Things to Do in Manitou Springs, Colorado

The Cog has climbed Pikes Peak from Manitou Springs since 1891, and it’s billed as the world’s highest cog railroad. It closed in 2017 for a complete rebuild of track and trains and reopened in May 2021. It’s one of only three cog railways left in the United States.

★ Good to know Weather on a 14,000-foot summit changes fast, so bring a warm layer even in July and book seats ahead in summer.

This is a staircase of old railroad ties up the side of Mount Manitou, left behind when a 1990 rockslide ended the incline railway. It gains about 2,000 feet in less than a mile, with a grade that hits 68 percent in places. It became legally open to the public in 2013.

★ Good to know A free online reservation and a signed waiver are required for every climb; slots open on the 1st of each month for the month ahead.

Eight cold-water mineral springs bubble up around town, each with its own mix of minerals and taste. They’re kept running 24/7 and free by the Mineral Springs Foundation. Pick up a springs map at the Visitors Center and walk from fountain to fountain along Manitou Avenue.

★ Good to know The Visitors Center sells collapsible souvenir cups that support the springs, and it takes cash only for them.

Right next door in Colorado Springs, this 1,341-acre city park of red-rock fins was deeded to the city in 1909 on the condition it stay forever free. It’s a National Natural Landmark, not a state or national park. The Visitor & Nature Center runs free guided nature walks.

★ Good to know Stop at the Visitor & Nature Center first for trail maps and the day’s walk schedule.

A French-born priest, Father Jean Baptist Francolon, built this four-story house in 1895, and it’s now run by the Manitou Springs Historical Society. You tour 30 rooms of period furnishings on your own, plus exhibits on the town fire department and the Nuremberg Trials. The Queen’s Parlour Tearoom serves multi-course teas.

★ Good to know Themed high teas around the holidays sell out early, so reserve well ahead if you want one.

Just off U.S. 24 above town, guided tours head into the Manitou Grand Caverns to see stalactites and old formations. Above ground there’s a ropes course, a climbing wall and thrill rides on the edge of Williams Canyon. The Expedition Tour is a muddy crawl for ages 13 and up.

★ Good to know Expedition Tour spots are limited and need an online reservation; bring gloves and a change of clothes.

Walk through and touch Ancestral Puebloan-style stone dwellings overlooking town, with two small museums. Be clear on what you’re seeing: the dwellings were built from stone moved from a prehistoric site in the Four Corners region and opened as an attraction in 1907. It’s a good stop with kids.

★ Good to know It opens daily at 9 a.m., which makes it an easy first stop before the crowds.

The 13-mile Barr Trail starts in Manitou Springs and climbs about 7,800 feet to the summit of Pikes Peak. It’s rated the hardest trail in the Pikes Peak region and hosts the Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon. Most people hike a few miles up for views, or to Barr Camp at 10,200 feet.

★ Good to know If you do go for the summit, a one-way Cog ticket down saves your knees; check seats before you start.