Loading…
Colorado Springs
Pikes PeakGarden of the Gods’ red sandstone formationsThe U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movementOutdoor training and endurance culture
12 tours & tickets matched to these sights
This is Colorado Springs’ essential landscape: red sandstone fins against the Front Range, with enough roads and trails to suit either a quick scenic loop or a longer walk. Go early, then use the visitor center to orient yourself before walking the Central Garden trails.
2h FreeArrive before 9am, especially in summer; sunset is beautiful but parking is much harder.
Pairs with: Red Rock Canyon · Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site · Old Colorado City
More than a standard regional zoo, this mountainside setting and its giraffe-feeding experience make it a particularly good family stop. Allow time for the steep terrain rather than trying to squeeze it into an hour between other sights.
3h Book aheadBook the first entry of the day; animal viewing and parking are both easier.
Buy dated online admission in advance for weekends, holidays, and summer afternoons.
Pairs with: The Broadmoor Seven Falls · Penrose Heritage Museum
This is a polished, accessible version of a Colorado canyon-and-waterfall outing, with a dramatic narrow approach and a worthwhile overlook for visitors comfortable with stairs. It is best treated as an evening or half-day attraction, not as wilderness solitude.
2h Book aheadGo at opening or later in the afternoon; mid-day shuttle and elevator lines are longest.
Reserve online ahead in peak season; entry includes a required shuttle system from off-site parking.
Pairs with: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo · Penrose Heritage Museum
Tickets & tours · 1
Colorado Springs’ role as Olympic City is one of its distinctive modern identities, and this interactive museum makes that story accessible even to non-sports obsessives. Its hands-on design is especially good for families and rainy afternoons.
2h Timed entryThe opening time slot is the least crowded.
Reserve a timed ticket ahead for summer weekends and school holidays.
Pairs with: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center · Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum · Ivywild School
This brutally steep former railway grade is the city’s signature athletic challenge, rewarding fit hikers with expansive views and a memorable descent on Barr Trail. It is not a casual stroll: plan water, weather protection, and enough time to come down safely.
3h Timed entryReserve the earliest available slot and avoid afternoon thunderstorms, heat, and icy conditions.
A free advance reservation is generally required; reserve popular morning slots ahead in peak season.
Pairs with: Cave of the Winds Mountain Park · Pikes Peak Cog Railway · Garden of the Gods
The cog railway is the easiest high-impact way to reach Pikes Peak’s summit without driving a demanding mountain road, and the journey is as much of the experience as the top. It is a defining Colorado Springs excursion for visitors short on mountain-driving confidence.
3.5h Sells out — book weeks aheadTake the first departure for clearer skies and less chance of afternoon weather disruption.
Summer, fall-color, and holiday departures can sell out weeks ahead; book immediately after fixing your travel dates.
Pairs with: Manitou Incline · Cave of the Winds Mountain Park · Old Colorado City
The 14,115-foot summit is the region’s grand natural objective, with views that explain why Colorado Springs is a gateway to the Rockies. Reach it by cog railway or the Pikes Peak Highway, and build in flexibility for rapidly changing high-altitude weather.
4h Book aheadAim for morning, when visibility is often clearest and thunderstorms are less likely.
For driving, reserve a Pikes Peak Highway timed entry in advance during peak periods; weather can still alter access.
Pairs with: Pikes Peak Cog Railway · Manitou Incline · Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
This is the less manicured companion to Garden of the Gods, with red-rock trails, scrambling terrain, and views without the same traffic. Use it for a hike or mountain-bike stop if Garden of the Gods feels too busy.
1.5h FreeMornings are coolest and quietest; the exposed trails are unpleasant in summer mid-afternoon heat.
Pairs with: Garden of the Gods · Old Colorado City · Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
Housed in the handsome former courthouse, this museum gives useful context on the city’s founders, railroads, resorts, and regional history. It is an easy, worthwhile downtown stop when weather or hiking fatigue calls for an indoor hour.
1.3h FreeWeekday mornings are generally quiet.
Pairs with: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum · Cosmo's Magic Theater · Ivywild School
A strong specialty museum for aviation and military-history travelers, with an unusually impressive collection of flyable World War II aircraft. It is farther from the core sights, so prioritize it over downtown museums only if the subject genuinely interests you.
2h Walk upVisit on a weekday morning for more room around the aircraft and better chances of catching restoration activity.
Pairs with: Edward J. Peterson Air and Space Museum · U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center
Choose this for proper foothills hiking, wildlife, and big open-space views rather than for a quick photo stop. It is a good alternative when Garden of the Gods is crowded or when you have an extra half-day outdoors.
3h Walk upStart early; exposed trails and the main parking areas fill on fair-weather weekends.
Pairs with: Cheyenne Mountain Zoo · The Broadmoor Seven Falls
#12U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training CenterShouldNew South End / Olympic Museum / Weidner Field4.7(558)
A guided visit provides a behind-the-scenes look at the training side of Olympic City and complements the museum’s athlete stories. Tours are relatively brief, so pair it with the Olympic museum rather than treating it as a full standalone destination.
1h Book aheadChoose an early tour; schedules can change around athlete training and events.
Tour capacity is limited; reserve online in advance, especially during summer and school breaks.
Pairs with: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum · Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum
The cave tour is a reliable family-friendly underground experience, with cliffside attractions and views adding to the outing. It is commercial and busy, but remains a good choice when traveling with kids or when you want a structured activity near Manitou.
2h Book aheadTake an early cave tour before tour buses and afternoon heat arrive.
Reserve cave-tour times online for summer, weekends, and holidays; popular tour slots can fill out.
Pairs with: Manitou Incline · Pikes Peak Cog Railway · Old Colorado City
The former town west of downtown is the best place to browse independent shops, galleries, casual cafés, and older commercial streets. It is most useful as a lunch-and-stroll stop wrapped around Garden of the Gods rather than as a museum-heavy historic district.
1.5h FreeLate morning on a weekday is best for relaxed browsing; weekend afternoons are livelier but more congested.
Pairs with: Garden of the Gods · Red Rock Canyon · The Michael Garman Museum & Gallery
The visitor center introduces the academy’s setting and mission, while the surrounding grounds offer the region’s most recognizable modernist institutional architecture. Check current access conditions before going, since security rules and Chapel access can change.
1.3h FreeVisit early on a weekday and verify current gate, shuttle, and Cadet Chapel arrangements before departure.
Pairs with: Western Museum of Mining & Industry · Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
This large in-town mesa delivers surprisingly broad views of Pikes Peak and the city without committing to a major mountain excursion. It is best for a quick hike, sunset drive, or a local-feeling break from the headline attractions.
1.3h FreeGo near sunrise or sunset, but use established trails and leave before dark.
Pairs with: Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum · U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
#17Western Museum of Mining & IndustryIf timeNorthgate / InterQuest / Air Force Academy edge4.7(1,100)
This hands-on museum explains the mining machinery and labor that built much of Colorado’s wealth, rather than presenting mining as a generic Old West backdrop. It is best for families and industrial-history fans, particularly if you are already headed north.
1.5h Walk upWeekday visits are quieter, and scheduled machine demonstrations add the most value.
Pairs with: U.S. Air Force Academy Visitor Center · Pikes Peak - America's Mountain
This living-history ranch adds human context to the Garden of the Gods area, tracing regional life from the 1770s through the early 1900s. It is most rewarding during demonstration days; otherwise it is a pleasant, low-key add-on to a park visit.
1.3h Walk upCheck for living-history events and arrive near opening; regular-day programming can be limited.
Pairs with: Garden of the Gods · Red Rock Canyon · Old Colorado City
This small museum is a surprisingly engaging look at the Penrose family, Broadmoor history, carriages, race cars, and local philanthropy. It is a concise, free complement to the zoo or Seven Falls, not a destination requiring a special trip across town.
45m FreeWeekday mornings offer the calmest visit.
Pairs with: The Broadmoor Seven Falls · Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
An intimate evening show with close-up magic and a loyal local following, this is a much more distinctive night out than another casual downtown bar. It works best for adults and older children who enjoy audience-participation entertainment.
2h Sells out — book weeks aheadThere is no crowd-beating strategy beyond booking early; arrive early enough for seating instructions.
Weekend performances are small and often sell out well ahead; reserve as soon as dates are set.
Pairs with: Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum · Ivywild School
A former elementary school repurposed as a brewery, food, coffee, and gathering complex, Ivywild is a useful local-feeling meal stop rather than a formal sightseeing attraction. Use it for lunch or an easy evening after the Olympic museum or downtown.
1.5h FreeGo before the dinner rush or later in the evening; weekend tables can be scarce.
Pairs with: U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum · Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum · Cosmo's Magic Theater
This compact indoor collection of relocated frontier buildings is kitschy but entertaining, especially for children or a bad-weather diversion. It is not a substitute for genuine historic towns or museums, so keep expectations modest and the visit short.
45m Walk upGo soon after opening if visiting on a summer weekend.
Pairs with: Old Colorado City · Red Rock Canyon · Garden of the Gods
Garman’s highly detailed miniature streetscapes are an unusual, locally rooted art stop in Old Colorado City. It is a niche attraction, but worthwhile for model-makers, art collectors, or anyone already browsing the district.
45m Walk upVisit on a weekday if you want time to study the miniatures without a busy shop atmosphere.
Pairs with: Old Colorado City · Ghost Town Museum · Red Rock Canyon
This small museum has worthwhile Air Force and space-history material, but its location on Peterson Space Force Base makes access more complicated than at ordinary museums. Treat it as a bonus for serious military-history visitors, not a core first-trip stop.
1.3h Book aheadWeekday daytime is generally the practical window, subject to base-access procedures.
Confirm current public-access rules and any required advance registration directly before planning a visit.
Pairs with: National Museum of World War II Aviation · U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center