Colorado Springs at the Foot of the Rocky Mountains

Colorado Springs is a city at an elevation of 6, 035 ft. at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains. It is a popular resort both in summer and in winter.

Enjoy Pikes Peak Highway which is a 19-mile mountain road with many scenic viewing areas.

To get to the top of Pikes Peak you can also take the historic Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway which is the highest cog railway in the world. At the visitor center, you can see brand-new interactive exhibits.

At the top, you can see local wildlife like yellow-bellied marmots and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep. Along the way to the top, there is a recreation area with three lakes. To learn about the natural wonders of the area you can take a ranger-led tour. A shuttle is available to take tourists the last three miles to the summit from which on a clear day you can see five states Colorado, Arizona, Kansas, New Mexico, and Utah.

The Garden of the Gods is just six miles northwest of Colorado Springs. This is a nature park with strangely shaped red sandstone formations and ancient cypresses. Among the highlights are the red sandstone rock formations that might be nearly 300 million years old. In the park, you'll find hiking, mountain biking, and horse riding trails. The visitor center is located just outside the park with a museum about the area and offers park tours.

The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has a wide variety of animal species including both domestic and exotic animals. There is a chairlift that runs over the zoo offering great views of the park and its surroundings.

The Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun is a historic monument that stands high above the zoo looking down on Colorado Springs.

It can only be accessed through the zoo.

North Cheyenne Canon Park is known for its diverse plant and animal life. Wildlife making their home here include black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, and a wide variety of both native and migratory birds.

Among the highlights in the park are Helen Hunt Falls, awesome rock formations, and the Starsmore Discovery Center.

There are many hiking trails that lead to some lovely sites among them Silver Cascade Falls.

The Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum has found its home in the old El Paso County Courthouse. You can find exhibits about the history of the town, Pike Peak, and the surrounding area, The museum is set in a park that has lovely lawns, gardens, trees, a granite fountain, and outdoor sculptures. The museum has an extensive collection of items like an assortment of quilts and Van Briggle art pottery as well as a large collection of regional art. There are Native American items like pieces from the Ute, Cheyenne, and Arapaho cultures. The Starsmore Center for Local History is also part of the museum which is a local repository for the history of the city and surrounding area.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park offers many activities to appreciate the natural beauty of Colorado including campsites. There are picnic areas with grills, a playground, and restroom facilities. The park offers over 21 miles of hiking trails and you can get a look at wildlife like turkeys, deer, and prairie dogs. The visitor center has educational exhibits, a shop, and a helpful staff.

Palmer Park has interesting rock formations among them narrow stone pillars balancing larger pieces of rock in hilly terrain. The upper plateau has cactus, opuntis, and wild roses along the trails. The park has many hiking trails with the highest trails offering great views of the city. There are challenging mountain biking trails winding through the rocks. The park also has a playground, baseball field, and beach volleyball facilities, as well as several picnic areas.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a park that features reddish sedimentary rock that has been shaped and sculpted by years of erosion. The many hiking trails here include off-leash dog trails, horse, and bike trails. There is a picnic pavilion. Permits are required for rock climbing.

The Incline or Manitou Incline is a hike that is located about 20 minutes west of Colorado Springs. Following the trail of a former cog railway, it steeply ascends to gain over 2,000 feet in less than a mile, The hike is over a set of stairs and the stair number at the top is 2,768. There are amazing views from the top.

The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center is home to art galleries at the Fine Arts Center Museum and plays and musicals at the Fine Arts Center Theater. The center is also home to the Bernis School of Art. The art collection includes great American artists like Richard Diebenkorn, Georgia O'Keeffe, Walt Kuhn, John Singer Sargent, and Dale Chihuly. You can also enjoy Latin American and Native American art.

The US Olympic Complex is the main center for the US Olympic Committee and the primary Olympic Training Center for the US, It's the headquarters of the USA swimming and shooting programs.

The complex has the impressive Olympic Visitor Center and the Team USA Shop. You can get a free tour of the complex. The rooftop terrace features an Olympic flame display and offers panoramic views of the complex and Colorado Springs.

Santa's Workshop/North Pole is a park offering 28 child-friendly rides, The highlight here is a visit with Mr and Mrs Santa Claus. It is located in Cascade, Colorado just west of Colorado Springs.

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