Ten Unique and Thrilling Day Trips Near Colorado Springs

If you’re looking for an adventure off the beaten path, there are so many unique day trips from Colorado Springs. Whatever your interest, there are plenty of options around central and eastern Colorado. Within a couple of hours’ drive, you could explore a part of nature like nothing you’ve seen before. Each list is arranged by distance, and there are suggestions for hikers, loungers, learners, and more.

Educational Day Trips from Colorado Springs

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Location: 10 Cliff Rd, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 15 minutes
Activity: Walking Tour
Great for: Families, Young Kids

Just across 24 from Manitou Springs, the Manitou Cliff Dwellings are open to the public for self-guided tours. This experience regularly makes lists of must-see Colorado Springs attractions. Why? This museum and tourist attraction is a replica of ancient cliff dwellings built by Ancestral Puebloans found in the Four Corners region. Built over a hundred years ago, in 1903, to divert tourists from the true, protected sites. It was created using materials from a collapsed archeological site, and the museum has pottery, tools, weapons, and more. This is a great place to take the kids to learn about archeology and history. They can walk through the cliff dwellings and see artifacts and dioramas within a cave museum. 

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Location: 29950 Paint Mine Rd, Calhan, CO 80808
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 45 minutes
Activity: Hiking
Great for: Families, Couples

At under an hour from downtown Colorado Springs, Paint Mines Interpretive Park just outside Calhan, Colorado is easily accessible. It can be quite busy on the 3.4-mile loop trail, and it is no wonder why.  The beautiful layers of different colored clays, which Natives used to make paint, create stunning scenery. The park has evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years. The park is open year-round and free, although sadly pets are prohibited.

Photo by Hailey Haar on Unsplash

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Location: 15807 Co Rd 1, Florissant, CO 80816
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 45 minutes
Activity: Walking Tour
Great for: Families, Kids

The Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument is an underrated but great day trip near Colorado Springs. Especially if you have little ones who love dinosaurs and rocks, this park is the place to be. The Florissant Formation is a petrified tree stump, one of many you can see on the mile loop trail. It is estimated to be 34 million years old and has been well-preserved due to volcanic ash. You can see preserved insect and plant fossils in the rock, as well as layers of clay and mud. Just past Divide, Colorado, this is an easy day trip from Colorado Springs and perfect for teaching the kids about geology. The monument is open year-round and has 14 miles of other trails as well.

Rocky Mountain National Park

Location: Beaver Meadows Visitors Center, 1000 US-36, Estes Park, CO 80517
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 2 hours, 15 minutes
Activity: Hiking, Sightseeing
Great for: Everyone!

If you haven’t been to Rocky Mountain yet, it needs to be at the top of your list. This is one of the more famed National Parks in the country and for good reason. This 414-square-mile park is home to some stunning scenery and a variety of exciting wildlife. You could spot moose, elk, bighorn sheep, bears, deer, and more. The park’s many trails are great for hiking, horseback riding, backpacking, and cross-country skiing. You can also rock climb or boulder, fish for trout, and birdwatch. There’s something for everyone here, with plenty of romantic adventures for couples and educational tours for kids. 

Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve

Location: Great Sand Dunes Visitors Center, 11999 CO-150, Mosca, CO 81146
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 2 hours, 30 minutes
Activity: Hiking, Sightseeing
Great for: Everyone!

Great Sand Dunes National Park is not one of the most famous in our parks system, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t interesting. These sand dunes are the tallest in North America, reaching heights up to 750 feet. They cover 30 square miles and contain an estimated 5 billion cubic meters of sand. Hiking the sand dunes is a fun way to explore, but there are better options. Sandboarding and sand-sledding are two unique ways to experience the dunes. You can rent gear in the nearby town of Alamosa and practice your new favorite sport!

Thrill-Seeker Day Trips Near Colorado Springs

Royal Gorge Bridge and Park

Location: 4218 Co Rd 3A, Cañon City, CO 81212
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Activity: Theme Park
Great for: Families, Kids

Built for tourism in 1929, the Royal Gorge Bridge is suspended 956 feet over the Arkansas River. It is one of the highest suspension bridges in the world as well as the highest in the United States. The views from the bridge are absolutely breathtaking. But that’s not even it. The park also has activities for adventurers of all ages. You can ride the sky coaster or gondola, rock climb up the gorge on the Via Ferrata, or take a heart-pounding zip line 1,200 feet above the river. 

Bishop Castle

Location: 12705 CO-165, Rye, CO 81069
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Activity: Sightseeing, Walking Tour
Great for: Families

Bishop Castle is an odd but unique stop to add to your Colorado bucket list. Due south of Colorado Springs, this is mainly a tourist attraction, but it is free and always open. There are no official tours, but visitors are welcome to explore the entirety of the castle on their own. The castle is built by one man, Jim Bishop, who has been working on it for sixty years. You can see beautiful stained glass windows and a fire-breathing dragon. What puts Bishop Castle on this list, however, are the views. At three stories tall with towers and iron bridges, the castle soars over the tree line. You can see for a hundred miles on a clear day, and it is breathtaking. If you aren’t afraid of heights or odd architecture, you will be rewarded with outstanding views.

Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

Location: 51000 Two Rivers Plaza Road, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Activity: Walking Tour, Theme Park
Great for: Families, Kids

There are closer caves and caverns (namely Cave of the Winds Mountain Park in Manitou Springs). But Glenwood Caverns has so much to offer that it is certainly worth the drive. You and your kids can learn about geology with a 40-minute guided walking tour of the cave system. Then, check out the gondola, roller coasters, movie theater, laser tag arena, and more. This is a great weekend getaway with activities the whole family can enjoy. 

Relaxing Day Trips Near Colorado Springs

Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Location: 515 Ruxton Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 20 minutes
Activity: Sightseeing
Great for: Families, Couples

One way to sightsee from the comfort of indoors is the cog railway. Enjoy a scenic tour of the mountain as the train takes you nine miles to the summit. This 3.5-hour round-trip route offers non-stop sightseeing, and it’s ideal for a fall day trip. Pikes Peak is one of the best places to see fall colors in Colorado Springs, so this is a great day trip when the trees start to turn. At the 14,115-foot summit, there are beautiful panoramic views of the surrounding Front Range of the Rockies. The newly built Summit Visitors Center has a restaurant where you can enjoy a meal and shops so you can grab a souvenir. If you are looking for a more adventurous way to experience Pikes Peak, the Cog Up, Bike Down Tour is an adrenaline junkie’s dream. 

Indian Hot Springs

Location: 302 Soda Creek Rd, Idaho Springs, CO 80452
Distance from Downtown Colorado Springs: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Activity: Relaxation
Great for: Couples

Colorado is full of geothermal hot springs, but not all of them are equally amazing. Just west of Denver, Indian Hot Springs is one of the best places near Colorado Springs to get your soak on. This gorgeous getaway has a mineral water swimming pool geothermally heated around 90-100 degrees. There are also thermal caves, mud baths with mineral-rich clay, and outdoor jacuzzis. They even have eleven private baths for rental, a spa, and rooms and suites for a weekend retreat. If you are looking for a relaxing day trip from Colorado Springs, this one is unbeatable.

Final Thoughts

There are so many ways to get outdoors and enjoy nature in Colorado. No matter what activities you enjoy, there is sure to be something for you. And if driving isn’t your thing, that’s fine, too. If you’re looking for something closer to home, Colorado Springs has plenty of local adventures within easy reach. You can enjoy a bike tour, zip line, or scavenger hunt right here in town. Check out the Broadmoor Outfitters’ guided tours to enjoy Colorado Springs’ natural environment and learn a new skill.

How to Train for a Bike Tour

Are you wishing you could go on an epic bike tour of Colorado Springs’ best attractions? Or maybe you want to prepare for one of Colorado’s annual cycling events. It doesn’t take much to train for a bike tour. With just a little preparation, you can feel confident in your riding abilities and enjoy your time in the saddle exploring the sites.

Training for a bike tour consists mainly of cardio workouts and strengthening for the legs, back, and core. You should also include flexibility training to ensure your muscles do not tighten in response to the strength training. We’ll go over what a typical week of bike training looks like so you can get riding in no time.

Strength Training for a Bike Tour

If you’re not used to riding a bicycle, your legs will struggle to keep up on a bike tour. Strengthening your leg muscles, back, and core will keep you comfortable as you sit and work your leg muscles for hours on end on a bike tour. 

Leg Workouts for Biking

To prepare for a bike tour, you will need to build strength in the quadriceps, hamstring, and gluteus muscles. You can do goblet squats and lunges (or split squats which are static). Start with no weight and progress to doing them with a dumbbell. These will help strengthen the leg muscles that interact with the knee and keep your knees happy and healthy during your bike tour. 

Glute bridges are a great way to work out the butt muscles and the hip flexors making sure that you will be able to tolerate so much leg exercise in the sitting position. If you are not used to biking, you will notice your quads and hips getting tired first. That is why exercises like these are key for improving bicycle endurance.

Other leg exercises for biking include calf raises for the lower legs and side kicks for the outer quad muscles. Finally, you can use a stationary bike to practice one-leg pedaling. This is a strenuous but effective exercise because it forces your hips to work harder. When you pedal with both legs, it is common to push down more than pull up, so one-leg pedaling strengthens those pulling-up muscles. 

Back and Core Strength Training for a Bike Tour

Moving up the body, back and core workouts are also crucial to get you in bike-tour shape. Legs are not the only muscles that you will use when spending a day or more in the saddle. You also need to strengthen the muscles that keep you sitting upright on the bike. Romanian deadlifts are one of the best exercises to train the lower back. These exercises will help prevent discomfort when sitting for long periods of time. Unlike traditional deadlifts, Romanian deadlifts work the core more than the legs because you do not lower the weight to the ground and squat. When doing these, be sure to have the proper form and avoid rounding your back.

While deadlifts work the lower back and core muscles, you will also need to strengthen the erector spinae muscles, which travel the length of your back from the neck to the pelvis on either side of the spine. These muscles are important for posture and keeping upright on the bicycle. One great exercise for these back muscles is a quadruped, or bird dog, exercise. Start with your hands and knees on the ground and raise one arm and the opposite leg while keeping your core tight. This is a great way to strengthen your core for bicycling.

One final muscle group not to forget is the arm muscles. It is easy to overlook upper body workouts when thinking about bike riding, but you would be surprised at how tired your arms can get. When you think about the proper positioning on a bicycle, you actually use your arms a lot. Typically, bicyclists push against the handlebars for leverage, especially when biking uphill. And boy, are there a lot of hills involved in a Colorado Springs bike tour. Training your arms for a bike tour might consist of push-ups, planks, and side planks.

Cardio Training for Endurance Biking

You do not need to bike every day to train for biking. In fact, your cardio workouts can be anything. You can cross-train on a treadmill, with a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout, in a pool, or on a rowing machine. You can go jogging or hiking, or play a cardio-heavy sport like soccer or boxing. Cross-training is a great way to keep your schedule exciting and work out different muscle groups at the same time.

An ideal schedule for training for a bike tour is five or six days a week, alternating cardio and strength training days. You can plan to include one or two cross-training days per week, and make sure you are getting on the bike twice a week. Due to time constraints, you may plan a shorter ride of an hour during the week and a longer endurance ride for the weekend. You can plan for a two or three-hour weekend ride to start, and one great option is a guided bike tour. The distance you plan to achieve will determine the endurance rides. You can build up to it gradually over a few months or longer.

Pack Training for a Bike Tour

One essential step of training for a bike tour is pack training. Do not forget that a multi-day bike tour will necessarily include you carrying a backpack on your back or at least on the bike. This added weight will be quite a shock when you start if you have not introduced it during training. You can build up to it by starting with no weight and adding five pounds at a time. Once you have completed a month of training, including core and back exercises, you will find this added weight is no problem.

Best Stretches for Bicycling

Anytime you work out, either strength training or cardio, you need to stretch, too. Bicycling can easily cause joint pain and sore muscles if you are tight. Flexibility is essential for comfort and muscle endurance. That is why you should stretch every day, even on off days. 

Focusing on leg stretches, you will want to include hamstring (touch your toes), IT band and hip (figure 4), groin (butterfly), and quad (bring your foot to your butt). Key hip flexor and core stretches include reaching for the ceiling and the yoga cobra pose. Finally, keep your spine muscles flexible with neck and back stretches.

Final Thoughts

Training for a bike tour is a fantastic goal to keep you motivated to work out every day. You can also see some beautiful places in Colorado Springs as you train for the big event. Choose one of these six best mountain biking spots for an endurance ride, and you will surely come to love your biking training. Please always wear a helmet, follow bike safety guidelines, and have fun. Happy riding!

12 Terms Rock Climbers Love: An Intro to Climbing Lingo

If you are getting into rock climbing, one important thing to learn is the vocabulary. When you are hanging around other climbers and working on similar bouldering problems, you are likely to strike up a conversation that includes some odd rock climbing terms. We’ll go over some of the most popular lingo so you can fit right in as you start your climbing journey.

Beta

Getting beta on a climb means receiving advice. It could be a hint about the route, the starting position, the quality of a handhold, or anything. It could even be watching another climber complete the route so you can see what works. There is no shame in getting beta on a hard climb that you are projecting.

Before you ask someone for beta, make sure you know the names of climbing holds. That way, when someone tries to point out the route to you, you will be able to follow which holds they are talking about.

Crux

The crux of a climb is the hardest move or section. When you look at the rating of a climb, it is most likely based on the crux. This is especially true for bouldering routes. For more help figuring out how climbing route ratings work, be sure to check out our beginner’s guide to climbing techniques.

The difficulty of the crux can be hard to pinpoint. It can be due to a mixture of things including the type of hold, the distance between them, and the wall. For example, many overhung climbs have a crux at the overhang since transitioning from below the overhang to the wall above it is a particularly strenuous and difficult move. Another crux might be due to a particularly tough handhold and the next handhold being far away.

Projecting

Working on a climb as a project is known as projecting. This can be a climb above your skill level that takes many days and many tries until you can successfully climb it in one try without falling. It is always good to have a project when you climb so you can keep pushing yourself to improve. Typically climbers may have a couple projects going at the same time.

Sending

Sending a route means getting to the top in one go without falling. This can be done with or without practice, with or without beta. It is meant to be a catch-all term to describe getting to the top of a climb. Other terms used are more specific, like on-sighting, which is successfully climbing a route the first term you try it with no beta, no prior knowledge, no watching someone else do it. 

Slack and Take

These are two important terms and the most common ways for climbers to direct their belayer. Slack means that you want more slack in the rope. Take means that you want the belayer to take slack and make the rope tighter. As a belayer, you may hear a climber yell ‘take’ if they think they will fall or when they need a rest so they do not lose height on the route. To learn more belay terms, you can check out a guided climbing tour. In addition to enjoying a unique outdoor climbing experience, you will learn climbing safety, belay techniques, and more. 

Spotter

Spotting someone on a climb is very important. This is common at the beginning of lead climbs before the climber gets to the first anchor and on outdoor bouldering routes. The goal of a spotter is to make sure that if the climber falls, they do not hit their head. You are not standing directly under the climber trying to catch them if they fall. In this case, you will end up getting hurt yourself. Instead, a spotter stands back with their arms outstretched, elbows slightly bent, and thumbs in. If your climber falls, your main goal is to keep them upright, protect the head and neck, and make sure they fall safely onto the crash pads.

In outdoor bouldering, the role of a spotter or multiple spotters is essential. You may reposition crash pads as the climber moves, so they can land safely on it if they fall. You also may direct the climber as they fall to make sure they get on the crash pad and do not bounce off. If your climber is smaller than you, you can catch them around the waist and ease their fall. If the climber is bigger than you, you will more likely direct them with your hands on their butt to ensure they fall onto the crash pad. 

Types of Walls

Face and Slab

While a perfectly vertical wall, sometimes called a face, is the easiest to climb, many walls are not so simple. Especially if you are climbing outdoors, you are likely to encounter walls at different angles, even ones that change angle throughout the climb. A wall that tilts back away from you, and is thus less steep than vertical, is called a slab. 

Climbing a slab requires balance and confidence in your footholds. It can be scary for beginners to climb slabs because you may feel like if you fall, you’ll fall into the wall. To avoid scraping yourself on the wall, be sure to hop backward when you feel like you are going to fall. 

Overhangs, Roofs, and Caves

The opposite of a slab is an overhang. An overhang is any section of a wall that is more than vertical. Overhung walls tend to be a little more challenging because they require more strength to stay on the wall. 

If an overhung route is so angled that it juts out over your head and forces you to climb nearly horizontally, it is called a roof. A large section of this might be called a cave, and these are generally found in bouldering or lead climbing areas. With gravity working directly against you, climbing a roof requires a lot of strength and endurance. 

Final Thoughts

There are unlimited slang terms that different people use in different types of climbing. What is most important is that you are able to pick up enough to communicate effectively with other climbers when sharing route information. When climbing outdoors, another important safety tip is to establish non-verbal communication solutions with your group members. Over time, you will surely pick up more and more terms, so be patient and happy climbing!

woman and dog cross country skiing in snow and trees

Best Activities by Season Near Colorado Springs

There is so much to do in Colorado Springs that it can be hard to pick your next adventure. That’s why we’ve compiled some suggestions of unique outdoor activities to fit the season. If you need a new idea to get you excited to head out, here are some of the best outdoor activities available around Colorado Springs.

Best Winter Activities near Colorado Springs

Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing in Mueller State Park

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are classic Colorado winter activities with plenty of trails to choose from. In Mueller State Park, all trails are open for both, and if you are looking for an easier go of it, two routes are groomed depending on snow conditions. Mueller State Park is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Colorado Springs, just south of Divide, Colorado. This is a great way to enjoy the fresh air and the fresh powder. Mueller has a variety of trails offering different difficulty levels and lengths so you can enjoy a full day on the trail or a shorter trip with the kids.

Ice Skating in the Park

Take the kids ice skating in Acacia Park anytime from November 11 through January 31. This fun pastime is a great seasonal activity for people of all ages. You can go with friends, take a date, or schedule a birthday party around it. The park offers special events and skating times all throughout the day. Acacia Park is conveniently located in downtown Colorado Springs, offering plenty of places to enjoy a cup of something warm after your ice rink adventure. And if you don’t want to wait until the winter, you can always head to one of Colorado Springs’ local ice rinks all year-round.

Ways to Enjoy the Spring in Colorado Springs

Wildflower Spotting in Red Rock Canyon

Spring in Colorado is a colorful time. When the wildflowers bloom, you can see a vibrant rainbow across the valleys and up the mountainside. There are Colorado Columbines, Bluebells, Indian Paintbrushes, and more. That’s why heading out to find wildflowers is one of the best activities for the spring season in Colorado. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a tucked-away preserve just northwest of Old Colorado City. This 1,474-acre park has miles of hiking trails with plenty of places to enjoy views of the spring blooms. 

Elk Sighting in Rocky Mountain National Park

When the sun comes out in the spring, so do the animals, and there is no place better to see wildlife than in Rocky Mountain National Park. With more than 265,000 acres, the park is chock full of opportunities to spot elk, bighorn sheep, and bison. At less than three hours from Colorado Springs, Rocky Mountain is a perfect weekend getaway for someone looking to shake off the winter cold.

Outdoor Activities to Enjoy the Colorado Summer

Stand-Up Paddle Boarding in Colorado Springs

Summers in Colorado are beautiful, and with so many bodies of water around, it would be a shame to not take advantage. There are plenty of ways to do so, from canoeing or kayaking to swimming or boating. One unique and increasingly popular summer sport is stand-up paddle boarding (SUP). It is easy to learn and offers the flexibility to explore the water in a new way. Try it out with a guided SUP tour available on a local Colorado Springs lake. Don’t forget the sunscreen, and this will be a seasonal activity sure to please.

two stand up paddleboarders on lake
Photo by Matt Zhou on Unsplash

Manitou Springs Natural Mineral Springs Walking Tour

If you are looking for a unique and interesting way to spend a day outdoors in the summer, Manitou Springs is the place to be. The town has eight naturally-carbonated mineral springs you can find via a free, self-guided walking tour. These gorgeous and mystical springs have potable water with varying tastes, from sweet to citrus. This is a popular seasonal activity for locals and tourists alike, and it’s a fun way to stay cool and hydrated on a beautiful summer day.

Best Fall Adventures near Colorado Springs

Hiking in Garden of the Gods

There is nothing like the fall in Colorado. You can enjoy perfect weather and stunning scenery in a multitude of ways, from hiking to biking. Enjoy a guided hiking tour of one of Colorado Springs’ most recognized wonders. Garden of the Gods has exceptional hikes that provide amazing views and opportunities to see a variety of wildlife. With a tour guide, you can learn about the geology, ecology, and history of the National Natural Landmark. There are plenty of ways to keep the little ones happy, too, from horseback riding to segway tours to the Junior Rangers Program.

Fall Colors from the Pikes Peak Cog Railway

One of the best places to enjoy the colors of fall is Pikes Peak. With thousands of acres of national forest, fall brings out rich golden and red hues that make for a gorgeous vista. If you want to sit back and enjoy a tour of the landscape, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the perfect way to do it. The Cog Railway is a 9-mile trek that takes you to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak. From here, you can enjoy jaw-dropping panoramic views from the Summit Visitors Center, have a meal on the outdoor dining terrace, and buy souvenirs in the retail center. The 3.5-hour round-trip journey offers non-stop sightseeing and is a great way to spend a Saturday or Sunday. 

Final Thoughts

Colorado Springs is beautiful year-round and full of outdoor adventures waiting to be had. This short list of some of the best activities by season shows that there are an endless number of ways to enjoy nature whenever you want. No matter what season, as long as you prepare with the right gear, you can spend time outdoors in any weather. Check out the trail conditions at a park near you, and explore all that Colorful Colorado has to offer.