The city of Colorado Springs lies about an hour’s drive south of Denver in central Colorado. Colorado Springs’ warm, dry weather paired with ample sunshine and proximity to the Rocky Mountains makes this city a popular year-round destination. Look forward to spectacular natural views and recreational activities like hiking to the famous Pikes Peak. Nearby many Colorado Springs vacation rentals are copious opportunities for cycling, whitewater rafting, sightseeing, hiking, and much more. Here are the top things to do in Colorado Springs during each season.
Visiting Colorado Springs in the Summer
During the summer in Colorado Springs, expect daytime temperatures to linger in the 70s and 80s. If you’re exploring Pikes Peak and other nearby mountains and trying to decide what to pack, choose a light jacket or sweater for cool mornings and evenings as well as shorts, sunglasses, sunscreen, and a hat that shields the bright sun. Summer is an ideal time to explore Pikes Peak. Start at the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center, which features a museum with exhibits on the paleontology, ecology, geology, and cultural history of the region. The center also offers guided hikes, free-range climbing, jeep and Segway tours, and Native American dance programs. If you’re feeling energetic, join a Challenge Unlimited Pikes Peak by Bike tour, and cycle your way to the incomparable panoramic view at the Pikes Peak Summit. Feel the ambiance of the Old West as you explore the Pikes Peak Garden of the Gods on horseback with Academy Riding Stables.
Another terrific summer activity near Colorado Springs vacation rentals is fly fishing on the South Platte River. Angler’s Covey Fly Fishing supplies the gear, instruction, and expert guides to help you make the most of the experience. Popular events during the summer include the yearly Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo, which lasts several days and features bronco riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, barrel racing, and other competitions. The annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb is a motorcycle and automobile event that has vehicles in multiple categories racing against time to the summit.
Visiting Colorado Springs in the Fall
In fall, the leaves of the trees around Colorado Springs burst out into bright red, orange, and yellow splendor, and the area attractions are much less crowded than in summer. Check in at the visitor’s center to join a guided walk in forested Cheyenne Mountain State Park or Mueller State Park, and enjoy the flamboyant foliage. Alternatively, take in the fall colors on a 4-mile round-trip excursion on the Cripple Creek and Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad. For a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, obtain a panoramic view of the gorgeous landscape by hot air balloon. Colorado Hot Air Balloon Rides provides a luxurious experience with soft classical music, champagne, snacks, and a post-flight breakfast. The guide may even let you take the controls and pilot the balloon yourself. Fall is also the perfect time to visit the 200-acre Springs Ranch Golf Club. Play 18 holes on a beautiful course with a backdrop of the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
Visiting Colorado Springs in the Winter
Winters in Colorado Springs are mild compared to other parts of Colorado. When snow falls, it dissipates quickly in the sunshine. What to pack includes a heavy jacket as well as layers of warmth such as sweaters, shirts, gloves, and warm shoes. Winter provides the ideal time to visit some of the city’s many entertainment venues and historical and cultural attractions. For instance, the acclaimed Cheyenne Mountain Zoo features exotic wildlife from Africa, Australia, Asia, and the Rocky Mountains area. The Mountaineer Sky Ride takes you up in a chairlift to view the animals from on high, and the kids are sure to love the historic carousel. To sample some mouth-watering local cuisine, join Rocky Mountain Food Tours for a stroll from restaurant to restaurant.
The Space Foundation Discovery Center offers an interactive experience highlighting space exploration, while the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center has tours focusing on U.S. participation in the Olympic Games. For a fascinating recreation of an old western town along with historical artifacts and the hands-on opportunity to pan for gold, visit the Ghost Town Museum. Motorcycle enthusiasts should check out the collection of over 75 vintage machines at the Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame.
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Visiting Colorado Springs in the Spring
By spring, the weather has warmed up and the snow has melted, filling the rivers and streams and making for excellent white water rafting. Echo Canyon River Expeditions out of nearby Canon City offers white water excursions of various levels of intensity through Big Horn Sheep Canyon and Royal Gorge. Another trip called Gentle Family Float is a slow, stress-free trip through 5 miles of river canyon. Because spring is less crowded than summer, you can easily enjoy a number of activities around Pikes Peak. The Broadmoor Pikes Peak Cog Railway takes you to the 14,115-foot summit past forest of pine and aspen and gorgeous waterfalls. At the Manitou Cave Dwellings in nearby Manitou Springs, explore red sandstone multi-room Native American cliff houses. Not far from the cliff dwelling is an Anasazi Museum and a nature walk that identifies local herbs, flowers, and trees. Also in Manitou Springs is the Cave of the Wind Mountain Park, which offers tours into vast underground cave passages.
When Is The Best Time To Visit Colorado Springs?
Colorado Springs offers enjoyable experiences at all season of the year. Fall provides a panorama of colorful foliage, winter is a great time to explore the city and its many wonders, and spring offers a chance to view some of the landscape’s features in a less crowded situation. However, because of its ideal warm dry weather, brilliant sunshine, blue skies, and abundance of recreational opportunities, summer is the best time to visit Colorado Springs.
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