Living in Denver, we’ve been to Colorado Springs several times. There’s so much to do that we have a never-ending list that just keeps getting longer! We recently spent a full weekend in Colorado Springs and put together a weekend Colorado Springs itinerary that is perfect for adventure lovers. We hope you enjoy!
Disclosure: All opinions expressed here are our own. Our trip was sponsored by Visit Colorado Springs. This post may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, we may earn a small commission.
How to get to Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs is located around 70 miles south of Denver and there are a couple of ways to get to there to start your Colorado Springs itinerary:
- by car: fly into Denver International Airport (DEN) and drive 1.5 hours south to Colorado Springs
- by air: fly into Colorado Springs Airport (COS) located directly in the city
Where to stay in Colorado Springs
The Outlook Lodge in Green Mountain Falls is the perfect homebase for your Colorado Springs itinerary. We absolutely loved it! It’s a beautiful historic lodge that feels very remote despite being only 20 minutes away from downtown Colorado Springs. The Outlook Lodge has 11 rooms and all guests have access to the cozy main lodge that has a fireplace, tons of comfortable seating options, a kitchen, a small dining table, and blankets for your use. There’s also an outside area with an a fire pit. Grab a blanket and roast marshmallows by the fire pit like we did!
Day 1
Dinner at Ivywild School
We arrived in the evening, so we headed straight to dinner. If you arrive earlier, you could always go for a hike or make reservations to drive up Pike’s Peak. Our first stop was the Ivywild School, a historic school turned food hall and brewery. We loved exploring the school as the owners kept most of the original artwork and repurposed a lot of the original structures, even using the swing set chains for lights in one of the bars! The Ivywild School has several restaurants, a whiskey bar, craft cocktail bar, and of course, Bristol Brewing.
Drinks at Bristol Brewing
Bristol Brewing is the reason the Ivywild School exists. We had the pleasure of meeting with the owners, Amanda and Mike Bristol, who began home brewing almost 30 years ago. It was awesome to hear their story about how they decided to transform the Ivywild School. Their main goal was to build a community gathering place and they certainly succeeded. Bristol Brewing serves a variety of delicious beers. Their flagship beer is the Laughing Lab. The brewery also hosts regular events, including live music, trivia nights, and charity fundraisers.
Day 2
Breakfast at Loyal Coffee
The first full day of your Colorado Springs itinerary has to start with coffee. Although there’s many delicious options, the bright and airy atmosphere of Loyal Coffee, along with the delicious toast options and coffee made this our favorite breakfast spot of the trip! We both had avocado toast with a soft boiled egg and the best lattes.
Trail clean up at Palmer Park
One of our goals this year is to give back to the local communities that we visit and for this trip, we chose a trail clean up at Palmer Park. Colorado Trails and Open Spaces has several volunteer events per month that you can check on their volunteer calendar. Despite the frigid temperatures, we had such a fun time cleaning up a beautiful trail and discovering this area with the coolest geological features.
Explore downtown Colorado Springs
There’s a lot of options to choose from for lunch in Colorado Springs.
Places to grab lunch:
- Ola Juice Bar: fresh wraps, sandwiches, and bowls along with smoothies and acai bowls
- Shuga’s: trendy spot with a global menu and brunch on the weekends
- Poor Richard’s: a cafe, bookstore, and toy store offering sandwiches, soups, and salads
- The Ute Restaurant: casual fare at a climbing gym
- Oskar Blue’s Grill and Brew: American food plus 43 rotating taps
Green Mountain Falls Skyspace show
This unique art installation was a great way to spend the afternoon. Located in Green Mountain Falls and created by artist James Turrell, the Skyspace is a viewing chamber designed to enhance visitors’ perception of the sky.
To get to the Skyspace, a short hike is required from the parking lot. There are two options to hike to the Skyspace. Visitors sit on benches around the edge of the viewing chamber and look up at the sky, framed by the opening.
There are options for closed roof and open roof viewings during sunrise and sunset. The Skyspace is illuminated by colored LED lights. It’s a very calming experience.
Explore Garden of the Gods
Many people travel to Colorado Springs to visit this iconic park and view the massive sandstone formations. You could spend a full day here if you wanted to!
One of the best things to do at Garden of the Gods is drive Garden of the Gods Road, a scenic one-way loop around the entire park and stop wherever catches your eye! The road starts at Garden of the Gods Visitor Center.
There are several overlooks and turnouts including Mesa Overlook just outside of the park, High Point Overlook, and Balanced Rock.
Trails at Garden of the Gods Park:
- Siamese Twins Trail: a short trail to unique identical rock formations; great for photography
- Central Garden Trail: a paved trail that goes through the heart of the park
- Ridge Trail: a more strenuous trail that leads you to panoramic views
Day 3
Go for a hike!
Don’t forget to download offline trail maps with the AllTrails app!
Hikes we recommend:
- Manitou Incline: a steep, strenuous trail that climbs 2,768 stairs and gains over 2,000 feet of elevation in less than one mile! You will descend the 3 mile Barr Trail as you are only permitted to ascend the stairs. This is definitely an intense workout, but worth the experience and has stunning views. Reservations are needed and can be made here.
- Mount Muscoco: located in North Cheyenne Canyon, this moderately strenuous 4.4 mile round trip trail will take you up to panoramic views of the city, Garden of the Gods, and Pikes Peak.
- Pancake Rocks: On this 6 mile hike, you’ll trek through a beautiful forest to unique geological feature that resembles layers of pancakes. This hike is accessible year round but microspikes are recommended during the winter.
Falconry class with Broadmoor Outfitters
If you’re looking for a one of a kind experience for your Colorado Springs itinerary, you have to add a falconry class with Broadmoor Outfitters to your agenda.
In the first part of the class, you’ll learn all about the sport of falconry as well as get up close and personal with hawks, falcons, and owls. The second part of the class will take you outside where you’ll hold a falcon and go for a walk with a hawk that follows your falconer.
It’s amazing to witness the relationship between the birds and the falconer. We had an incredible time trying this unique experience!
Dinner in downtown CO Springs or Old Colorado City
Old Colorado City is a walkable historic district located near downtown Colorado Springs lined with quaint shops and restaurants.
Some food options in Old Colorado City:
- Alchemy: Irish gastropub with a large beer list and comfort dishes
- Jake and Telly’s Greek Taverna: authentic Greek food
- OCC Brewing: craft brewery with classic eats and a patio
- Bon Ton’s Café: classic American diner
See a full list of food options in Old Colorado City here.
Downtown Colorado Springs also has many options for delicious food. Here are some recommended places to eat for dinner:
- Mood Tapas Bar: cozy atmosphere with Spanish-inspired entrees and tapas
- The Rabbit Hole: trendy spot for cocktails and locally sourced dishes
- Pepper Tree Restaurant: intimate setting with classic steak and seafood dishes
- 503W: restaurant and bar specializing in American and Asian-inspired food
See a full list of food options in Colorado Springs here.
Have you been to Colorado Springs?
