You may be thinking, Manitou Springs isn’t a secret, however as a Colorado local for more than half my life – when people talk about coming to Colorado, I don’t hear them talking about visiting Manitou Springs, and that really is a true shame! In my opinion, they truly have a bit of everything here from a historic cog railway that summits Pikes Peak, a walking path that leads you to 8 different drinkable mineral springs, a historic shopping district, challenging hikes, Garden of the Gods, and so much more! With it only being about an hour and a half drive from Denver and offering so much to do, Manitou Springs is definitely one of Colorado’s best kept secrets.

Things to do in Manitou Springs:

Ride the Historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway

If you are planning a trip to Colorado then you’ve likely already heard of our famous “14ers” -the 58 iconic mountain peaks soaring above 14,000ft. While hiking to the top of one is a bucket-list worthy goal for many, you don’t actually have to endure a grueling trek to experience a summit. Pikes Peak is one of two 14ers in Colorado that you can conquer without breaking a sweat.

While you can certainly drive to the top, the more unique way to ascend is via the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway. Originally opened in 1891, the railway recently underwent a massive multi-million-dollar renovation debuting all new tracks and state of the art Swiss trains.

If you choose to take the train like we did, you are in for an unforgettable 3.5 hour long journey along a nearly nine mile long track with steep inclining grades of up to 25%! Along the way, you can sit back and relax as you take in the very best of the Colorado Rockies – from cascading waterfalls, spanning views, and mountains wildlife. It is no wonder that Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to write America the Beautiful after her own summit in 1893.

Once you reach the top, you will have 40 minute to explore the summit and visit the Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center – the only fully equipped visitor center in the United States on top of a 14er. They also serve food here as well – I highly enjoyed the donuts myself!

Note: If purchasing tickets for this ride – you will need to pick your seats in advance. I highly recommend picking seats on the three seater side as the best views were on that side and the train does not turn around at the summit so you sit on the same side of the train both up and down the mountain. We also noticed that the windows right next to the doors didn’t open and close like the rest of the windows on the train – so if you are hoping to be able to stick your head out the window to take a look around be sure not to book a seat right next to the doors as well.

Altitude Warning: Summiting a Colorado 14er – including Pike’s Peak will take you high up in elevation and if you aren’t from Colorado and used to being at higher elevations, you may encounter elevation sickness. Be prepared for the oxygen to be thinner, and drink plenty of water!

Visit the Penny Arcade

No visit to Manitou Springs is complete without visiting the historic Penny Arcade nestled in downtown Manitou Springs. This historic coin-operated arcade has been around for nearly a century and is a staple in Manitou. The Arcades were originally opened in the early 1930’s as a gambling parlor – hence the signature red and white colors – however they soon after switched to an arcade when the Colorado Attorney General ruled that for-profit bingo counted as illegal gambling.

Upon opening, the games only cost a penny to play, but as time went on and newer machines were introduced the prices increased – however they remain affordable at just a quarter or two to play. Reportedly there are still some penny arcade games to be played on the premises – however they are definitely the minority at this point.

Hint: If planning to visit the arcades during your trip, we recommend getting coins in advance. All the ATM’s in the area were down and many of the coin machines were out of order during our visit as well so we were only able to play a few games with the change we scrounged up from the bottom of our purses.

Drink from the Manitou Mineral Springs Drinking Fountains

As you walk around Manitou Springs you may see the numerous natural spring water fountains around town. There is actually a free self-guided walking path you can take that guides you to 8 working springs that were once thought to have healing powers. We came across a few of them while walking around downtown and had to give them a try and let’s just say they sure are mineral heavy – haha. Be better than me and be sure to bring a water bottle or cup to try these fountains with.

Visit Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

If via ferrata’s, canyon swings, cave tours, and sky high challenge courses are your type of thrill, a trip to Manitou Springs wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park. From exploring a cavern that is estimated to be between 4-7 million years old, to soaring through the sky on the terror-dactyl canyon swing, Cave of the Winds has so much to offer. Whether you are an adrenaline junkie looking for your next thrill, or a family looking to create memories on vacation, there is so much to do at Cave of the Winds. Personally, we have only done the Cave Tours – which we highly recommend, especially with the year round temperature of the cave being 54 degrees, meaning its perfect to escape the heat in the summer, or to warm up a bit in the winter!

Hike the Broadmoor Seven Falls

For a glance at one of Colorado’s most stunning waterfalls, you’ll want to visit the Broadmoor Seven Falls where you’ll be able to view seven cascading waterfalls. This is Colorado’s only waterfall to be featured on National Geographic’s list of international waterfalls! We recommend taking advantage of the hikes here as well, including the 224 steps that are built alongside the waterfalls.

Visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Modeled after the ancient Ancestral Puebloan communities, these cliff dwellings are a recreation of the traditional dwellings found in areas like Mesa Verde National Park with the stones actually being relocated from southern Colorado in the early 1900s. What makes the Manitou Cliff Dwellings worth visiting is that unlike the dwellings in Mesa Verde where you can only visit the dwellings with a guide and have to stay behind specific barriers, these dwellings are fully explorable at a self directed pace. Here, you are encouraged to step inside the rooms, climb ladders, and touch the ancient stones. While these dwellings are much smaller than what you would find in Mesa Verde, the on site museum, convenient location, and historic representation make the trip worthwhile. We also personally found that the gift shop here was well worth a visit – especially in comparison to the prices we were seeing in the stores in downtown Manitou.

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Staying Cool in the Hot Colorado Summers:

If your like us and choose to visit Manitou in the summer then staying hydrated and cool will be of high priority to you during your visit – or at least it will be if you are like me and get overheated easily! We found that having a cooling neck wrap and a misting fan was of great help. We alternated between using this neck wrap and this neck wrap and both were so incredibly helpful! We brought along a small cooler full of ice and kept the neck wraps in the cooler while we drove around, then threw them on when we headed out into the sun – and they truly made such a difference.

Visit Garden of the Gods

With one of the most stunning gravity-defying red rock formations in the world, this free park with over 21 miles worth of trails is one of our favorite Colorado destinations. Not only do they have some gorgeous hiking trails, they also have rock climbing, bike tours, Segway tours, and even self guided audio tours. They are also dog friendly, making it a great trip for the family! We have visited here on multiple occasions, hiking with friends, doing the scenic loop drive, and even taking family photos here.

Best Hikes in Garden of The Gods:

Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Stausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop:

• Length: 4.3 miles
• Elevation Gain: 610 ft
• Difficulty: Moderate
• We recommend this one of you are interested in seeing the best of what the park has to offer.

Palmer, Upper Loop, and Central Garden Trail Loop

• Length: 1.6 miles
• Elevation Gain: 216 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• We recommend this hike for some of the most iconic views in the park.

Strausenbach, Siamese Twins, Cabin Canyon, and Balanced Rock Loop:

• Length: 1.8 miles
• Elevation Gain: 275 ft
• Difficulty: Easy
• We prefer this one for a quick and easy yet rewarding hike in the park.
  

Don’t want to hike Garden of the Gods?

While driving the park is certainly a great option if you aren’t interested in hiking through the park, it does limit everything you are able to see. We highly recommend trying something like this e-bike tour if you aren’t a fan of hiking but still want to see all that the park has to offer – and what better a place to try out an e-bike than with these massive rock formations and Pikes Peak for a view?

Hike the Manitou Incline:

Rising above Manitou is the world famous Manitou incline, a workout guru’s favorite type of challenge – and one that is surely not for the faint of heart (we are the faint of heart, haha). Set along a former cable railway, this hike consists of 2,768 steps to the summit. Please be sure to do a lot of research before attempting this hike and be in good physical condition. We live here in Colorado and still have not attempted this hike ourselves – nor will we probably ever due to our own health issues. However this is definitely one of Colorado’s Hidden Gems that bring in a lot of recreation and adrenaline junkies – and those that do it feel so accomplished knowing they can walk away stating that they concurred the Manitou Incline.

Where to Eat in Manitou Springs:

• Rocky Mountain Beignets
  • Open 8am – 7pm
  • Located in Downtown Manitou Springs
  • Known for their beignets, but also have a variety of other food and drinks as well.

• The Happy Cow
  • Open 8am – 8pm, Closed on Mondays
  • Located right outside of Manitou Springs – about a 5 minute drive away
  • Free Street Parking Available
  • Known for their Pasture-raised Wagyu beef burgers and beef tallow French

• The Loft
  • Open Daily 8am – 4pm
  • Located in Downtown Manitou Springs
  • Known for their made from scratch breakfast items including homemade bagels.

• Adam’s Mountain Cafe
  • Open Daily 8am – 2pm
  • Located right outside of Downtown Manitou Springs
  • Free parking available
  • Known for their colorful menu specializing in fresh, health eats with options for vegetarians, vegans, and omnivores!

Best Time to Visit Manitou Springs:

Spring and Fall offer cooler temperatures without the extreme heat of the summer and the snow of the Colorado winters and would definitely be our recommended time of the year to visit. Summer however offers a larger variety of open attractions, longer daylight hours, and access to hiking trails and the Pikes Peak summit that you may not be able to access at other points in the year. Winter is also a gorgeous time to visit with the snowy contrast against the red rocks. Whatever time of the year you choose, it will be a great visit!

How long should we spend in Manitou Springs?

Although you can definitely make it a day trip from Denver or Colorado Springs, to really take advantage of everything that Manitou Springs has to offer, we recommend spending at least two days here.

Where to Stay in Manitou Springs:

• The Cliff House at Pikes Peak
  • Stay here for a non traditional hotel with a historic feel
• Holiday Inn Express & Suites – Manitou Springs by IHG
  • Stay here for a traditional hotel with breakfast included.
• A Frame Wonders with a Hot Tub
  • Stay here for a family vacation with a private home, hot tub, and space for 10!
    

Check out our Wanderlog map for a full list of recommendations for things to do in/around Manitou Springs!