Day Trips from Colorado Springs: Mountains, Towns & Outdoor Fun

Outdoor adventurers love going to Colorado Springs because of the amazing recreational opportunities, including white water rafting on the Arkansas River . There are 152 miles of rafting waters and over eighty Class II-V rapids. The river flows through the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area at Colorado State Park where there are six campgrounds, facilities, fishing, panning for gold, four-wheeling, and other outdoor activities to enjoy. Whether you want to go rafting for an afternoon or take a multi-day trip that includes rafting, hiking, biking, and rock climbing, the tour operators on the Arkansas River have something for everyone—including gentler family float trips as well. Visitors can spend time in Chaffee or Fremont County to enjoy amazing food, art, and wineries.

The land that Bishop Castle is on was purchased for Jim Bishop by his parents in 1959 when Jim was only fifteen years old. Over the following decade, Jim and his father camped on the 2.2-acre property surrounded by the San Isabel National Forest for the next two decades, and in 1969 Jim and his new wife and started building a cabin on the mountain. Over the years, inspiration stuck to turn the stone cabin into a castle that Jim would build himself. Bishop Castle is an open construction site that is open every day and always free to visit. There aren’t guided tours of the castle, and visitors are encouraged to explore all open areas at their leisure with the best time to visit is on the weekend. All three stories of the castle can be seen, including a Grand Ballroom, several towers and bridges, and even a Fire-Breathing Dragon.

12705 State Highway 165 Rye, Colorado 81069, Phone: 719-564-4366

Boulder is only thirty minutes from Denver, nestled into the Rocky Mountain Foothills and known as one of the “foodiest towns” in America. Boulder is known for its many craft breweries, gastropubs, and laid-back atmosphere. One of the most popular activities in Boulder is a visit to Pearl Street, where locals gather for coffee, microbrews, amazing food, and historic storefronts and boutiques. Outdoor lovers can hike The Flatirons and stroll through the meadows in Chautauqua and the mountain foothills. Celestial Seasonings, one of the world’s leading tea manufacturers is also located in Boulder and offers tours. The Boulder Farmer’s Market is always worth the trip from Colorado Springs on the weekends.

Cripple Creek is a historic mining and gambling town that embodies the heart of the Old West and scenic Colorado. The buildings along Bennett Avenue have been restored to their original grandeur and are full of restaurants, cafes, shops, motels, and nine casinos, all against the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Some of the most exciting times to visit Cripple Creek are during special events such as Donkey Derby Days, Cruise Above the Clouds Car Show, and Gold Camp Christmas. The old-fashioned Christmas festival draws visitors from all over the state and country. Visitors can also tour the haunted Mt. Pisgah Speaks Cemetery Tour with a guide from the Gold Camp Victorian Society during fall or spend time at the Cripple Creek District Museum.

Hike the sandstone cliffs along the beautiful South Boulder Creek in Eldorado Canyon State Park . This park was voted one of the Top Ten Best State Parks by Smarter Travel and offers more than 500 rock climbing trails as well as hiking and mountain biking trails. The parking lot is often at capacity on Summer weekends and holidays with many visitors using the trails, fishing, and skiing in the winter months. Camping is not permitted in the park; however, there are several campgrounds within an hour or less drive. Visitors will need to pay a day-use fee based on what activities they plan to do when they enter the park.

One of the most diverse fossil beds in the world is found in central Colorado at the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. The area is home to redwood stumps as large as fourteen feet wide that are petrified as well as thousands of fossilized insects and plants. Visitors to the fossil beds should plan to spend two to four hours exploring starting with the visitor’s center where there are fossil displays, a short film, exhibits, and information on the fossil beds. Behind the visitor’s center are outdoor exhibits and access to one of three self-guided hikes. There are fifteen additional miles of hiking trails beyond the educational trails at the visitor's center. Ranger-guided activities and special events happen throughout the year.

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Florissant, Colorado, Phone: 719-748-3253

One of the most popular attractions in Colorado Springs is the Garden of the Gods Park. The National Natural Landmark features sandstone rock formations that tower more than 300 feet and an impressive Visitor & Nature Center with a museum. Garden of the Gods features interactive exhibits about geology and science for the entire family. Visitors can also check out the Geo-Trekker theater experience or dine in the modern cafe that is completely enclosed in floor to ceiling windows and overlooks Pikes Peak and the Garden of the Gods. The park is known for its rock-climbing trails, mountain biking and hiking, and annual events such as the Earth Day celebration, Bighorn Sheep Day, and two footraces that are held in the park. Handicap trails are available.

1805 N 30th street, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Phone: 719-634-6666

People who wish they could’ve experience vintage Colorado can still do so in Georgetown, a historic town founded in 1859. Referred to as “Silver Queen of the Rockies,” due to the lack of gold, but plethora of silver found in the mountains, Georgetown started out as a mining town and still has the museums, and steam engines and old town feel that transports visitors back in time with historic storefronts, antique stores, and locally owned boutique retailers along 6th street. Most visitors to Georgetown enjoy taking a ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Some of the best times to visit are during the holiday season when the railroad turns into Santa’s North Pole Adventure. Lighted Forest rides are also available! Visitors staying at one of the iconic inns in Georgetown can venture just thirteen miles up the road to the Loveland Ski Area, a 1,800-acre resort.

Idaho Springs is where the Gold Rush began in the Clear Creek Canyon, and the town still stands testament to its rich history that began in 1859 with a Heritage Visitor Center and Museum, as well as Underhill Museum. The historic downtown is a touristy area with lots of shops on the east end. Hundreds of walking and hiking trails are accessible around Idaho Springs, and some of the best mountain biking in the United States is offered there. White water rafting, gold mine tours, and rock climbing are also available through various tour companies in Idaho Springs. Local legends have it that the radium hot springs have magical healing powers.

Outdoor adventurers who love rugged wilderness will enjoy visiting the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area , just a short distance from Denver and Colorado Springs. The alpine tundra features a small glacier, and the peaks are one of the most popular destinations in the Rocky Mountain National Park for serious hikers and mountain climbers. The peaks belong to the Front Range, which is heavily forested until visitors get to 11,500 feet where the tundra starts, and very steep. Camping and hiking are permitted, but there are many wilderness regulations that visitors must follow that can be posted at the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forest Service Office. Overnight campers and hikers are required to obtain permits during summer months.