the Haggard family who opened it in 1956.[9]
Address: 5050 Pikes Peak Hwy, 80809 Cascade
Helen Hunt Falls
Waterfall in Colorado. Helen Hunt Falls is a waterfall located on Cheyenne Creek in the North Cheyenne Cañon Park of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The falls are located on North Cheyenne Creek immediately off North Cheyenne Canyon Road in the North Cheyenne Canyon Park. There is parking for about 30 vehicles at the falls and it becomes crowded early during summer months when visits to the canyon are popular among locals and tourists. The Columbine Trail, which starts at the entrance of the Park by the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center, terminates at Helen Hunt Falls. Visitors can hike a short distance of about 2/3 of a mile (1.1 km) up a moderately steep trail above Helen Hunt Falls to reach Silver Cascade Falls.
The falls are named in honor of Helen Maria Hunt Jackson (October 15, 1830 – August 12, 1885), a United States poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government. She died in San Francisco, California in 1885 and was later buried in Colorado Springs.[10]
Address: 3440 North Cheyenne Canyon Road, Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
High-altitude zoo with giraffe feeding. The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is a zoological park located southwest of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado, on Cheyenne Mountain in the United States. At an elevation of 6,714 feet above sea level, it is the highest zoo in America. The zoo covers 140 acres, 40 of which are in use. The zoo houses more than 750 animals, representing nearly 150 different species, with more than 30 endangered species. The zoo was ranked the #4 best zoo in North America in 2018 by USA Today. It is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.[11]
Address: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, 80906-5755 Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Bear Creek Regional Park
Bear Creek Regional Park and Nature Center is a regional park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado that has trails for hiking, horseback riding, running and cycling. Within the park is a nature center and the El Paso Park Headquarters.
There are tennis courts, soccer fields, basketball courts, an archery range, and other sports fields and courts. A section of the park is dedicated as a dog park.
There are also soccer fields. Restrooms, pavilions and most picnic spots are wheelchair accessible.
At the eastern end of the park is a connection to a short trail called the Bear Creek Trail that meets up with the Pikes Peak Greenway. At the western edge of the park, a trail connects to the high-country Bear Creek Cañon Park.[12]
Address: 21st Street & West Rio Grande, 80906 Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Peterson Air and Space Museum
Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Peterson Air and Space Museum is located inside Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Admission to the museum is free, but access is controlled due to security concerns. The Museum has various aircraft, mainly focusing on the Cold War roles of USAF Air Defense Command, and Aerospace Defense Command. and currently, Air Force Space Command.[13]
Address: 150 Ent Ave, 80914 Peterson AFB (Powers)
United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum
The United States Olympic & Paralympic Museum is a historical and cultural sports museum located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States, first opened on July 30, 2020. The museum is part of the City for Champions development project in Colorado Springs, though it licenses the Olympic name and operates separately from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The museum recognizes Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have represented Team USA.[14]
Address: 200 S Sierra Madre St, Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
May Natural History Museum
Museum in Rock Creek Park, Colorado. May Natural History Museum is an entomology museum in Rock Creek Park, Colorado. The museum describes its holdings as the world's largest private insect collection. The museum's insects and arachnids were collected by amateur naturalist James May from 1903 until his death in 1956; the museum was founded by his son, John May, in 1952.[15]
Address: 710 Rock Creek Canyon Rd, 80926-9800 Colorado Springs (Rock Creek)
Memorial Park
Memorial Park or Memorial Community Park is a community park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It has a wide range of sports facilities, including an indoor and outdoor pool, a recreation center, trails and Prospect Lake.
Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region's largest balloon festival has been held on Labor Day weekend at Memorial Park since 1977.[16]
Address: 1605 E Pikes Peak Ave, 80909-5619 Colorado Springs (Southeast Colorado Springs)
Alamo Square Park
Alamo Square Park, located at 215 South Tejon Street, is the site of the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum, which has fine art and historical exhibits and a museum store. A fountain, sculptures and gazebo are located in the park.
It was previously the El Paso County Courthouse from 1903 to 1973. The square was previously known as South Park.[17]
Address: 215 South Tejon Street, Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site is a living history museum and farm located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. Restored buildings and period-appropriate attired museum guides depict life in the Pikes Peak region in four time periods and in four different households: American Indian life in 1775; an 1860s cabin; an 1880s farm; and a 1907 Edwardian Country Estate. Each residence reflects the construction and contents of homes of those periods. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[18]
Address: 3105 Gateway Rd., 80904 Colorado Springs
North Cheyenne Cañon Park
Regional park in El Paso County, Colorado. North Cheyenne Cañon Park or North Cheyenne Canyon Park is a regional park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing.
It was also called Colorado College Park and Cheyenne Park.[19]
Address: 2120 South Cheyenne Canon Road, Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
Arts organization in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College is an arts center located just north of downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado. Located on the same city block are the American Numismatic Association and part of the campus of Colorado College.
The center uses a thick red outline of a square as its logo.[20]
Address: 30 W Dale St, 80903 Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum is located at 215 S. Tejon Street in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The granite building with a domed clock tower was the El Paso County Courthouse building from 1903 to 1973. The museum, which moved to this location in 1979, has fine arts, artifacts and archival collections that document the Pikes Peak region. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and was the 2nd property to be listed in El Paso County, after Pikes Peak.
Located within Alamo Square Park the museum is also home to the Starsmore Center for Local History, a manuscript collection and research facility.[21]
Address: 215 S Tejon St, 80903 Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Shove Memorial Chapel
The Shove Memorial Chapel is a church located in downtown Colorado Springs, Colorado that was designed by John Grey and built from 1930 to 1931. The church has been on the National Register of Historic Places since May 22, 2005, and is of Norman Romanesque style.
John Grey, the architect, made a very comprehensive plan of the church, and hired various craftsmen from around the country to apply the detail he wanted. The church is made from Bedford limestone mined and cut in Indiana, and Robert Garrison designed gargoyles and exterior sculptures around the building. Robert E. Wade painted the ornate roof inside the chapel, and Joseph Reynolds Jr. designed the stained glass windows.
Despite being built in the middle of the Great Depression, it is widely considered to be one of the finest examples of Norman Romanesque architecture in the state of Colorado. The chapel is now located on the grounds of Colorado College.[22]
Address: 1010 N Nevada Ave, 80903 Colorado Springs (East Colorado Springs)
Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Tower in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, also known as Will Rogers Shrine, is a commemorative tower and chapel on Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is named after Will Rogers, the American humorist, who died in a plane crash in Alaska in 1935 during construction of the shrine. It is also a tomb for the remains of Spencer Penrose – who built many of the city's prominent properties, including the neighboring Cheyenne Mountain Zoo and The Broadmoor resort – and his wife Julie Penrose. Completed by Penrose in 1937, the shrine is a 100 feet, five story observation tower that overlooks The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, and Garden of the Gods.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994 for its artistic and architectural qualities.[23]
Address: 4250 Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Rd, 80906-5728 Colorado Springs (Broadmoor)
Miramont Castle
Museum in Manitou Springs, Colorado. Miramont Castle is a museum located in Manitou Springs, Colorado. The Castle was originally built in 1895 as a private home for Father Jean Baptist Francolon, a French-born Catholic priest. Located in the Manitou Springs Historic District, it is a National Register of Historic Places listing.[24]
Address: 9 Capitol Hill Ave, 80829-1618 Manitou Springs
Glen Eyrie
Housing. Glen Eyrie is an English Tudor-style castle built in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs. There are 17 guest rooms in the castle, as well as 7 meeting rooms including the Castle Great Hall and 2 dining rooms. This house was his and his wife's dream home, and is near Colorado Springs in the northwest foothills just north of the Garden of the Gods rock formations. After building a large carriage house where the family lived for a time, Palmer and his wife Mary "Queen" Mellen built a 22-room frame house on the 800-acre estate. This house was remodeled in 1881 to include a tower and additional rooms, and made to resemble a stone castle in 1903, reminiscent of those native to England.
Queen Palmer, at age 21, opened the first public school in Colorado Springs in November 1871. The Palmers had three daughters, Elsie, Dorothy, and Marjory.
In 1880, Mrs. Palmer suffered a mild heart attack and was advised to move to a lower altitude. She and the girls moved to the East Coast and then to England where General Palmer visited them as often as he could. Queen died on December 27, 1894, at the age of 44. In sorrow, General Palmer went to England to return Mrs. Palmer's remains and the girls to Colorado Springs. At that time they decided to tear down their home and, in memory of his wife because she so enjoyed the feel of a castle home, they re-built the 33,000-square-foot castle.[25]
Address: 3820 N 30th St, 80904-5001 Colorado Springs (Northwest Colorado Springs)
Palmer Park
Regional park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Palmer Park is a regional park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Located at 3650 Maizeland Road, the park is several miles northeast of the downtown area. Elevation Outdoors Magazine named it Best Urban Park in its Best of Rockies 2017 list. One of Best of the Springs Expert Picks - Sports & Recreation by The Gazette, Seth Boster states that it may have the city's best views of Pikes Peak and a place "where an escape into deep nature is easy. It is strange and marvelous to look out at urban sprawl while perched on some high rock ledge, surrounded by rugged wilderness."[26]
New Life Church
Protestant church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. New Life Church is a nondenominational charismatic evangelical megachurch located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. New Life Church has more than 10,000 members. The church is pastored by Brady Boyd and has multiple congregations that meet throughout the Colorado Springs area. The church is known for its worship music, having produced and released over a dozen worship albums.[27]
Address: 11025 Voyager Pkwy, 80921 Colorado Springs
St. Mary's Cathedral
Cathedral in Colorado Springs, Colorado. St. Mary's Cathedral is a Catholic cathedral located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is the seat of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as St. Mary's Catholic Church.[28]
Address: 22 W Kiowa St, 80903-1404 Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Pikes Peak Center
Cultural center in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts is a concert auditorium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It serves as an entertainment, cultural, educational, and assembly center for the citizens of El Paso County, the Pikes Peak region, and the surrounding area.[29]
Address: Colorado Springs, 190 S Cascade Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903-2211
Colorado Springs Public Library-Carnegie Building
The Colorado Springs Public Library–Carnegie Building is a Neo-classical library building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Funded by the Andrew Carnegie Library Fund. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is associated with the City Beautiful movement.[30]
Colorado Springs City Hall
The Colorado Springs City Hall is a municipal building in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.[31]
Address: 107 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Manitou Springs
Municipality in Colorado. Manitou Springs is a home rule municipality located at the foot of Pikes Peak in western El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The town was founded for its natural mineral springs. The downtown area continues to be of interest to travelers, particularly in the summer, with many shops and restaurants, as well as a creekside city park. The main road through the center of town was one of the direct paths to the base of Pikes Peak. Barr Trail, which winds its way up Pikes Peak, is accessible from town. The subdivision Crystal Hills was added to the municipality in the 1960s.
The city population was 4,992 at the 2010 United States Census. Students are served by Manitou Springs School District 14 and Manitou Springs High School.[32]
ProRodeo Hall of Fame
Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy was opened in August 1979 as a museum designed to "preserve the legacy of the cowboy contests, the heritage and culture of those original competitions, and the champions of the past, present and future." It is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and only inducts Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women's Professional Rodeo Association members. It is the "only museum in the world devoted exclusively to the sport of professional rodeo."[33]
Address: 101 Pro Rodeo Dr, 80919-2396 Colorado Springs (Northeast Colorado Springs)
City Auditorium
Auditorium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Colorado Springs City Auditorium is a historic auditorium in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Completed in 1923, the auditorium still serves the city of Colorado Springs by way of hosting various events throughout the year. The building, cost $424,910 at the time, was primarily used for concerts, theatre performances and graduations. The plaque above the stage is inscribed, "USUI CIVIUM DECORI URBUS", or "For the use of the people and the glory of the city." In the 1940s, a local promoter, Abe Marylander, brought wrestling exhibitions and boxing matches to the facility. As the years passed, the City Auditorium has played host to various musical concerts, the Harlem Globetrotters, many conventions and trade shows, professional wrestling, boxing, mixed martial arts, roller derby and more. The City Auditorium was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 7, 1995.
The Pikemasters Model Railroad club is housed in the Auditorium's basement. Located in the old Colorado Springs Police firing range, as of 2019 they hosted meetings every Thursday night, at which visitors were welcome.[34]
Address: 221 E Kiowa St, 80903 Colorado Springs (Central Colorado City)
Bear Creek Cañon Park
Bear Creek Cañon Park is a high-country park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado with steep trails for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding.
A trail in the western edge of the Bear Creek Regional Park connects to the high-country Bear Creek Cañon Park.[35]