If you’re visiting Colorado this summer and looking for all the best things to do in Manitou Springs, I’ve got you covered.
We all know Colorado is an ideal summer vacation destination filled with all kinds of outdoor adventures, scenic landscapes, and charming mountain towns. Manitou Springs is one of its lesser known gems.
Just minutes from Colorado Springs, this artsy mountain town is known for its vibrant culture, natural beauty, and quirky attractions.
Whether you’re looking to hike in the mountains, explore historic sites, or simply soak up the local vibe, there is something here for every kind of traveler.
In this post, I’ll break down the top 10 things to do in Manitou Springs, from best places to hike to must-see unique attractions so you can make the most of your trip!
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1. The Manitou Incline
Probably the most famous attraction in all of Manitou Springs is The Manitou Incline.
This is a hiking trail on what used to be a functioning railway. In the 1900s it was used to haul construction materials to the top of the mountain by cable cars to build a hydroelectric plant.
Later on, it was bought out and used as a tourist attraction that would take visitors up to Mount Manitou Park. In 1990 the railway was hit by a rockslide and was no longer able to support cable cars resulting in the closure of the attraction.
Now, only the wooden stairs remain and it’s one of the most popular hikes in the area. And I will warn you, it isn’t for the faint of heart!
Hiking The Incline in Manitou Springs
On this hike you’ll trek only 0.8 miles up the incline where you will gain over 2,000 ft. of elevation!!
So this is a pretty strenuous hike and should only be attempted when you have already acclimated to the altitude in Colorado Springs.
Even if you are a frequent hiker, The Incline will sure have you out of breath. It is quite the workout.
Once you’ve climbed up all 2,744 stairs, took in the view, and had a snack, then you’ll need to decide which way you want to descend.
You can either walk down all the steps again or, for a more gradual hike back you can take the Barr Trail which connects the end of The Incline back down where you started.
If taking the Barr Trail (which I strongly recommend) you will turn this hike into a 4 mile round trip and you’ll receive some really nice mountain views. Plus, it’s better on the knees.
So if you have the physical ability, you don’t want to miss hiking The Incline on your trip to Manitou Springs. You’ll feel so rewarded after.
2. Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
Cave of the Winds is the most well known cave system in the Colorado Springs area.
According to local legends this cave was known by the Apache and Ute Native Americans who believed it was home to the Spirit of the Wind.
Fast forward to our first confirmed exploration of the cave in 1880, two young brothers George and John Pickett were hiking in the area and found the entrance to the cave. They were exploring the cave by candlelight and they noticed random wind gusts would flicker their light.
Once word got out about the cave, it became a popular tourist attraction holding tours since 1881!
Touring Cave of the Winds in Manitou Springs
Today, you can tour the cave every day of the week and there are two different tours to choose from:
- Discovery Tour ($28 per adult, $18 for children 4-13)
- Haunted Lantern Tour ($34 per adult, $24 for children 8-14. Kids under 8 are not permitted on this tour)
If you’re looking for a more family friendly and chill tour through the cave, the Discovery Tour will be the best for you.
The Haunted Lantern Tour is more for people who want a little more adventure, who aren’t afraid to be in a pitch black cave with only one lantern light.
Whichever tour you choose to book will be an amazing experience where you’ll see beautiful flowstone, stalagmites, stalactites, and many other cave formations.
I had a really great tour guide on my visit and learned a lot about the history of the cave and its formations.
Along with the famous cave, you can explore some of the park’s other attractions like the Terror-dactyl, zip lines, or the take the Via Ferrata Canyon tour.
Whether you’re a caver, or love chasing adrenaline, a visit to Cave of the Winds Mountain Park has a little something for everyone.
3. Visit the Manitou Springs Drum Circle
If you find yourself in Manitou Springs on a Thursday evening, you’ll have to stick around to visit the drum circle!
The drum circles have actually just started today (the first Thursday of May) for the season! It will run throughout September. So you have a good few months to check it out.
You can find the drum circle taking place in Manitou Memorial Park (502 Manitou Avenue) and it is completely free to visit.
You don’t necessarily have to bring a drum, but it’s always fun to jump in and participate. Feel free to bring a blanket, hang out, and take in the atmosphere. Or if you’re feeling up to it, get up and dance.
This is always a judgement free zone where you’ll be surrounded by others who just want to enjoy and feel the music!
4. Walk Down Manitou Avenue
Manitou Avenue is where most of the action is in Manitou Springs. You can spend countless hours browsing all the shops, eating at cafes, and taking in all that this artsy town has to offer.
There are several paid parking lots and street parking available so you can get out and walk down the main street.
As you walk, make sure to keep an eye out for the mineral spring water fountains scattered around Manitou Avenue.
This water comes straight from cavernous aquifers deep underground. Trying the water is pretty much a rite of passage when visiting Manitou Springs.
5. Hike at Garden of the Gods
The most famous place in the area is by far Garden of the Gods. It’s one of the best free things to do in Manitou Springs.
This is a public park just a 5 minute drive from downtown where you’ll find the most glorious red rock formations that appear to be shooting up from the ground.
You’ll see all kinds of iconic rock formations like the Siamese Twins, Balanced Rock, Sleeping Giant, and many more!
Garden of the Gods has a plethora of hiking trails available with easy, flat, and paved walks, to more strenuous hikes gaining elevation with rocky terrain.
So whatever kind of hiker you are, you’ll find a trail in the park that suits you.
A couple of my favorite hikes at Garden of the Gods are:
- Siamese Twins Loop Trail (0.5 miles)
- Garden of the Gods Outer Loop (6 miles)
- Upper Loop Trail (0.4 miles)
- Scotsman Trail (3.8 miles)
Plus, the road winding through the park is very scenic and full of amazing views that you can get right from your car. So if it’s a particularly hot summer day, or you don’t feel up to hiking, it’s absolutely worth it just to drive through the park.
6. Visit the Penny Arcade
As you’re walking down Manitou Avenue, make sure to pay a visit to the Penny Arcade! It’s easy to spot right off the road.
As its name implies, this arcade is filled with retro video games, many of which cost only one penny to play! However, I found that most do cost more than one cent these days, like a couple quarters or up to $1 to play each. So it still isn’t very expensive.
Make sure to bring your loose change with you! If you don’t have any, the cashiers can help you out or there are change machines.
In the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade you’ll find vintage pinball machines, skeeball, DDR, and many, many more.
This is a cheap and fun place to check out, perfect for killing some time if you run into one of Colorado’s mid afternoon summer rain showers.
7. Take a Drive to the Broadmoor Seven Falls
This is the furthest attraction from Manitou Springs, but I want to include it because if you have access to a car, it’s a neat place to check out.
The Broadmoor Seven Falls is just a 20 minute drive from Manitou Springs near North Cheyenne Cañon Park. So if you’re planning on doing any hiking there, I’d recommend hitting Broadmoor as well.
You do have to pay for admission to Broadmoor Seven Falls which run for the following:
- $20 per adult
- $14 for children 2-12
During the peak park hours (10am-12pm) prices will increase by $3.
It’s also important to note that you must take a shuttle to the park! There is no public parking onsite, which is kind of inconvenient.
The shuttle bus is free with your paid park admission and it departs from 1045 Lower Gold Camp Rd. It is only a 15 minute bus ride.
But once you’ve finally made it to the park, you can explore all the waterfalls by first walking up 224 stairs to get to the top of Seven Falls. This is a 400 foot elevation gain and can be strenuous.
From the top, you can continue hiking up to view Midnight Falls. These are the two main waterfalls in the park and the most popular places to check out.
If you want to find more solitude, there are other hiking trails through the forests that are much less explored than the main waterfall trails.
8. Visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings
The Manitou Cliff Dwellings are another popular attraction in the area.
These dwellings were actually found in the southwestern part of Colorado near Mesa Verde, and then relocated to Manitou Springs as a tourist attraction and as a way to preserve the dwellings.
So these aren’t real and naturally preserved cliff dwellings, but it’s still cool to visit and learn about how these Native American tribes lived.
The site was originally 40 rooms and these ruins are said to be around 800-1000 years old!
But the cool thing about this place is that you can walk in and explore all the rooms. It’s built with handrails and steps to be very accessible to visitors.
There is a museum and gift shop on site which has some cool souvenirs and interesting information on life in the Pueblo period.
Admission to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings run at the following:
- $12.75 per adult
- $8 for children up to 11
You can click here to buy tickets.
9. Hike at Red Rock Canyon Open Space
If you’re looking for a less crowded alternative to Garden of the Gods, you have to check out Red Rock Canyon Open Space.
This is another free park offering dozens of hiking trails through beautiful and massive red rock formations. Plus, it’s right outside of Manitou Springs so it’s super easy to access.
Here’s some of my favorite hikes in the park:
- Mesa Trail to Red Rock Canyon Trail Loop (3.3 miles)
- Contemplative Trail to Sand Canyon Loop (2 miles)
- Quarry via Red Rock Canyon Trail (0.6 miles)
- Red Rock Rim Trail to Red Rock Canyon Trail (2.3 miles)
A lot of these trails intertwine with one another so it’s easy to hike whatever kind of mileage you want. However, that also makes it easier to get lost and wander onto a trail that goes further than you wanted without knowing.
So having AllTrails pulled up when you go out hiking here is a great resource to stay safe on the trails.
10. Hike to the Top of Iron Mountain
If you’re in need of another hike to add to your Manitou Springs itinerary, you need to check out Iron Mountain!
This is a quick 3 mile trail with almost 600 feet of elevation gain. It is completely free to hike and there is a small parking lot at the trailhead.
This definitely won’t be as crowded as Garden of the Gods or Red Rock Canyon Open Space. So if you’re looking for more solitude on a hike, this is the trail for you. You will probably only see one or two other hikers.
This is a true hidden gem in Manitou Springs!
The trail itself is rocky and steep in sections, but if you’re a frequent hiker you’ll be fine.
From the top of Iron Mountain you get 360° views of the mountains around you. You can also see all of Manitou Springs and even Garden of the Gods!
Whether you’re ready to take on The Incline or just want to relax and stroll down historic Manitou Springs, I hope you got some fun inspiration for things to do in Manitou Springs from this post.
This little town is full of breathtaking mountain hikes, natural gems, and boasts such a unique downtown area with tons to offer.
I know you will enjoy your trip to Manitou Springs just as much as I did, thank you for reading!
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