Colorado Springs, or “The Springs” for those in the know (which is now you, too!), is the second-largest city in Colorado, behind the capital Denver. To many, Colorado Springs is mostly known as merely being south of Denver. But wait! There’s so much more to the Springs.
So—what is Colorado Springs known for? What is Colorado Springs famous for, if anything?
Colorado Springs is famous for Pikes Peak, or “America’s Mountain.” Colorado Springs is also famous for the Garden of the Gods, Old Colorado City, and as the home of Tesla’s Experimental Station. Colorado Springs is known for the Air Force Academy, the Broadmoor, and as a “Little London.”
Are you hooked? I thought so! Here are 17 things Colorado Springs is known and famous for, such as Manitou Springs, an old cog railway, a whole lot of breweries, and the longest-running women’s film festival in North America.
Table of Contents
1. Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs is the place to visit Pikes Peak, one of the tallest mountains in the Rocky Mountain range.
Pikes Peak, known as “America’s Mountain,” also inspired the lyrics for “America the Beautiful,” by Katharine Lee Bates. The story goes that the words came to Bates when she reached the summit of Pikes Peak.
Put yourself in her shoes and gain the vista yourself, either by hiking, driving, or even taking the old cog railway (more on that later).
On a clear day, you can see all the way to Denver, to the snowy peaks of the Continental Divide, and far along the Eastern Plains.
2. Garden of the Gods
The Springs is home to a famous, otherworldly site known as the Garden of the Gods. A designated National Natural Landmark, the Garden of the Gods is a free park filled with red rock formations of every size, particularly striking against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains and Pikes Peak.
This natural wonder of Colorado is incredible to see, and fun to explore, especially by bouldering around the very rocks themselves.
3. Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs is an adorable, quaint, historical mountain town just outside of Colorado Springs, tucked in between Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. Manitou Springs long sacred site for Native American tribes of the area (Cheyenne, Mountain Ute, and Arapaho) partly due to the many hot springs in the area.
Nowadays the historic downtown is beautifully preserved, and there are many other activities in the area, like the Manitou Incline, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, Pikes Peak, local shops like the famous penny arcade, and, of course, the many hot springs.
4. Manitou Incline
If you’re feeling for an extra-strenuous trip up Pikes Peak, give the Manitou Incline a try. At a mere 2,744 steps with a 2,000 feet (615 meters) elevation gain, it’s a lovely little jaunt!
I kid. It’s for serious hikers only (seriously, someone has to get rescued there about once a week) and even requires reservations. Still, if you’re up for it, the views are unbeatable.
5. Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is located just north of Colorado Springs. The academy brings a lot of people to the area, both to live, and for tourism, as it’s a major tourist site.
The controversial Cadet Chapel is an iconic symbol of the Academy, and is open to visitors. If you time it right, you’ll be able to see a free air show in different areas around the Springs, especially around big events, like graduation.
6. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, located on the side of Cheyenne Mountain, happens to be the highest zoo in the United States. The zoo is notable for its stunning location, and its interactive exhibits.
The most famous exhibit includes feeding the giraffes. In fact, the zoo has one of the largest reticulated giraffe herds outside of Africa.
7. Nikola Tesla’s Experimental Station
Colorado Springs is famous for being the home (briefly) of the famous inventor, Nikola Tesla. Tesla’s Experimental Station was located on Knob Hill in the Springs and contained the biggest Tesla coil ever built.
The lab wasn’t used for very long—it was built in 1899, but torn down in 1904 to pay some of Tesla’s debts. Still, Tesla often credited the lab as the site of many of his most important discoveries.
Although the station no longer exists, you can visit the Nikola Tesla Historical Laboratory Marker in Memorial Park.
8. Olympic City
Colorado Springs is known as Olympic City (USA) not because it’s ever hosted the Olympics, but because it’s home to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Training Center and Committee, as well as the Olympic & Paralympic Museum.
Over 15,000 athletes train at the center every year, some at the famous ice arena or on state-of-the-art cycling tracks.
For tourists, the museum tells the stories of Team USA over the years through artifacts, media, art, and a Hall of Fame.
9. Cave of the Winds
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park lies just outside Colorado Springs, and, as it has been in operation since 1881, is one of Colorado’s oldest tourist attractions.
These days, different activities have been added in addition to the cave tours (one tour is by lantern only!), such as obstacle courses and amusement park rides.
10. Cog railway
Another way to get to the top of Pikes Peak, besides hiking and driving, is to ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway. One of the few last remaining cog railways in the United States, and the world’s tallest, this is a unique, yet still scenic, way to reach the summit of “America’s Mountain.”
11. Old Colorado City
Founded as El Dorado during the Pikes Peak Gold Rush of 1859, Old Colorado City is now the oldest neighborhood in Colorado Springs. Old Colorado City was once the capital of the Colorado Territory, and still retains many of the original buildings and character.
Once a rough town full of opium dens, saloons, and brothels, now you’re more likely to find beautifully preserved houses, galleries, boutiques, and restaurants. If you’re looking to grab some Colorado souvenirs, Old Colorado City is the place to find some truly unique ones.
12. The Broadmoor
The Broadmoor, a hotel and resort in the Springs, opened in 1918 as the “Grand Dame of the Rockies.” The Broadmoor is situated at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain, on Cheyenne Lake, and has extensive facilities, such as trails, three golf courses, several pools, a spa, shopping, a total of 18 restaurants, various activities, their own waterfalls (more on those later) and even a museum.
The Broadmoor also includes a luxury guest ranch, the Ranch at Emerald Valley, a wilderness camp—Cloud Camp, which is on top of Cheyenne Mountain—and a fishing camp along the nearby Tarryall River.
13. Seven Falls
Owned by the Broadmoor Hotel, Seven Falls is an iconic attraction of the Springs. Seven Falls is a series of (you guessed it) seven waterfalls that cumulatively reach a height of 181 feet.
You can hike down or see the falls from a viewing platform, accessible by an elevator. Admission to the Seven Falls isn’t free, though, unless you’re staying at the Broadmoor already.
14. Royal Gorge
The Royal Gorge is a spectacular canyon formed by the Arkansas River, near Colorado Springs and Cañon City. Ten miles long and 1,200 feet deep, the Royal Gorge will give you that same awe-inspired feeling of the Grand Canyon.
The Royal Gorge Bridge is a suspension bridge that stretches across the gorge and is one of the best ways to experience the views.
There’s also a railroad that traverses the canyon floor, hiking trails galore, and a gondola for even more spectacular vistas.
15. Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival
Colorado Springs is home to the longest-running women’s film festival in North America. The Rocky Mountain Women’s Film Festival has taken place every November since 1988.
The film festival was established to showcase films by women or about women, in an effort to magnify women’s voices in media that is much too often male-dominated.
The festival includes a “Festival in the Community,” which is free for all and takes place around different locations in Colorado Springs, and a Youth Outreach Program targeted at underserved youth in the area.
16. “Little London”
I know it seems like Colorado Springs could not have anything in common with London, England at first glance, but one of the Springs’ nicknames is “Little London.” How on Earth did this rugged, picturesque town on the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains get compared to the mighty London, thousands of years old and thousands of people bigger?
Interestingly, at one point, 20% of the residents were immigrants from Great Britain. Many of the most prominent citizens in the Victorian age came from London, and brought many of their customs with them—hence the name, “Little London.”
There are still vestiges of British culture present in the Springs, such as tea houses, historic homes, and popular local sports, like rugby.
17. Colorado Springs Hot Air Balloon Fest
Every September you can see around 70 hot air balloons above Colorado Springs at the annual Labor Day Lift-Off. Each morning over the Labor Day weekend, you can go to Memorial Park in the Springs to watch all the balloons lift off.
In the evenings, at sunset, you can watch the balloons “glow” as they light up against the night sky. The many balloons against the mighty Rockies are quite a sight to behold!
Conclusion
The Springs embodies all of the amazing things about Colorado, with the many breweries, incredible Rocky Mountain vistas, unique geography, and friendly people—each with its own special twist.
Where else in the world can you hike “America’s Mountain,” walk across a bridge over a giant canyon, descend into some caves, climb some crazy rock formations, and finish off the day with a visit to an authentic British tea house or a local microbrewery?
Nowhere else, of course! The Springs is a true gem of the West and I hope you get to go soon. If you’ve already been, what would you add to this list? What was your favorite part about Colorado Springs?
