Our most recommended things to do in Manitou Springs

Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods and Foothills Jeep Tour

1. Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods and Foothills Jeep Tour

Enjoy a Jeep ride in Colorado that will literally take your breath away. Marvel at the panoramic mountains, Colorado Springs, and other iconic sites as you enjoy a thrilling ride. Enjoy the Pikes Peak region on this historic sightseeing adventure. Get taken through time along the foothills of Pikes Peak by entertaining and informative cowboy guides, who will highlight the scenery and some of Colorado Springs’ most famous historical sights. Attractions include North Cheyenne Canyon, Helen Hunt Falls, the Shortline Railroad and its 100-year-old tunnels, Old Colorado City, Manitou Springs, and the spectacular red rock park Garden of the Gods.  In the open-air Jeeps, your photo opportunities are unobstructed. This tour is about 70% on paved roads and 30% on dirt and is offered year-round. Be sure to dress in layers with closed-toe shoes. Includes bottled water, sodas, light snacks, wool blankets, and the best cowboy Jeep guides in the west.

Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Jeep Tour

2. Colorado Springs: Pikes Peak Jeep Tour

The drive up this historic highway is one you won't forget. You'll make several stops above and below the tree line to really soak in all the views that makes the experience so unique. Take in the incredible smell of the fresh air of large forests, the changing pine trees as we ascend the mountain, and the stunning views above tree line. You will walk around the summit while your guide points out interesting facts and information, and then allow you to explore the summit house. And of course, there are world famous Pikes Peak donuts at the summit house! Wildlife spotting is likely but not guaranteed. There are lots of wild flowers in the summer.

Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Segway Tour

3. Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Segway Tour

Experience one of nature's greatest treasures, the Garden of the Gods, on an exciting segway tour. Admire nature as you pass by Colorado sights such as Kissing Camels, Praying Hands, and Park Overlook, and learn about the history of the Old West. Enjoy unobscured views and a mellow pace to make the visit to the red rock park memorable. Watch as your guide points out exotic plant life, red-tailed hawks, eagles' nests, mule deer, big horn sheep, and numerous geologic formations and the unique caricatures hidden within them. Make several short stops, however; generally, stay on the Segway throughout the tour. Learn about the cultural history of the park and hear a variety of tall tales and true stories of the Old West and Colorado Springs. Be sure to dress in layers with closed-toe shoes. Your tour includes 'Cone Zone' safety training and the best guides in the west.

From Denver: Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Guided Tour

4. From Denver: Pikes Peak and Garden of the Gods Guided Tour

Check out some of Colorado's most beautiful scenery on this full-day tour departing from Denver. See the stunning sandstone rock formations at the Garden of the Gods and head to the Pikes Peak Summit and take in views of Colorado Springs and the rest of the Rocky Mountain ranges Admire the variety of red, pink, and white sandstone formations as you explore the Garden of the Gods. Make the most of the scenic photo opportunities as you wonder at the beauty of these ancient geological formations. Be sure to check out the Balanced Rock and the Kissing Camels formations. Head to the Pikes Peak, the tallest mountain in the southern front range of the Rocky Mountains. As you stand at the summit, admire views of Colorado Springs and the rest of the Rocky Mountain range. With the right conditions, you can see for miles into the distance. Descend the mountain and continue the tour with a drive through Manitou Springs, a small resort town located to the west of Colorado Springs. Finally, finish up back in central Denver.

Zipline Tour: Colo-Rad

5. Zipline Tour: Colo-Rad

Zipline over the foothills of historic Manitou Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak. Perched high above Manitou Springs over Gregory Gulch, you will indulge in excitement and spectacular vistas while soaring over this beautiful alpine canyon.  The natural-terrain course features five ziplines, varying in length from 225 feet to over 600 feet and provides the best rush of adrenaline on the Front Range of the Rockies.The ziplines are fully licensed, insured, and inspected. The course is a rustic cliff to cliff style, with no towers to climb, and also includes a couple of short nature hikes between lines. Be sure to dress in layers with closed-toe shoes. The tour includes 4x4 transportation from the station to the start of the course and the best Zipline guides in the West.

Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, Old Stage Rd Jeep Tour

6. Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, Old Stage Rd Jeep Tour

Hop on board a Jeep equipped to drive up mountains and get ready for a personal and engaging experience with personable guides who's top priority is safety and ensuring you can kick back and enjoy the views and conversations. Frequent stops will be made to get off the Jeep and explore and take photos, should you decide you want to. Garden of the Gods is like being on another planet. Large rocks of sandstone, conglomerates, and limestone jet from the earth like fins. This is truly a beautiful place and one fitting for the Gods. We will drive around the park and step out to get some pictures at popular places. We tour Manitou Springs, talk about the interesting history of the area, stop off at a few springs to take a drink of the natural mineral waters and show some points of interest. Quick tour of Old Stage Road. This is an old stage coach road. It's a dirt/gravel road that climbs 1300 ft in elevation. You'll get to experience a forested mountain road! Interesting views of Colorado Springs from above.

Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Luxury Jeep Tours

7. Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods Luxury Jeep Tours

Visit Garden of the Gods, a stunning public park located in Colorado Springs. The park features towering red sandstone rock formations that have been eroded over millions of years, creating a dramatic and awe-inspiring landscape. Admire some of the rock formations that reach up to 300-feet tall and are uniquely shaped, providing visitors with a visual treat. The park offers a range of activities, including hiking trails, rock climbing, and scenic drives, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the natural beauty of the park. Garden of the Gods is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Colorado Springs.

Colorado Springs: Cripple Creek Backcountry Jeep Tour

8. Colorado Springs: Cripple Creek Backcountry Jeep Tour

Hop on board a Jeep equipped to drive up mountains and get ready for a personal and engaging experience with personable guides who's top priority is safety and ensuring you can kick back and enjoy the views and conversations. Frequent stops will be made to get off the Jeep and explore and take photos, should you decide you want to. We drive through the eclectic mountain town of Manitou Springs and drive up the Ute Pass on the north face of Pikes Peak. We'll soak in views of the mountain. It's about an hours drive to the historic mining and gaming town of Cripple Creek, but the views are unforgettable. The Sawatch Mountain Range grace the views on the horizon. Once over Tenderfoot Pass, we descend into historic Cripple Creek where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains will come into view. Once we leave Cripple Creek, we drive down Shelf Road. This is a dirt road that traverses canyons and valleys and this is a part of Colorado back country you can only experience this way! Spectacular scenery is an understatement. When we reach the end of Shelf Road, we will turn around and come back and stop at the Cripple Creek Heritage Center for a break. Scenic, historic, and fun!

From Denver: Garden of the Gods & Manitou Springs Tour

9. From Denver: Garden of the Gods & Manitou Springs Tour

Community Impact: -This tour focuses on prioritizing “supporting local”, which is vital to positively impacting the Colorado Springs community and its economy. -This experience provides guests with the opportunity to contribute to the preservation of a one-of-a-kind natural habitat. -During our visit to Garden of the Gods and Colorado Springs, we will provide recommendations and offer opportunities to patronize small and local businesses. -We mindfully design our tours to explore areas on foot, thus doing our part to lessen our environmental impact. This six-hour tour highlights the best of Garden of the Gods and the nearby town of Manitou Springs. Your guide will be waiting for you outside Union Station, in the heart of downtown Denver. With a 90-minute drive out of Denver and towards the picturesque town of Colorado Springs, you’ll have time to get to know your guide, who in turn will get to know you and your party’s interests! Along the way, you’ll be able to take in the Colorado landscape, following along the rolling foothills of the Rocky Mountains. You’ll hear tales of intrepid western explorers and native peoples as well as the incredible geological formations passing by the window. Our first stop will be for a Garden of the Gods tour, taking in the iconic ancient rock formations tilted at seemingly impossible angles. The Visitor Center will set the tone for your experience through a variety of displays highlighting the wildlife of the area, connections to prehistoric dinosaurs, and the unique geology of the region. As you meander the paths of the park, your guide will fill you in on the fascinating processes of mountain building and erosion that eventually produced the amazing rock structures we see today. Weather permitting, you’ll also be able to get a view of Colorado Springs’ best-known “14’er”, Pikes Peak, its 14,115-foot promontory rising out of the High Plains. Our final leg of the trip includes a stop in Manitou Springs’s charming downtown, a late 19th-century spa resort with a meandering creek, mining-era buildings, and a variety of unique shops, souvenir stores, cafes, restaurants, and more. With its scenic backdrop, Manitou Springs is a great place to snap a few more pictures before the drive back to Denver.

Other Sightseeing Options in Manitou Springs

Want to discover all there is to do in Manitou Springs? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Manitou Springs

Overall rating

4.9 / 5

based on 214 reviews

We had an awesome time with Prairie Dog as our guide. It was a memorable time we will keep for a lifetime. We we also treated very kind by the whole staff and even received help with our vehicle before heading home. Thanks again . Keith and Wendi Burch of Tx

Beautiful day and wonderful, very knowledgeable guide. Saw so many beautiful sites, even though we live here and see it so often, we never looked at the rock formations in the way our guide pointed out.

Very nice trip seeing the sites in Colorado Springs. We saw the Garden of the Gods, some of the best restaurants in town, mountains and one of hotels Very pretty and informative drive

Fun, exciting, good lenth of activity time. Much better than walking since you cover a larger area of things to see.

We saw things you couldn’t see any other way! Our guide was great!