The cave at a glance
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is a private attraction near Manitou Springs, Colorado. It is separate from Garden of the Gods, which is a free city park. Here you pay for each tour and ride. Cave tours run underground, and above ground the park runs a set of outdoor rides and climbing activities.
This is an independent guide, not the attraction's own site. The prices below are the ones shown on the operator's main page in 2026. They are listed with an online handling share of $1 per ticket already included, so you should not expect that extra on top. Prices and offers can change, so confirm them before you book.
The cave tours compared
Prices for 2026, as listed by the operator.
| Tour | Length | Minimum age | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery | 45 to 60 minutes | – | $30 adult, $19 child (4 to 12) | Children up to 3 are free but need a ticket. 196 steps. |
| Haunted Lantern | 90 minutes | 8 | $33 | – |
| Expedition | About 3 hours | 13 | $99 | Narrow, wet and muddy sections. Wear long clothing and sturdy closed shoes, and bring a change of clothes. |
One older operator page still shows in search results with a child price of $20 and 200 steps for the Discovery tour. The current main page lists $19 and 196 steps. If the numbers matter to you, ask when you book.
Tours and tickets around Manitou Springs
Cave tickets are sold by the operator. For other ways to spend a day here, from Pikes Peak by road or rail to guided drives around Garden of the Gods, these tours and tickets come with current prices and availability.
The outdoor rides
Above ground, with prices for 2026.
| Ride | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Package | $26 | Covers Wind Walker, Bat-a-Pult, Cliff Hanger and Geronimo's Leap |
| Terror-Dactyl | $36 | – |
| Frontier Zip Lines | $60 | Marked as a weekend offer |
| Via Ferrata | $100 | Marked as a weekend offer |
Outdoor rides run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in summer and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in winter, and the weather decides. Do not count on every ride being open every day. Check the day you plan to visit.
Getting there and parking
The address trips up some drivers.
Enter the right address
The destination is 100 Cave of the Winds Road, at the junction of Serpentine Drive and US 24. It is not on Cave Avenue, so check your navigation before you start.
Parking is free
Standard vehicles park free of charge. Visitors with RVs leave them at the sign at the bottom and call for the shuttle.
Open most of the year
The park is open year-round except Thanksgiving and Christmas. The park is generally open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the outdoor rides on the shorter hours above.
The cave lies near Manitou Springs. Our Manitou Springs guide covers the mineral springs and the Cog Railway depot, and getting there explains the way in from Denver and the airports.
Who should pick which tour
Use the numbers above, then be honest about your group.
The Discovery tour is the shortest, at 45 to 60 minutes, and it has 196 steps. It is not a barrier-free stroll, so think about stairs before you bring someone with limited mobility. Haunted Lantern lasts 90 minutes and starts at age 8. Expedition is the demanding one: about 3 hours, age 13 and up, with tight, wet and muddy passages.
Plan to pay for each attraction on its own. Cave tickets, the outdoor rides and nearby sights such as the Manitou Incline, which needs its own free reservation, are all separate. If you want to see red rock without paying anything, the things to do at Garden of the Gods start with the free park.
More near Manitou Springs
Other stops you can combine with a cave visit.
The cave: frequently asked questions
How much do the cave tours cost?
In 2026 the operator lists the Discovery tour at $30 for adults and $19 for children aged 4 to 12, with children up to 3 free but needing a ticket. Haunted Lantern is $33 and Expedition is $99. The prices include a $1 online handling share per ticket.
How long does a cave tour take?
Discovery takes 45 to 60 minutes. Haunted Lantern takes 90 minutes. Expedition takes about 3 hours.
What should I wear?
For Expedition, long clothing, sturdy closed shoes and a change of clothes, because the route has tight, wet and muddy sections. For the other tours, wear shoes that handle stairs.
Are the outdoor rides open every day?
Not necessarily. Rides run in summer from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and in winter from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., depending on the weather. The zip lines and the via ferrata are marked as weekend offers.
Where do I park?
Parking is free. The address is 100 Cave of the Winds Road, at Serpentine Drive and US 24, not Cave Avenue. RVs stay at the sign at the bottom, and you call for the shuttle.
Is the cave the same as Garden of the Gods?
No. Cave of the Winds is a separate, privately run attraction near Manitou Springs. Garden of the Gods is a free city park. See our home page for the park itself.