What To Do in Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs is a suburb of Colorado Springs located at the base of Pikes Peak, a must-see tourist destination everyone will enjoy. There are 8 natural springs lining the streets for you to taste, along with shops, parks, restaurants, museums, and a local favorite, the Penny Arcade. Close to the Manitou area is the Incline, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Manitou Cliff Dwellings, and the Cave of the Winds. So if you don’t know what to do in Manitou Springs, don’t worry because there’s something for everyone!
The Penny Arcade
The Manitou Springs Penny Arcade has over 400 games including pinball machines, skeeball, pool tables, outdoor rides, boxing machines, and more. The prices for the games and rides vary but are usually between $0.05 and $2. The Arcade is open year-round but the daily hours vary.
A famous part of Manitou is the naturally carbonated Mineral Springs, there are 8 different springs in and around the town. Each running spring has its own unique taste and you can bring a cup or water bottle with you and try each one. There is an interesting history behind the mineral springs and you can check out our blog Manitou Springs Health Resort for more info!
If you want a physical challenge, the Manitou Springs Incline is perfect, this hike is not for beginners, it has 2,744 steps and gains over 2 thousand ft in elevation. Instead of turning around, and going down 2k steps, the incline has the much easier Barr Trail if you are exhausted and need a way out. The hike takes about an hour depending on how quickly you want to do it, and there is a parking lot at the base of the hike. Due to the recent pandemic, the incline requires reservations however, they are easy to make, free, and mostly open.
The Pikes Peak Cog Railway is the highest and longest cog railway in the world. It starts in Manitou and brings you all the way up to America’s Mountain, Pikes Peak. The tickets cost $58.50 for an adult but are definitely worth it, the views you see while riding the train are some of the best in America.
On the Northside of Manitou is the Cliff Dwellings, an archeological and natural history preserve that has been around since 1907. The Cliff Dwellings are free for you to explore the culture, there are indoor and outdoor museums along with a gift shop, picnic area, snack bar, and restrooms inside the park. To learn more about the history, visit their website.
The Cave of the Winds is located just by Manitou Springs and has many activities to choose from, inside the cave itself you can take a tour, visit the museum and gift shop, or go outside for the more daring adventures. Some attractions that are fun for kids include a rope course, panning for gemstones, a cliffhanger climbing wall, and more. If the adults want a fun time, there are more activities including a zipline, an outdoor climbing experience, and the Terror-Dactyl ride.
Manitou Springs is a cute little town that promises a good time for all ages! Each of these activities is a perfect, affordable day trip that is interactive and enjoyable. If you have any questions about Colorado Springs or are looking to move here, please click here or visit our Facebook. We are more than happy to help!