CategoriesFamilies, Lifestyle by

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. 

Photo by LOGAN WEAVER on Unsplash

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.

CategoriesFamilies, individuals, Lifestyle by

Colorado Springs Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss

When you’re going on vacation (or even a staycation), you want to make the most of your time. You didn’t take time off work, set up dog sitters, and play Tetris with your luggage in the back of the car to visit a bunch of attractions that you ended up not enjoying. You want to get what you came for and experience the most exciting things to do in Colorado Springs – the ones that you have to do in order to say you’ve truly been to Colorado Springs. 

But with the overwhelming number of brochures at rest stops and online advertisements begging for your attention, how do you decide which places to visit?

To explore Colorado Springs the way it deserves, you should focus on a few key elements: getting in nature, gaining knowledge about both ancient and recent history, and spending time relaxing to soak it all in. We’ve compiled a complete list of places you must visit in Colorado Springs with all of those points in mind. This guide will give you some direction in your travels as you’re looking for things to do in Colorado Springs. 

Cog Up/Bike Down Pikes Peak Adventure

If you’re looking for an exciting way to summit the second most-visited peak in the world – Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, CO – then this Broadmoor Outfitters adventure is for you. 

First, you’ll catch a ride up ‘America’s Mountain’ on the world’s highest cog railway – The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Then, you’ll ride a custom-built cruiser bicycle the whole 19.5 miles back down the mountain!

Image by VIT DUCKEN from Pixabay

This adventure is one of the most unique things to do in Colorado Springs. The Cog Up/Bike Down Adventure is suitable for anyone ten or older at any fitness level. Broadmoor Outfitters provides all the safety gear, including full-face helmets, high visibility vests, and gloves. The pace is set by a Broadmoor guide who will lead the way for the duration of the ride, and you’ll feel safe knowing a sweep van will follow the group to pick up anyone who ends their ride early. Remember, you’ll need to book this adventure at least two days in advance to secure your spot!

Woods Course Zipline

Ziplining is where exhilaration meets exploration! Hiking and biking are excellent ways to explore Colorado Springs, but ziplining is incredibly cool as you get a bird’s-eye view of the landscape! You’ll be 150 feet from the ground, sailing through ponderosa pine forests, gliding over the gorgeous Midnight Falls, and soaring through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains on this Broadmoor Outfitters adventure.

Image by Dragan Tomić from Pixabay

The Woods Course Zipline is suitable for beginners, but Broadmoor Outfitters also offers other, more advanced ziplining tours for people looking for a big thrill.

Explore Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods was named by Rufus Cable when he stood atop Pikes Peak, saw the glorious rock formation, and declared the area “…a fit place for the gods to assemble.” 


The Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center is a paradise and one of the most popular Colorado Springs attractions. You’ve got plenty of options for how to explore these 300-foot tall sandstone rock formations; there truly is something for everyone! There are activities for explorers at all fitness levels, including but not limited to hiking, rock climbing, and Jeep and Segway tours.

Photo by Jude Infantini on Unsplash

Western Museum of Mining and Industry

To bring your adventurous Colorado Springs vacation full circle, we recommend getting some historical context of the area by visiting the Western Museum of Mining & Industry. This museum offers 27 acres of exhibits, each containing over 4,000 artifacts from the 19th and 20th centuries. 

As you wander the campus, you’ll also get to see the Reynolds Ranch House – an Edwardian Lake-style ranch home that is included on the State Register of Historic Properties. This isn’t an ordinary museum; exhibits are set up both indoors and outdoors and feature restored steam engines and mining equipment, as well as a fully operational Stamp Mill and Blacksmithing Demo Shop. You’ll learn about the environmental impact of mining on wildlife and local plants and see the Mine Reclamation exhibit, which shows visitors the process of turning abandoned mines into useful land.

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

From 1200 B.C. to 1300 A.D, Native Americans known as Anasazi lived within natural and, eventually, constructed settlements high in the cliffs of canyon walls. In the Colorado Springs area, the ancient Anasazi cliff dwellings are located at the foot of what we now call Pikes Peak. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are open to the public for self-guided tours. 


As you wander among the rooms carved within the vertical canyon walls, it’s only natural to wonder, “How in the world did they (the Anasazi) get up here?” That mystery, along with the settlements’ astonishing beauty, makes the Manitou Cliff Dwellings a popular attraction in Colorado Springs. Check out the FAQ section of the Manitou Cliff Dwellings Museum website to learn more about how to visit this architectural wonder.

Photo by Cupcake Media on Unsplash

Organic Spa at Broadmoor Resort

This luxurious partially organic Spa at Broadmoor Resort is featured in the Forbes Travel Guide. It’s certainly one of the best Colorado Springs attractions for those looking for a bit of pampering. 

This spa is the perfect way to relax after a full day of adventuring in Colorado Springs! Before your desired spa treatment, you’ll sit quietly in the Mountain View Room, overlooking the lush Broadmoor Golf Course greens. In the background, a stunning scene of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains invites you to pause, unwind, and relax. 

Overview

This breathtaking Rocky Mountains sanctuary is an inviting destination for both solo travelers and families. There are plenty of Colorado Springs tours and attractions that appeal to adventurers of all ages, history buffs, and people looking to unwind in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains. Remember to make reservations for all these things to do in Colorado Springs well in advance, and most importantly: have fun!

Geocaching with Broadmoor Outfitters in Colorado Springs
CategoriesFamilies, Lifestyle by

Geocaching: A Family Adventure or Solo Fun in the Colorado Springs Area

Are you looking for an outdoor recreational activity in the Colorado Springs area that could be a family adventure or solo fun? Then look no further than geocaching. Getting started is simple; all you need is your mobile device, GPS receiver, or some other navigational tool to look up the coordinates.

What is a Geocache

For the normal geocache, first, a geocacher places a logbook (including pen or pencil), items to trade in a container, and records the coordinates of that cache. Next, the coordinates and location become shared on a listing site. Those that geocache then finds the coordinates on the site take their GPS devices and go hunting. Once they find the location and item, enter the entries into the logbook and online.

 

In the world of geocaching, treasures, or swag, are items that do not have a substantial monetary value. They may, though, be personal to those who hide the loot. Typical swag includes books, little toys, coins, hat pins, and different types of buttons.

 

Do not forget to return the cache to where you found it so that others may find it. The item, except the logbook, pen, or pencil, may be taken if you have something to leave in its place.

 

Some caches that move from one place to another. Hitchhikers, as referred to, usually have detailed goals assigned to their items. Some examples include placing the cache xx amount of distance from home.

 

Travel Bugs and Geocoins are specific caches that have websites for people to log and follow where they have been online.

 

Almost anything is as a cache except for food, drugs, andanything illegal. Refer to the rules of the listing site.

 

Some great places to geocache in and around Colorado Springs include the Fallen Firefighter Memorial or the Nature Center at Garden of the Gods.

 

Types of Geocache

 

Challenge Cache

This type of geocache requires the geocacher to complete individual geocaching goals before they can record that they found the cache. Possible tasks would include finding five caches in a particular category or locating a cache every day for 30 days.

 

Geocaching.com classifies this type of cache part of the Mystery cache. Other listing sites may consider the challenge cache a standalone class.

 

Mystery Cache

Solve a puzzle or locate specific information, and you will be participating in a mystery cache to find precisely where your cache is.

 

Night Cache

You guessed it! Break out the flashlights, see where the reflectors take you and find that prize location! Some listing sites may classify this as a type of mystery cache.

 

Multi-Cache

The Multi-cache occurs in one or more steps. Locate one, gather the coordinates, move to the next, again recording coordinates, and finally finding the container with the logbook.

 

Traveling Cache

After you have obtained the coordinates from the listing site, head out, find the cache, and then take it somewhere else. You would record the coordinates of where you placed the item so that the next geocacher can continue the cycle.

 

Location Cache

Location caches are close to a scavenger hunt. The geocacher has a description of what to locate. The item you are searching for could be a yellow fire hydrant, brown door, red and black boat, or pink flamingo. After finding the article, use your GPS device and record the location. A picture of both the object and device occurs as well. No one else can use this location as a find.

 

Traditional Cache

Traditional caches are widespread and common. A container with a logbook is standard, as are exact coordinates for locating the cache.

 

Conclusion

Geocaching is an excellent outdoor recreational activity to do with family or solo in the Colorado Springs area. Broadmoor Outfitters  can help you get going. Whatever site listing you decide on utilizing your observation and detective skills will be put to the test looking for those containers.

Geocaching is a great way to social distance exercise at the same time. So, gather up the family or lace up your tennis shoes and have some fun. Contact Broadmoor Outfitters  for more information and how to get going.

Hampton Masden

Hampton Masden

Electrical Engineer turned Outdoor Professional! Hampton grew up in the outfitting world and when push came to shove, she adopted her favorite motto #Forget Engineering and returned to the industry she loves. She is a mother of two wonderful boys, and if you need a little nerdy humor, she can throw it your way.