I will be in Colorado Springs for 3 nights in late September. I have a few questions I'm hoping someone can answer for me:

1. How far is the drive from the C.S. Airport up to the Garden of the Gods/Pikes Peak/Manitou Springs area? Right now I have reservations at the Radisson Suites at the airport and wonder if I might need to change to a closer place.

2. I have read that you cannot walk over the Royal Gorge Bridge anymore. True? I don't want to have to pay $30 to get into the "park" since I only want to see the bridge, but maybe that isn't even worth it.

3. How far away from C.S. is Cripple Creek and is it worth the drive to go? What's there?

4. Can I drive to the top of Pikes Peak or is the train the best way to go? I've read that the train isn't all that spectacular and maybe a drive to see the view from the top is just as good?

5. Are there any actual "hot springs" you can go to and sit in?

Thanks!

Where did you read that you cannot walk over the Royal Gorge Bridge? There were many people walking on it last August, and their website says nothing about not being able to walk anymore. FWIW, I didn't find RG all that spectacular anyway, compared to Black Canyon of the Gunnison. Too tacky, IMO.

Someone in this forum mentioned it. It surprised me.

I think I remember seeing that here too, and it surprised me as well. I suspect it's a rumor, but you can always call and find out for sure.

Check out www.royalgorgebridge.com for help with your questions. It looks like they have a bridge only admission price between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. and a half hour before closing.

I like the train ride up Pikes Peak. I don't get the "isn't all that spectacular" comment. The view from the top is the same by train or car. Taking the train just allows the driver to concentrate on the scenery rather than the road.

You know, I did view the website for the gorge and now I understand what the hours/admission means. I didn't "get" the 7-8 AM and before closing, duh....

Can you guys answer any of my other questions, most specifically the driving time from the airport/hotel to the manitou/garden areas?

Hi scluvsrain -

I'm from Colorado Springs - don't live there anymore, but visit often. I'd estimate that the drive from the airport to Garden of the Gods would take about 30-40 minutes, depending on traffic and time of day. No need to stay near the airport - not much of interest out that way. You might consider changing to a hotel on the west side, which is closer to most of what tourists usually want to see.

The drive from I-25 (which is considerably west of the airport) to Cripple Creek will take you close to an hour. It's an old mining town that's been turned into a gaming town (casinos). They used to have a melodrama at the Imperial Hotel, but not sure if they still do.

The drive to Cripple Creek is pretty, especially when the leaves are changing. IMO the town itself isn't all that interesting, but I'm a bit jaded.

You might want to check out this site:

http://www.cripple-creek.co.us/

In 2000 we ended our tour in Manitou Springs before taking the return plane to Belgium from Denver. Manitou Springs is very good situated for all the excursions in the vicinity/ Garden of the Gods-Pikes peak- Cripple creek and Victor-Florissant fossil beds nat. mon.Paul

You will have a great time. The only problem I see with Colorado Springs is Rt. 25. IT IS THE MOST HORRIBLE ROAD I HAVE EVER BEEN ON OR SEEN!!! It runs right through the Springs, and they have been working on it for at least NINE years and are nowhere near completed. It is an absolute DISGRACE!!

This shouldn't apply to you, since you are visiting in late September, but to all of those who may find this thread later: A few years back, I was stranded in Colorado Springs in a blizzard in MID-OCTOBER!!! The previous days it was in the low 70s; that morning it was about 50 degrees - then, a blizzard. Incredible!

I did the train 2 years ago, and then the drive last week. They are both worthwhile. The train is certainly more relaxing and if you have young kids it's a better choice. The drive is a little hairy at points. The only real problem is whether you have any issue with being behind very slow drivers, or in front of fast drivers who will constantly pass you. If this bothers you, consider the train (especially if you enjoy learning about unique engineering).

Do G of G. I too didn't find RG all that spectacular. Not worth the drive and not worth paying for.
Driving the Peak enables the unbelievable in u. There's plenty of pulloff places to marvel the views. The RR doesn't give you all that.
Take your time desending and allow time for hot-brake time. Your hubs will get checked.

For Royal Gorge Bridge, you do still have to pay to walk or drive across even between 7 am - 8 am and half hour before closing. Their website is a little misleading in this regard, it is not free. They still charge $11 per person during this time frame. We were just there in June and arrived before 8 am. We didn't want to pay the $11 per person to just drive across. There is a small parking area just before you enter the park. Park here and walk down the trail a few feet and you are able to look and take pictures for FREE. That is what we did.

Thanks for the info. I think we will skip the RG Bridge. As for the hotel by the airport, we got a great deal for a suite at the Radisson including breakfast and drink coupons (at night) for under $90 a night. I can't seem to find another place closer to Manitou Springs as nice or a better deal. I guess we could put up with some traffic. We're pretty good at amusing ourselves in the car. As for driving up Pikes Peak versus the train, well, I've driven successfully in Ireland and am used to winding canyon roads in California, so maybe the drive might be better. At least I know I have good options.

I live in Colorado Springs so I'll give you my 2 cents:


1. I agree with what others have said. If you drive during non-rush hour times, you will be just fine. You have a view of Pikes Peak in the distance the whole time so it won't be an unpleasant drive.

2. You can still walk across the bridge. I prefer to do this and not drive and just take pictures. I enjoy this site. You'll like it if you like places like the Grand Canyon and if you're not afraid of heights.

3. I agree with what someone said about this as well. It's a pretty long drive. If you only have 3 days here, I wouldn't spend a day going there. Mainly, it's a street with casinos and buffets and then some cool old houses to look at if you drive around the city.

4. If you do make the drive to the top, it's 19 miles each direction, but takes at least an hour each way. I imagine you'll have a rental car. Never take a car up there if you like the paint job and care about it. It gets a lot of dust in the engine. There are no guard rails. It's not scary for a Colorado resident but if you're not used to curvy mountain drives it can take a lot of concentration. Very little of it is paved. It's mainly gravel. Make sure you use 1st gear on the descent, not only your brakes. Also, even if it's 80F in Colorado Springs that day, bring a warm sweater or jacket. It can be about 20 or 30F at the top. There's a great view up there, of course. A gift shop and you can get some food. But I like to pack a small lunch before I go up.

5. I haven't been able to find hot springs either in CS or Manitou. The stories I've heard were that they are not well maintained, sanitary, etc, so they're not open to the public. The closest hot springs I know of are in a city called Idaho Springs which is West of Denver, and probably a 2 hour drive from Colorado Springs.

The distances you are talking about (CS Airport to MSprings) just arent' that great and though I haven't been a driver in CS for a couple of years, I doubt it's changed all that much. It's nowhere near as much of a hassle as a major city (Chicago, for instance).

Your deal sounds like a good one and the airport to stuff in CS central might be 20 minutes (?) and to GG and MS (40 or a little more?) Plus, you've lovely sky and scenery all around. Enjoy!

My most recent recollection of the drive to Cripple Creek (a trip I really loved for the wonderful pull-out view of the Rockies - a very-needed fix for a flatlander), was of the rather narrow climbing road one had to share with the great big tour buses. So be prepared to suck it in and hug the shoulder!

(And when CS gets those October 'blizzards' - one of which knocked sideways the cremation/family ceremony plans for my Dad's remains - isn't the local line that "it always melts right by the next day"??)

Yep, thanks to all the sunshine in CO, snow usually disappears in a hurry - sometimes the same day! If you don't like the weather, wait 5 minutes, and it will probably change.

This site provides some good info on CS:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colorado_Springs,_Colorado

From what I understand the mineral springs in CS were all covered long ago. Can't find an explantion of why though.

Efforts are underway in Manitou Springs to restore the springs in Manitou and a few are open to the public, but so far they only can only be drunk from not soaked in. This site provides more info:

http://www.manitousprings.org/About/MineralSprings.htm

There are hot springs in several areas of CO as mentioned above (Glenwood Springs is another place) but none near CS that I'm aware of.