Family Guide to Manitou Springs
Just west of Colorado Springs is the small town of Manitou Springs. It’s nestled against Pike’s Peak, America’s mountain, and has access to several of Colorado’s most famous landmarks.
I knew that if we wanted to experience the wild, wild west, we had to take our family to Manitou! We decided to take our three kids on this adventure over the 4th of July break so we packed gear for a summer visit. (Remember that if you head out to these wonders in the winter, you’ll need very different gear!)
Getting To Manitou Springs:
From downtown Colorado Springs, we took US-24W for 6 miles and found ourselves at at small town near the base of Pikes Peak.
4 Wonders to See at Manitou
1. Pikes Peak:
The most wonderful sight in all of Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak, the tallest mountain in the Rocky Mountain front range at 14115ft. Some attempt to hike the mountain, using Crags Trail and summiting after a 13 mile trek.
But since we had our three young children in tow, we knew our boundaries. We’d either drive the 2 hours to the top or take the Cog Railway train to the summit. This trip, just to add to the fun of the experience, we opted for the train!
The train ride takes an hour to ascend, allows for 40 minutes to enjoy the summit, and then a little over an hour to descend. Tickets cost $48 per child and $58 per adult, so it can be pricey, but well worth it for such a unique experience. Parking and snacks are available at the base and summit. The trains themselves are bright red and move slowly to allow for sweeping 360 views of the mountain and valley.
At the summit, we were lucky to have clear skies and views for miles! It was windy, so we were glad to layer up. It was in the high 80’s at the base, but with the altitude, temperatures dipped into the 40’s with a biting windchill. We also kept bottles of water and headache relief medicine available in my purse in case anyone got altitude sickness. (Thank goodness, we didn’t!)
This was the top must see destination when heading to Manitou Springs and the Cog Railway made for a stress free ride for us parents.
2. Garden of the Gods
Arguably the most beautiful destination in Manitou, the Garden of the Gods offers miles of hiking terrain on unique red rock canyons. The park is open daily and is free to enter. Our family could not wait to explore these geological wonders!
To avoid traffic and crowds at the main attractions, we headed into the park at sunrise with our three kiddos. That allowed us to snap photo of the famous Balanced Rock and drive a small loop at the front of the park.
We opted to hike the Trail Head Siamese Twins. This is a half mile loop that showcases views of Pike’s Peak and a cool window through the rock formations. The trail is not stroller friendly due to stairs but a baby backpack carrier worked well on the easy dirt terrain.
These rock formations are a must see in Manitou, if not all of Colorado! If you plan to come to the state or out west, add the Garden of the Gods to your list.
3. Downtown Manitou with the Mineral Water
In addition to such amazing landmark attractions, the town of Manitou Springs is a gem in itself. The downtown has ample restaurants and shops with a hippie and quaint vibe.
The Springs in the town name refers to the mineral waters that flow throughout. There are several naturally carbonated springs in town and anyone is welcome to have a taste. The waters come from the caves nearby and as it erodes the natural limestone against the rocks, carbonic acid is created and it bubbles up to the surface. My kids tried several of them.
Also one more great stop in downtown Manitou Springs is the Penny Arcade. My kids had a blast playing the games and riding the colorful character machines. They didn’t want to leave!
4. Manitou Cliff Dwellings & Museum
On our last day, we stopped at the Manitou Cliff Dwellings. This interactive and hands on experience made history come alive! Since it was more like a playground in historic pueblo style dwellings than a museum, my family enjoyed exploring these cliffs and learning about this lifestyle.
My kids were able to investigate different rooms, tools, and artifacts with their own curiosity and hands. The Cliffs are open daily until about 5pm and cost $12 per adult and $7.50 per child.
Manitou Springs is Wonderful for Families
This summer trip provided us with exploration, million dollar views, and new experiences at every turn. Even with all that we packed into a long holiday weekend, there’s much more to see like the Royal Gorge, the Manitou Incline, and the Seven Falls. We plan to be back, Manitou Springs!
