Adventure and natural beauty await when staying at IHG® Army Hotels on Fort Carson. Situated at the base of the breathtaking Cheyenne Mountain State Park and just minutes from downtown Colorado Springs, there are endless options to explore the area.
Feeling brave? Try hiking, rafting, rock climbing or off-roading. Want to soak in the surrounding natural beauty? Put Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods and Broadmoor Seven Falls on your list. Visiting with the whole family? Experience the Olympic and Paralympic Museum and Training Center or explore one of the largest collections of dinosaur resources.
There’s something for everyone in Colorado Springs. To give you a place to start your adventure, we’ve pulled together some of our favorite area attractions.
Garden of the Gods
Immediately gain an appreciation for what Colorado Springs has to offer when visiting the Garden of the Gods Natural National Landmark.
This 480-acre public park features views of the 300-foot sandstone rock formations against the backdrop of Pikes Peak. Visitors can learn about geology and ecology that make this area particularly unique.
Inside the Visitor and Nature Center, learn more about the formation of Garden of the Gods, featuring the plants and animals that have called the area home through the years. This includes “Theio,” a new dinosaur discovered here!
Outside, take in the natural beauty with a hike, bike ride, or a horseback riding tour. You can also enjoy the view from above by scaling the rocks during a climbing excursion.
Pikes Peak
If you started your adventure at Garden of the Gods, you may have viewed the equally impressive snow-capped Pikes Peak nearby. Defining the skyline at 14,115 feet, it’s a sight to behold—and to ascend.
What’s the best way to the top? That depends on the experience you want. You can drive your own car through the twists and turns, relax on a guided tour or take a scenic ride on the train in about 3 to 4 hours.
Or to truly appreciate the crisp mountain air and the beauty surrounding you, try a more challenging method by biking or hiking Pikes Peak. For a bike tour, a guide will drive you to the top, then show you how to safely sail down the mountain with the wind in your hair. To hike, be prepared for a journey of 13.5 miles with an elevation of 7,400 feet. This will take a full day and lots of advanced planning!
However you choose to get to the top, take in the magnificent view and enjoy a fresh, hot donut at the Summit Visitor Center.
(And don’t forget to make reservations for your trip ahead of time!)
Olympic and Paralympic Training Center and Museum
Have you ever wondered how it feels to train like an Olympian? The country’s most talented athletes prepare for their moment on the world stage in Colorado Springs at the Olympic and Paralympic Training Center—and you can take a tour.
Start with a video about the facility, then enjoy a guided tour of the complex. Don’t forget to stop at the Team USA shop before you leave!
Then, head to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum to immerse yourself in more than 100 years of Olympic history. Check out the Hall of Fame, learn about the history of the games, train like an athlete, experience how it feels to walk through the Parade of Nations and maybe even meet an Olympian.
Broadmoor Seven Falls
The beauty of Broadmoor Seven Falls has attracted visitors since the late 1800s. Whether from the bottom or the top, during daylight or by illumination at night, these seven cascading falls are a sight to behold.
Plan about 2 to 3 hours to hike the trails, explore the falls, grab something to eat and check out the gift shop. Visitors can choose to hike two trails: the one-mile Inspiration Point Trail, or the shorter Midnight Falls Trail.
You can marvel at the falls’ majesty by taking the 224-step staircase, or from the Eagle’s Nest Viewing Platform.
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
In the late 1800s, Zalmon Simmons—founder of Simmons Beautyrest Mattress Company—took an arduous two-day journey by donkey to the top of Pikes Peak. Though long and challenging, the trip was full of natural beauty and wildlife, with a rewarding view from the summit. Simmons decided this experience should be more accessible and comfortable to a greater number of visitors, so he established the Broadmoor Manitou and Pike's Peak Railway Company.
Today, you can enjoy a leisurely trip on the recently renovated track and in the refurbished Swiss cog rail cars, getting unique views of Pike National Forest.
Dinosaur Resource Center
Larger than life, dinosaurs seem to pique almost everyone’s interest. Just outside of Colorado Springs in Woodland Park is the country’s No. 2 rated dinosaur museum, the Dinosaur Resource Center. View a vast variety of fossils from the Cretaceous Period—including one of the largest from a Tylosaurus ever discovered. Then experience graphic representations that bring these animals and their environment back to life.
Check out the working fossil lab, learn more from trained staff and enjoy several hands-on activities. Traveling exhibits feature marine life from the Late Cretaceous Period and examples of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
However you choose to explore Colorado Springs, you can return to the IHG Army Hotels Candlewood Suites Building 7306 knowing you’ll receive outstanding service. Our staff is happy to provide comfort and amenities that meet your needs. We hope you get the most out of your visit to Colorado Springs and enjoy your stay on Fort Carson!
