Colorado Springs beyond the Garden
The Garden of the Gods belongs to the city of Colorado Springs, and entry is free. That gift came with a condition: when the children of Charles Elliott Perkins gave the land to the city in 1909, they asked for permanent free public access. Most of the other places in this list charge admission, so the Garden makes a good free anchor for a longer trip.
This is an independent guide, not run by the city, the attractions or any tour company. The ideas below mix city sights, Manitou Springs, day trips and one drive to the Royal Gorge. Prices and hours are as listed in 2026 and change with the season, so confirm them before you set out.
Ideas 1 to 5: in and around the city
Waterfalls, animals, shopping streets and two museums.
1. Seven Falls
The 2026 online rates before 2 p.m. are $25 for adults aged 13 and up, $19 for children aged 2 to 12 and $22 for seniors aged 65 and up and military with ID. From 2 p.m. they are $21, $15 and $18. Children under 2 are free, and walk-up tickets cost $2 more. From 23 October to 29 November 2026 it is announced as open Friday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus Thanksgiving on 26 and 27 November. Park at the Norris Penrose Event Center, where parking and the shuttle to the entrance are free. There is no visitor parking at South Cheyenne Canyon Park.
2. Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
Everyone needs a timed ticket bought in advance, toddlers included, with a 30-minute entry window after your ticket time. The zoo is normally open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last timed entry at 3 p.m. Check the current ticket prices on the day you book.
3. Old Colorado City
A historic shopping district on the west side, along West Colorado Avenue. It is not a ticketed attraction with one set of hours, so each business keeps its own. Allow time to walk it.
4. Air Force Academy visitor center
The Hosmer Visitor Center opened on 16 May 2026 outside the North Gate. It is free and open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day, and New Year's Eve and Day. Visiting it does not mean entering the base. Access to the grounds changed on 1 March, with a sponsored pass for visitors without military ID, ID checks and possible waits, and the Santa Fe Trail through the grounds is closed until further notice. International visitors need a sponsor with a Department of Defense ID. Do not plan on a drive-through.
5. The Olympic and Paralympic museum
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day to the Labor Day weekend. Otherwise it is open Thursday to Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed Tuesday and Wednesday. Ticket sales end at 4 p.m., and booking ahead is recommended but not required. The 2026 adult prices run from $21.95 in winter value periods to $29.95 in summer peak periods; youth tickets (5 to 12) run from $12.95 to $16.95. Children aged 0 to 4 are free. A colored calendar shows which price applies on your day. A private lot across the street costs $7.50 until 4 p.m. and $15 after.
Our picks: Colorado Springs
A food walk downtown, a balloon flight at sunrise and a Jeep tour into the foothills.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Sunrise hot air balloon flight over Colorado Springs
The flight depends on the weather, and the whole outing takes three to four hours. Champagne, orange juice and fruit follow the landing; tips are extra.
Check availability →
Garden of the Gods and foothills Jeep tour
Two and a half hours in a Jeep with a guide, water included. Hotel transfer is not included.
Check availability →
Downtown Colorado Springs food walking tour
Two and a half hours with a local guide, four to five tastings and some art and history on the way. Tips and an extra drinks package are not included.
Check availability →Tours and tickets around Colorado Springs
Jeep rides, e-bike and Segway tours, Pikes Peak trips and day trips from Colorado Springs and Denver, with current prices and availability.
Ideas 6 to 10: canyons, springs and the Incline
Free walks and the first Manitou Springs stops.
6. Helen Hunt Falls
You can see the falls from the base and from the bridge, and a path continues to Silver Cascade Falls. The park around it is open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. between 1 November and 30 April and from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. between 1 May and 31 October, and the gates close at night. There is no mobile signal at the falls, so arrange your ride back in advance.
7. North Cheyenne Cañon beyond the falls
Helen Hunt Falls lies in the same canyon park, so the hours above apply. A 2-hour jeep drive that covers the park, Gold Camp Road and Helen Hunt Falls is listed at $90 per person plus a concession fee. The operator warns that storms and road closures can change the route.
8. Paint Mines
El Paso County runs this park of about 750 acres with around 4 miles of trails. It is free and open from dawn to dusk all year. Dogs and other pets, horses, bikes and drones are not allowed. Do not climb on or enter the formations, and take nothing away. There is no drinking water and little shade.
9. The Manitou Springs mineral springs
The local visitor bureau at 354 Manitou Avenue describes 8 naturally carbonated springs, each with its own taste. It offers a self-guided walk with a map. The public springs are free and listed as flowing around the clock. They are cold drinking springs, not hot baths, and a given fountain may not run every day. See Manitou Springs.
10. The Manitou Incline
A stairway of 2,768 steps (2,744 on a 2026 shuttle flyer) that climbs 2,000 feet (610 m) in under a mile. The free reservation with a signed waiver is mandatory. Read the Manitou Incline guide before you go.
Ideas 11 to 15: caves, mountains and a day trip
Four longer stops and one open space.
11. Cave tours near Manitou Springs
A private cave and mountain park with tours from 45 minutes to about 3 hours. The Discovery tour costs $30 for adults and $19 for children aged 4 to 12 in 2026, and outdoor rides cost extra. Details are in our cave guide.
12. Manitou Cliff Dwellings
These are not an original ancient settlement. The operator says stones were collected from 25 mesa-top sites on private land near Dolores and McElmo Canyon, brought to Manitou in the early 20th century and rebuilt after Southwest models. It opened in 1907. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from April to October, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in November and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. from December to February, weather permitting. It is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas.
13. Pikes Peak
The summit is 14,115 feet (4,302 m). The Cog Railway leaves from 515 Ruxton Avenue in Manitou Springs, not from the Garden of the Gods. The round trip takes about 3 hours, with online reserved tickets from $67 for adults and $57 for children in 2026, plus taxes and fees. By road, the highway toll from 1 May to 30 November is $18 per adult and $65 per car of up to five. From 22 May to 30 September 2026 private cars also need a timed entry for $2. Altitude can cause headaches, dizziness and nausea. See Pikes Peak.
14. Red Rock Canyon Open Space
A city open space with named trails, two lots on W. High Street, off-leash dog loops and a ban on e-bikes of every class. See Red Rock Canyon. It is not the park in Nevada.
15. Royal Gorge
The operator puts the drive at about 60 miles (97 km) and 1.5 hours from Colorado Springs, while a local tourism portal says about an hour. Online internet admission is $39.95 for adults aged 12 and up and $34.95 for children aged 3 to 11, valid until 31 October 2026, so check ticket availability before you drive. The train is separate, from $109. See Royal Gorge.
Putting the list together
A few ways to group these stops.
Ideas 9, 10, 11, 12 and the Cog Railway depot from idea 13 sit in or near Manitou Springs, so they work together. Seven Falls, the Helen Hunt Falls area and the Paint Mines are outdoors, and the Olympic museum and the zoo are better for a day with weather you do not trust. Summer thunderstorms can build, so know the rule: in thunder, go into a solid building or a fully enclosed vehicle. The weather by month page shows rainfall, and where to stay compares areas.
Then come back to the free part: the Garden of the Gods itself, with trails that cost nothing and a parking plan for busy days.
More from this guide
Pages for the stops above.
Colorado Springs: frequently asked questions
Is Garden of the Gods free?
Yes. It is a city park, and entry is free. Paid extras such as the film at the visitor center, the nature walk and tours are separate.
Is Seven Falls open all week in autumn?
Not in the block announced for 23 October to 29 November 2026. It is open Friday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., plus 26 and 27 November.
Can I drive through the Air Force Academy?
No. The Hosmer Visitor Center is outside the North Gate, free and open to everyone. Entering the base needs a sponsored pass and ID checks.
Do I need to book the zoo in advance?
Yes. Everyone needs a timed ticket bought ahead, with a 30-minute entry window after your ticket time.
Which ideas are near Manitou Springs?
The mineral springs, the Incline, the cave park, the Cliff Dwellings and the Cog Railway depot at 515 Ruxton Avenue.
Which one is the best day trip?
That depends on the day. The Royal Gorge is the longest drive, about 60 miles (97 km). Pikes Peak needs a clear plan for altitude and weather.