From Snow to Sun in Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs, located at the eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains, offers countless options for outdoors enthusiasts. With easy access to snow covered mountains plus the red rocks of Garden of the Gods you can find something for everyone.
Pikes Peak
Towering over Colorado Springs is the popular Pikes Peak. Not only does this snow capped mountain offer spectacular views both from the ground and on the peak, but it also includes the famous winding road that you can take up to the 14,115 foot summit (over 8000ft of climbing!). During May 2021, the summit itself was closed for construction but visitors could drive to Devil’s Playground, the last stop before the summit.
Devil’s Playground offerers some quick hiking options that we’d recommend exploring even when the summit is open! From the parking area, you can climb on some rock formations offering panoramic views of the nearby mountains. For a more quick uphill hike, cross the street to the steep path up to a cliff’s edge. This side overlooks Pike Peak’s summit and was worth the climb as the views were absolutely amazing!
The Drive to the Summit
The 19 mile toll road up to the summit of Pikes Peak is also an adventure in itself. In May 2021, it was $24 for 2 people (it’s on a per-person basis) which was slightly discounted due to the summit closure. If you’re not comfortable driving on high steep grades or have problems with sharp drop offs, this is not the drive for you! The higher you get, the more switchbacks and tight roads you encounter. While the turns are one thing, many are next to drop offs with no guardrails.
On the way down, you have to be careful with braking as well. If you can run in a low gear, that is recommended. There is a mandatory brake temperature stop station and they as cars to pull over to cool if brake temps exceed 300 degrees. It can be fun to drive, but be prepared for what you’re getting yourself into!
Garden of the Gods
After shedding our high altitude cold hiking gear, we headed down to another main outdoor attraction in Colorado Springs, Garden Of The Gods. This park offers many easily accessible hiking options through red rock formations and forested landscapes. Entry is free and there are some relatively short driving loops to get you to various trailheads and parking areas.
There is a large visitor center which offers exhibits, food, and information on the park. Because we had already experienced many similar places on our trip (i.e Arches NP) we just did the 0.5 mile Ridge Trail. This was a fun trail that got you right up to a smaller rock formation and offered nice views of Pikes Peak. Another nice bonus of this park is that it is dog friendly plus there is a dog park!
We hope this helps you plan your next trip! Check out more of our outdoor adventures here.