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Colorado-Springs-Pikes-Peak-Garden-of-the-Gods-OutThere-Colorado.jpg

Colorado-Springs-Pikes-Peak-Garden-of-the-Gods-OutThere-Colorado.jpg

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Things To Do in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs, Colorado’s second largest city, is a spectacular place where nature rules. Pikes Peak, the local skyscraper, lifts its snowcapped 14,115-foot crown above the sprawling city. The Springs boasts over 300 days of sunshine annually and has 140% more park acreage than the average city. It’s also home to the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the Olympic Training Center for many sports.

You can find the famed Garden of the Gods within the city limits and Pike National Forest just beyond. Other nearby public lands include Mueller State Park and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. A wide variety of hiking trails scatter around the Colorado Springs area. Some popular routes include: The Garden of the Gods’ paved, handicap-accessible trail that loops through the central Garden zone, the Red Rock Canyon Trail to the Roundup and Contemplative trails at Red Rock Canyon Open Space, and Columbine, Mount Cutler, and Mount Muscoco trails are popular hikes in North Cheyenne Cañon Park. If you feel like conquering a fourteener, head up Pikes Peak on Barr Trail or Devil’s Playground Trail to reach the summit.

A local favorite and Colorado’s most popular trail is the Manitou Incline Trail. The route, following an abandoned incline railway, climbs directly up the mountainside above Manitou Springs. It gains over 2,000 feet, has an average grade of 41%, and a maximum 68% grade.

There are lots of other outdoor activities and attractions to keep your attention. Pike National Forest offers campsites at Elevenmile Canyon and near Manitou Lake, while Mueller State Park has seven campgrounds. Fly fishermen head for Gold Medal Waters on the South Platte River by Cheesman Reservoir or in Elevenmile Canyon. The Arkansas River southwest of town is one of Colorado’s premier rafting areas, with big water in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and the Royal Gorge. Golfers also find great courses, including Patty Jewett Golf Course and five-star courses at the Broadmoor Hotel.

Castle Rock, located alongside Interstate 25 south of Denver, is named for 6,586-foot Castle Rock, a cliff-lined butte that towers above the city. The Front Range landmark is composed of rhyolite, an erosion-resistant volcanic rock.

Climbing to the summit of Castle Rock is the first thing that most people want to do. Castle Rock sits in the middle of Rock Park, a 52-acre open space area with trails and Castle View Picnic Area. The main trailhead on Front Street often fills up so use two trailheads on the east side of the park. It’s best to hike up John Emerson Summit Trail and descend Paul Hill Trail for a 1.4-mile roundtrip hike.

An 8.6-mile network of trails threads through Phillip S. Miller Park on the west side of Castle Rock. Four connected loops cross hills and valleys in the 270-acre park. If you want to get in shape for the Manitou Incline, hit the Blue Loop and run up Challenge Hill, a 178-foot-high hill climbed by 200 steps. The park also has a swimming pool, sports field, kid’s adventure playground, and zip line tours. The Castle Rock Zip Line, operated by a park concessionaire, has 10 zip lines on 1.5-miles of cables.

Castle Rock boasts some of Colorado’s best golf courses with 10 courses within 10 miles of town. The city has been named one of the “Top 10 Golf Cities” in the United States. Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course on Castle Rock’s western edge offers superb challenges among grassy hills with mountain views. Pine Creek Golf Club south of town is open for public play. The excellent course, one of the state’s best, has spectacular holes like the 12th with 10,000 railroad ties and the watery 17th.

Pike National Forest lies west of Castle Rock. This vast mountainous area is a popular getaway for hikers who trek up the Devil’s Head Trail to one of Colorado’s last fire lookouts, climbers who edge up huge granite domes, fishermen who cast for trout in the South Platte River, and motorcyclists who ride trails in the Rampart Range Motorized Recreation Area. Plenty of campgrounds scatter through the forest for cool summer nights..



Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun

Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun

May Natural History Museum

May Natural History Museum

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine

Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
The Broadmoor

The Broadmoor

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Ute Pass

Ute Pass

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Pikes Peak Road Scenic Drive

Pikes Peak Road Scenic Drive

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Bat-A-Pult – Cave of the Winds

Bat-A-Pult – Cave of the Winds

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Wind Walker Challenge Course – Cave of the Winds

Wind Walker Challenge Course – Cave of the Winds

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
Garden of the Gods Scenic Drive

Garden of the Gods Scenic Drive

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

The Cadet Chapel At The Us Air Force Academy Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

The Crags Day Hike Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Ute Trail 2

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Ute Valley Park Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Waldo Canyon Loop [Closed]

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Williams Canyon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Womens Forest 375 Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Zook Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Coyote Run Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Soaring Kestral Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Bobcat Way Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Acorn Alley Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Raccoon Ridge Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Boulder Run Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Medicine Wheel Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Amphitheater Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Little Bear Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Sundance Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Blackmer Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Talon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cougar’s Shadow Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

North Talon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

South Talon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

High Drive Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Sesame Canyon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pipeline Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Jones Park Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Jones Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Trail 672

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

New Santa Fe Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

North Cheyenne Cañon Park – Lower Columbine Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Outlook Ridge Trail – Mueller State Park

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Palmer Lake Reservoirs Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Palmer Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Palmer Trail – Garden Of The Gods

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pancake Rocks

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pancake Rocks Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Paul Intemann Nature Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Petrified Forest Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pikes Peak From The Crags Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pikes Peak Trail From Devils Playground

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Pulpit Rock Park Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Quail Lake Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Railroad Bed Trail – Manitou Springs

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Rainbow Gulch Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Raspberry Mountain Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Red Mountain Trail (Manitou Springs)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Red Rocks Canyon Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Red Rocks Of Woodland Park Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Rocks And Vistas Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Saint Marys Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Santa Fe Regional Trail At Ice Lake

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

School Pond And Preachers Hollow Loop

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Scotsman Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Sentinel Point Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Seven Bridges Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Shelf Road Gold Belt Tour

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Siamese Twins Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Silver Cascade Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Spruce Mountain Open Space Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Stanley Canyon Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Tempelton Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Section 16 Trail (Bear Creek)

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Heizer Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Helen Hunt Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Hogback Ridge Summit Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Horsethief Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Lovell Gulch Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Lower Bear Creek Park Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Manitou Incline Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Manitou Park Lake Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

McNeil – Swisher Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Cutler Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Esther Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Herman Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Muscoco Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Mount Rosa Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Black Forest Regional Park Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Blodgett Peak Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Buckhorn Loop Captain Jacks Frontside

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Buckhorn Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Captain Jack’s Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Catamount Falls Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Chamberlain Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cheyenne Mountain State Park Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Cheyenne Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Chutes Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Columbine Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Devils Playground From The Crags Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Douglas County Greenland Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Eagles Peak Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

East Loop Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Edna Mae Bennet Nature Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Fence Line Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Fountain Creek Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020

Fox Run Park Fallen Timbers Trail

  • Updated Jun 23, 2020
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OutThere Colorado, LLC
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