Top 15 Things To Do in Colorado Springs, Colorado

Colorado Springs stitches together sculpted red-rock amphitheaters, pine-carpeted foothills, and a mountain that looms over town—Pikes Peak—making it one of the most approachable alpine cities in the Rockies. This selection of eight hikes highlights everything from brisk urban trail loops to strenuous summit days, ideal for travelers who want quick access to high-country drama without a long drive.

From sandstone cathedrals to a summit that inspired 'America the Beautiful,' Colorado Springs stitches dramatic geology, mountain air, and small-town western charm into sightseeing that feels both cinematic and immediate. This guide focuses on curated touring—guided bus loops, narrated driving routes, walking histories, and specialty excursions that put you at the viewpoints, stories, and landscapes that define the Front Range.

Colorado Springs condenses every flavor of Colorado riding into easy drives from town: punchy singletrack that peels through scrub and sandstone, gravel rollers that feel endless beneath a wide western sky, and road climbs that test legs with alpine-grade pitches. This guide focuses on the practical — what to rent, where to ride, and how to plan — while painting a clear sense of place for anyone looking to pedal these iconic Front Range foothills.

Canoeing around Colorado Springs is a study in contrasts: calm, sunlit flatwater circumnavigations inside city parks sit alongside high, wind-swept reservoirs and the accessible reaches of the Arkansas River corridor a short drive away. This guide focuses on paddling experiences that favor canoeists—flatwater outings for families, serene morning glides framed by Pikes Peak, and longer paddling days for those who pair canoeing with camping or shoreline hikes.

Colorado Springs is more than red rock and alpine trails—it's a gateway to paddling experiences that range from placid urban lakes to near-by whitewater runs on the Arkansas River and reservoirs that unlock big-sky paddling. This guide focuses on kayaking options within and just beyond the city: easy flatwater outings for families and first-timers, guided river floats and half-day whitewater for paddlers seeking play and eddies, and how to plan trips that fit Colorado’s variable seasons and water rhythms.

From glassy urban lakes to wide calm reservoirs and slow-moving river flats, Colorado Springs offers SUP paddlers a surprisingly varied playground beneath Pikes Peak’s shadow. This guide breaks down where to go, when to paddle, what to pack, and how to match your ambition—whether you want an easy sunrise glide, a skills clinic, or a multi-hour exploratory paddle on high-country water.

Colorado Springs compresses high-desert geology, military history, and vibrant small-city culture into walkable neighborhoods and iconic natural settings. Walking tours here range from guided geological treks among towering sandstone spires to neighborhood food-and-history strolls that trace early settlers, the Ute presence, and the city’s growth at the foot of Pikes Peak. This guide focuses on curated walks that pair storytelling with accessible terrain and practical advice for high-altitude urban and nature exploration.

Colorado Springs pairs high-desert panoramas with an accessible network of paved loops, gravel connectors, and uplifted singletrack—making it an unexpectedly rich playground for electric bicycles. From cruising the sculpted red-rock shoulders of Garden of the Gods to carving grit-strewn service roads that climb toward Pikes Peak, e-bikes unlock longer loops, faster transfers between trailheads, and the confidence to explore off-the-beaten corridors. This guide focuses on the practical: where to ride, what seasons work best, battery and gear considerations, local rental options, and the etiquette that keeps mixed-use trails shared and sustainable.

When winter tightens its grip on the Front Range, Colorado Springs becomes a layered landscape of sunlit snowfields, frosted red rock silhouettes, and cold, crystalline mornings that beg for movement. This guide focuses on winter-specific pursuits: snowshoe rambles beneath sculpted pines, groomed cross-country loops, short alpine climbs turned icy, sledding and family-friendly snow play, plus backcountry routes for experienced parties. Expect high-altitude weather, quick-changing conditions, and terrain that rewards modest ambition with spectacular views.

Colorado Springs sits at the doorstep of some of Colorado's most accessible whitewater: from scenic, family-friendly floats to adrenaline-rich canyon runs. While the city itself is more famous for its red-rock panoramas and mountain access, rafting trips staged here funnel into the Arkansas River corridor—one of the state's premier playgrounds for guided commercial runs, multi-day expeditions, and nearby class IV–V stretches for experienced paddlers.

Colorado Springs is less a ski town than a strategic basecamp: an urban launchpad where high-elevation resorts, backcountry approaches, nordic networks, and snowbound alpine culture converge. This guide zeroes in on ski-specific outings — from groomed resort days to technical backcountry skin tours — emphasizing accessibility, terrain variety, and the planning details that turn a good day on snow into a memorable one.

From the sun-baked foothills west of town to elevation-scraped ridgelines that flirt with the alpine, Colorado Springs offers an ATV/UTV playground within minutes of the city. This guide focuses on two standout outings—accessible loops and high-country approaches—that showcase why the Front Range is a natural draw for open-vehicle exploration, with practical notes on terrain, seasonality, permitting, and rental logistics.