Colorado Springs
Around Colorado Springs
Photo: Lumen Wilde · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Metro area · Colorado · 777k people
Colorado Springs
Locals say the Springs · “Olympic City USA”, “The Springs”
Where the mountains meet the plains and adventure is a way of life.
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Welcome to the Springs! Whether you're here for the mountains, the beer, or the laid-back vibe, you'll find your people. Grab a green chile breakfast burrito and get ready to explore.
Clubs for Colorado Springs
No clubs for Colorado Springs yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Colorado Springs. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
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Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Colorado Springs. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Garden of the Gods Red rock formations and hiking trails.
- Pikes Peak Famous 14,115-foot summit, accessible by road or cog railway.
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo Zoo set on a mountainside with panoramic views.
- US Air Force Academy Military academy with the iconic Cadet Chapel.
- Olympic & Paralympic Museum Interactive museum celebrating Olympic athletes.
- Red Rock Canyon Open Space City park with red rock cliffs and trails.
- Outdoors Hike the Barr Trail up Pikes Peak
- Outdoors Rock climb at Garden of the Gods
- With kids Explore the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
- With kids Ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway
- Evenings Catch a live show at the Black Sheep
- Evenings See comedy at Loonees Comedy Club
- Locals love Mountain Parks
- Locals love Breweries
Through the year
- Pikes Peak International Hill Climb June Historic race up Pikes Peak.
- Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo July Annual rodeo at the Norris-Penrose Event Center.
- Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off September Hot air balloon festival at Memorial Park.
- Pikes Peak Marathon August Challenging trail marathon up and down the peak.
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC home matches Seasonal (spring–fall) USL Championship soccer at Weidner Field.
Semi-arid with over 300 days of sunshine. Mild winters, warm summers, and low humidity. Best: Spring and fall offer mild temps and clear skies.
Talk like a local
- “the Springs”
- Colorado Springs
- “the Peak”
- Pikes Peak
- “the Garden”
- Garden of the Gods
- “the Academy”
- U.S. Air Force Academy
Getaways
- Cañon City Royal Gorge Bridge and Park, whitewater rafting.
- Pueblo Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, local art and food.
- Denver Museums, sports, and city nightlife.
- Breckenridge Skiing, mountain town charm, and summer hiking.
Local flavour
Teams
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC USL Championship
- Air Force Falcons NCAA Division I
- Colorado College Tigers NCAA Division I
Also rooting for Denver Broncos (NFL), Denver Rockies (MLB), Denver Nuggets (NBA), Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Eat and drink
- Green Chile A spicy stew-like sauce made with pork and green chilies, a Colorado staple.
- Craft Beer Colorado Springs has a thriving craft brewery scene, with many local breweries.
- Rocky Mountain Oysters A novelty dish of fried bull testicles, often served as an appetizer in Colorado.
Where people go
- Mountain Parks Expansive parks like Garden of the Gods and Palmer Park with dramatic rock formations and trails.
- Breweries A dense concentration of craft breweries, many with mountain views.
- Military Installations Home to the U.S. Air Force Academy, Fort Carson, and other military bases, giving the area a distinct character.
Heritage and traditions
Colorado Springs is proud of its stunning mountain backdrop, its Olympic heritage, and its strong military community, blending outdoor adventure with a can-do spirit.
This time of year in Colorado Springs
- Aspen leaf viewing Fall Fall colors in the nearby mountains.
Say it like a local: “Fourteener” — A mountain peak over 14,000 feet.
Festivals
- Territory Days May Celebrates the pioneer history of Manitou Springs with music, food, and crafts.
- Colorado Springs Celtic Festival June Features Celtic music, dance, and culture.
- Colorado Springs Greek Festival September Greek food, music, and dancing at the Assumption of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church.
- Colorado Springs PrideFest June LGBTQ+ celebration with a parade and festival.
Landmarks with a story
- US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel A modernist architectural icon with 17 spires.
- Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum Housed in the former El Paso County Courthouse, tells the city's history.
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings relocated to Manitou Springs.
- Miramont Castle A 19th-century mansion in Manitou Springs with eclectic architecture.
- Glen Eyrie Castle General Palmer's English-style castle, now a Christian conference center.
- Old Colorado City Historic District The original town site with Victorian-era buildings.
Food traditions
- Summit House doughnuts A tradition of buying a doughnut at the top of Pikes Peak as a reward for the climb or drive.
- Bison burgers Local game meat served at many restaurants, a nod to the region's frontier history.
- Sunday brunch at the Broadmoor An elegant brunch tradition at the historic Broadmoor resort.
- Smothered breakfast burritos Hearty burritos smothered in green chile, a local favorite.
Music and arts
- Colorado Springs Philharmonic Professional orchestra performing classical and pops.
- Fine Arts Center at Colorado College Art museum and theater presenting visual and performing arts.
- Air Force Academy bands Military bands performing at ceremonies and public events.
- Manitou Art Center Community arts hub with studios and workshops.
A little history
- 1871 Founded by General William Jackson Palmer as a resort town.
- 1890s Cripple Creek gold rush brought wealth and growth.
- 1910s Sanatoriums for tuberculosis treatment made the city a health destination.
- 1958 The United States Air Force Academy opened.
- 1978 The US Olympic Committee moved its headquarters to Colorado Springs.
Rivalries
- Air Force Falcons vs Colorado College Tigers Friendly hockey rivalry between local colleges.
- Colorado Springs Switchbacks vs Denver soccer fans Local USL team vs Denver supporters.
- Colorado College Tigers vs University of Denver Pioneers Hockey rivalry with a Front Range neighbor.
- Game day Air Force Falcons football
- Game day Pikes Peak Road Runners
- Outdoors Hike the Manitou Incline
- Outdoors Visit the Cave of the Winds
- With kids North Pole – Santa's Workshop
- With kids Manitou Cliff Dwellings
People in Colorado Springs speak with a neutral Western American accent, often referring to the city as 'the Springs.' They use terms like 'fourteener' for peaks over 14,000 feet and 'Front Range' for the urban corridor along the mountains.
Only here
- The Olympic Training Center, where many Olympic athletes train.
- The Broadmoor, a historic five-star resort.
- The Manitou Incline, a steep stairway trail with 2,744 steps.
- The Cave of the Winds, a natural cave system.
New here? A few tips
- Drink plenty of water to acclimate to the altitude.
- Dress in layers; weather can change quickly.
- Expect traffic on I-25 during rush hours.
- Visit Garden of the Gods early in the morning to avoid crowds.
- Be aware of the military presence; show respect at bases.
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Nearby
Every areaCañon CityColoradoWhere the river carves the canyonPuebloColoradoWhere the river meets the chile fields.DenverColoradoA mile high, full of sunshine, mountains, and craft beer.Salida–Buena VistaColoradoRiver town heart, mountain soulBreckenridgeColoradoWhere the peaks touch the sky and the town feels like home.BoulderColoradoWhere the mountains meet the mindsGreeleyColoradoA welcoming heart on the high plains.EdwardsColoradoWhere the peaks meet your soul.
Colorado Springs, CO. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.