Manitou Springs

About Manitou Springs

Located just outside Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs is known for its mineral springs and a landscape dominated by soaring Pikes Peak. The water tastes slightly different at each spring, the flavor dictated by the varied levels of the minerals in each location.

Visit Garden of the Gods Park, a 1,323-acre registered National Natural Landmark with dramatic rock formations set against a backdrop of snow-capped Pikes Peak. Explore the park’s unusual and steep rock formations via its 15 miles of hiking trails or take one of the park’s guided walks.

We’ll book you a ride on the historic Pikes Peak Cog Railway, journeying 14,115 feet up to Pikes Peak Summit on a unique rail journey that has been operating since 1891. Enjoy mountain views, historic landmarks, and maybe even wildlife sightings of elk, bears, or mountain lions.

Visit the Manitou Cliff Dwellings, a group of reassembled ancient cliff structures that overlook the town and are between 800 and 1,000 years old. Once you’ve absorbed some history, head over to the Manitou Incline, a popular but strenuous hike involving a climb of hundreds of step over 2,000 vertical feet in less than a mile! At the summit, the trail connects to another trail offering a steep but scenic 3 mile path back down to the base.

Downtown Manitou Springs also offers art galleries and boutiques to explore, and restaurants and breweries where you can sit back, relax, and fill your belly after a day’s adventure!

Interesting Facts About Manitou Springs

All of the mineral springs here contain a trace of lithium. Perhaps that’s why people always feel better after soaking!
The majority of the buildings constructed between 1890 and 1940 were built with “greenstone”, a local rock similar to red sandstone but with iron which makes it stronger.