Map of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak area

Ten Hour Day Trip Planners in Colorado Springs Ten-Hour-Day Itineraries Planning your visit to Pikes Peak Country is sure to be lots of fun, but with so much to do, how do you choose? The following easy-to-plan itineraries are designed simply as guidelines; feel free to mix and match, creating your own plans. These are just some ideas to inspire and get you started! These 10-hour days try to take into account time for driving, meals and the time spent at the various attractions and activities. Our travel time estimates are based on using Downtown Colorado Springs as a starting and ending point each day. Adventure Packed Experience wild animals, underground caves and ghosts all in one day! Begin your day at the world-famous Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (2-5 HRS). America’s only mountain zoo, with a collection of more than 750 exotic animals. Then head for the Cave of the Winds (2-6 HRS). First opened in 1880, it is the oldest attraction in the region and includes a guided tour through 20 beautiful and colorfully lighted cavern rooms. Then stop by the Ghost Town Museum (1-3 HRS). Enjoy a preservation of Colorado's western past while relaxing with a refreshing glass of sarsaparilla. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3 Royal Gorge-ous! Cañon City & Royal Gorge Country Take a short, one-hour drive southwest of Colorado Springs where you will enjoy one of America’s most spectacular attractions, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park (3-5 HRS). You can walk or drive across the world’s highest suspension bridge, which spans the gorge 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. Enjoy an afternoon of fun at Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway (4 HRS). Everyone will enjoy this Old West theme park, alive with daily action and fun street shows. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 2 Pikes Peak by Car, Cog, or Bike Enjoy the beauty of Pikes Peak from various vantage points. From the the 19 spectacular miles of Pikes Peak Highway (3HRS) in the comfort of your own vehicle, travel the world’s highest toll road to the summit of Pikes Peak. At the summit of this 14,115-foot mountain, enjoy the Pikes Peak Summit House (1HR). Or let everyone be a passenger and take the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway (4 HRS) (reservations required), the highest railroad in the U.S. “The Cog,” has safely and comfortably transported passengers to the summit for more than 100 years. Once on top, you can enjoy lunch, or at least a world famous high-altitude donut! Another option is to start your day early with a comfortable van ride to the summit of Pikes Peak, and then take “Pikes Peak by Bike” down the mountain, all coordinated by the professional biking company Challenge Unlimited (1-6 HRS). After your trip to the top of Pikes Peak, visit the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy (2 HRS). Here you’ll enjoy tributes to cowboys participating in the professional sport of rodeo, including live rodeo animals and special exhibits in the new rodeo arena. You’ll notice that we’ve built some rest time into this ten-hour day. Upon completion of activities at altitudes of this magnitude, we encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite beverage. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3 Waterfull - Seven Falls, Manitou Springs Start your day at Seven Falls (1-3 HRS), which has been called the “grandest mile of scenery in Colorado” with seven separate waterfalls splashing 181 feet down a sheer granite cliff. Then head toward Manitou Springs, with your first stop at Miramont Castle (1 HR). Afterwards, take a leisurely stroll throughout Historic Manitou Springs (2-4 Hours). Enjoy exploring this historic turn-of-the-century town with its galleries, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, and its famous mineral springs. End your day with a dinner and show at the Iron Springs Melodrama Theatre (2 HRS). NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4 Follow The Gold - Cripple Creek From Colorado Springs, take a beautiful 1-hour drive to the historic town of Cripple Creek (2 HRS). Once there, be sure to experience the Pikes Peak Heritage Center at Cripple Creek (1-2 HRS). Then, be sure to hop onto the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad (1-2 HRS), a 4-mile round-trip adventure alongside old mines and ghost towns. Next stop will be the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine (1-2 HRS), another site of great historical interest, before you head back to Colorado Springs. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4 For The Young and the Young at Heart It doesn’t have to be winter or the holidays to enjoy Santa’s Workshop/North Pole (2 HRS to all day), where believers of all ages can enjoy Christmas all summer long. Enjoy the fun, safe rides, wonderful theater acts, farm animals, and even talk to Santa. For the end to a perfect day for the young at heart, take a drive south on HWY 115 to May Natural History Museum (1-2 HRS) where you’ll see 7,000 of the world’s most beautiful and unusual invertebrates, including giant tropical insects from around the world. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 2 Hit the Water! All-day or half-day, thrilling whitewater raft trips await you with reservations made with Echo Canyon River Expeditions.. Special arrangements are easily made to extend your rafting or float trip to up to three days. Echo Canyon also offers unique packages and specialty trips. Whichever option you choose, a genuine Colorado whitewater adventure is one you don’t want to miss and won’t soon forget. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 1 Past, Present and Future An early morning drive will take you to the United States Air Force Academy (2 HRS) where you will enjoy an informative exhibit about cadet life in the spacious Visitor Center and Gift Shop (1 HR). A short walk along a nature trail will lead you to the famous Cadet Chapel (1HR). You can end your visit with a self-guided driving tour of the Academy, which also serves as a large wildlife sanctuary. That afternoon, visit the nearby Western Museum of Mining and Industry (1-2 HRS), where you’ll explore Colorado’s rich and colorful mining past and future. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4 Garden of the Gods A short drive to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center (1-3 HRS) offers a spectacular view of the famous, frequently photographed red rock formations of the region (bring your camera!). Don’t miss the excellent and exciting 12-minute movie. A drive through the Garden of the Gods Park (1-4 HRS) will lead you to the Garden of the Gods Trading Post (1-3 HRS), Colorado’s largest trading post, where you can shop for unique and beautiful souvenirs of the region, as well as have a light or hearty lunch. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3 Cowboys and Indians For a different mode of travel, enjoy a relaxing horseback ride through the stunning red rock cliffs of the Garden of the Gods arranged through Academy Riding Stables (1-3 HRS). If you prefer to bike some more, get on the New Santa Fe Trail (2-3 HRS). Next, you’re off to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings (1-2 HRS) where you will learn of the history of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians dating from 1100 to 1300 A.D., and might even catch authentic Native American dancing. End your day the cowboy way at the Flying W Ranch (2-5 HRS), a working, mountain cattle ranch specializing in western food and entertainment since 1953. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4

Ten Hour Day Trip Planners in Colorado Springs

Ten-Hour-Day Itineraries

Planning your visit to Pikes Peak Country is sure to be lots of fun, but with so much to do, how do you choose? The following easy-to-plan itineraries are designed simply as guidelines; feel free to mix and match, creating your own plans. These are just some ideas to inspire and get you started! These 10-hour days try to take into account time for driving, meals and the time spent at the various attractions and activities. Our travel time estimates are based on using Downtown Colorado Springs as a starting and ending point each day.

Adventure Packed
Experience wild animals, underground caves and ghosts all in one day! Begin your day at the world-famous Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (2-5 HRS). America’s only mountain zoo, with a collection of more than 750 exotic animals. Then head for the Cave of the Winds (2-6 HRS). First opened in 1880, it is the oldest attraction in the region and includes a guided tour through 20 beautiful and colorfully lighted cavern rooms. Then stop by the Ghost Town Museum (1-3 HRS). Enjoy a preservation of Colorado's western past while relaxing with a refreshing glass of sarsaparilla. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3

Royal Gorge-ous! Cañon City & Royal Gorge Country
Take a short, one-hour drive southwest of Colorado Springs where you will enjoy one of America’s most spectacular attractions, the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park (3-5 HRS). You can walk or drive across the world’s highest suspension bridge, which spans the gorge 1,053 feet above the Arkansas River. Enjoy an afternoon of fun at Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and Railway (4 HRS). Everyone will enjoy this Old West theme park, alive with daily action and fun street shows. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 2

Pikes Peak by Car, Cog, or Bike

Enjoy the beauty of Pikes Peak from various vantage points. From the the 19 spectacular miles of Pikes Peak Highway (3HRS) in the comfort of your own vehicle, travel the world’s highest toll road to the summit of Pikes Peak. At the summit of this 14,115-foot mountain, enjoy the Pikes Peak Summit House (1HR). Or let everyone be a passenger and take the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway (4 HRS) (reservations required), the highest railroad in the U.S. “The Cog,” has safely and comfortably transported passengers to the summit for more than 100 years. Once on top, you can enjoy lunch, or at least a world famous high-altitude donut! Another option is to start your day early with a comfortable van ride to the summit of Pikes Peak, and then take “Pikes Peak by Bike” down the mountain, all coordinated by the professional biking company Challenge Unlimited (1-6 HRS). After your trip to the top of Pikes Peak, visit the ProRodeo Hall of Fame and Museum of the American Cowboy (2 HRS). Here you’ll enjoy tributes to cowboys participating in the professional sport of rodeo, including live rodeo animals and special exhibits in the new rodeo arena. You’ll notice that we’ve built some rest time into this ten-hour day. Upon completion of activities at altitudes of this magnitude, we encourage you to sit back, relax and enjoy your favorite beverage. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3

Waterfull - Seven Falls, Manitou Springs
Start your day at Seven Falls (1-3 HRS), which has been called the “grandest mile of scenery in Colorado” with seven separate waterfalls splashing 181 feet down a sheer granite cliff. Then head toward Manitou Springs, with your first stop at Miramont Castle (1 HR). Afterwards, take a leisurely stroll throughout Historic Manitou Springs (2-4 Hours). Enjoy exploring this historic turn-of-the-century town with its galleries, one-of-a-kind shops and restaurants, and its famous mineral springs. End your day with a dinner and show at the Iron Springs Melodrama Theatre (2 HRS). NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4

Follow The Gold - Cripple Creek
From Colorado Springs, take a beautiful 1-hour drive to the historic town of Cripple Creek (2 HRS). Once there, be sure to experience the Pikes Peak Heritage Center at Cripple Creek (1-2 HRS). Then, be sure to hop onto the Cripple Creek & Victor Narrow Gauge Railroad (1-2 HRS), a 4-mile round-trip adventure alongside old mines and ghost towns. Next stop will be the Mollie Kathleen Gold Mine (1-2 HRS), another site of great historical interest, before you head back to Colorado Springs. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4

For The Young and the Young at Heart
It doesn’t have to be winter or the holidays to enjoy Santa’s Workshop/North Pole (2 HRS to all day), where believers of all ages can enjoy Christmas all summer long. Enjoy the fun, safe rides, wonderful theater acts, farm animals, and even talk to Santa. For the end to a perfect day for the young at heart, take a drive south on HWY 115 to May Natural History Museum (1-2 HRS) where you’ll see 7,000 of the world’s most beautiful and unusual invertebrates, including giant tropical insects from around the world. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 2

Hit the Water!
All-day or half-day, thrilling whitewater raft trips await you with reservations made with Echo Canyon River Expeditions.. Special arrangements are easily made to extend your rafting or float trip to up to three days. Echo Canyon also offers unique packages and specialty trips. Whichever option you choose, a genuine Colorado whitewater adventure is one you don’t want to miss and won’t soon forget. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 1

Past, Present and Future

An early morning drive will take you to the United States Air Force Academy (2 HRS) where you will enjoy an informative exhibit about cadet life in the spacious Visitor Center and Gift Shop (1 HR). A short walk along a nature trail will lead you to the famous Cadet Chapel (1HR). You can end your visit with a self-guided driving tour of the Academy, which also serves as a large wildlife sanctuary. That afternoon, visit the nearby Western Museum of Mining and Industry (1-2 HRS), where you’ll explore Colorado’s rich and colorful mining past and future. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4

Garden of the Gods
A short drive to the Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature Center (1-3 HRS) offers a spectacular view of the famous, frequently photographed red rock formations of the region (bring your camera!). Don’t miss the excellent and exciting 12-minute movie. A drive through the Garden of the Gods Park (1-4 HRS) will lead you to the Garden of the Gods Trading Post (1-3 HRS), Colorado’s largest trading post, where you can shop for unique and beautiful souvenirs of the region, as well as have a light or hearty lunch. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 3
Cowboys and Indians
For a different mode of travel, enjoy a relaxing horseback ride through the stunning red rock cliffs of the Garden of the Gods arranged through Academy Riding Stables (1-3 HRS). If you prefer to bike some more, get on the New Santa Fe Trail (2-3 HRS). Next, you’re off to the Manitou Cliff Dwellings (1-2 HRS) where you will learn of the history of the Ancestral Puebloan Indians dating from 1100 to 1300 A.D., and might even catch authentic Native American dancing. End your day the cowboy way at the Flying W Ranch (2-5 HRS), a working, mountain cattle ranch specializing in western food and entertainment since 1953. NUMBER OF ATTRACTIONS: 4

As Colorado As it Gets

OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF PIKES PEAK COUNTRY ATTRACTIONS ASSOCIATION, A MEMBERSHIP ORGANIZATION SINCE 1974

Ten Hour Day Trip Planners in Colorado Springs