With the towering Rockies as its backdrop and the breathtaking 14,115-foot Pikes Peak guarding its western flank, Colorado Springs rests where the Front Range tumbles into rolling plains. Only about an hour south of Denver, the light here is bright, the skies stretch wide, and the air carries that crisp mountain feel almost every season.
Located at an altitude of just above 6,000 feet, Colorado Springs is over a mile high, peppered with some neighborhoods reaching up even higher. Head just twenty minutes out of Colorado Springs, up the breathtaking Ute Pass, to Woodland Park for unparalleled outdoor beauty. At nearly 8,500 feet, this “City Above the Clouds” provides easy access to Cripple Creek’s historic gold district, off-roading, and dominating views of Pikes Peak.
Outdoor lovers flock to Colorado Springs and the surrounding area to explore the Garden of the Gods, Pikes Peak Cog Railway, and Cheyenne Mountain. Area landmarks like the historic Manitou Incline, the National Museum of WWII Aviation, and the Royal Gorge just to the south make Colorado Springs a year-round destination.
As Colorado’s second largest city, Colorado Springs has also been home to the Olympic and ParaOlympic Committee and Training Facilities since 1978, further earning it the name “Olympic City USA.”
Colorado Springs masterfully blends its rich history with a present-day urban vibe. History enthusiasts can explore nearby Manitou Cliff Dwellings of the ancestral Puebloans and then retrace stories of Colorado’s late 19th-century gold boom with a visit to Cripple Creek. Local festivals and celebrations honor the historical legacy of the Ute, the longest continuous residents of the Pikes Peak Region and in Colorado. Looking up at Pikes Peak as the sun rises, one can appreciate why the Ute first called it “Sun Mountain”.
In contrast to many mountain towns across Colorado, the Springs itself was not spurred on by mining. Established formally in 1871 by General William Jackson Palmer, careful planning for Colorado Springs evolved it into a resort town. The area’s abundant sunshine and fresh air quickly attracted health seekers, artists, and inventors.
Today, Colorado Springs serves as a college town, military installation, and premier basecamp for outdoor adventure. From the iconic Trading Post at the Garden of the Gods to the quirky shops, murals, and restaurants lining downtown in the Tejon Corridor, Colorado Springs provides an elevated experience for all the senses.
Oh, and if the view from atop Pikes Peak leaves you speechless, you may find the phrases of “America the Beautiful” to be the perfect soundtrack. In 1893, inspired by the Pikes Peak region, poet Katherine Lee Bates penned the moving words that reflect waves of grain and purple mountains majesty.
In Colorado Springs, where the mountains meet the plains and the spirit of the Southwest blends with urban life, beauty is everywhere.
