Things to Do in Manitou Springs: A Local’s Guide (2026)

If you are looking for the best things to do in Manitou Springs, you have picked one of my favorite corners of the Pikes Peak region. It sits about six miles west of Colorado Springs, tucked right up against the mountains, and it has a personality all its own: old storefronts, free mineral-spring fountains bubbling out of the sidewalk, artists, and a train that will carry you to the top of a fourteen-thousand-foot peak. I have lived in this area for a long time, and I still send every out-of-town guest to Manitou. Here is my honest, local take on what is genuinely worth your time, what to skip, and how to fit it into a day without fighting the crowds.

The quick version: how to spend a day in Manitou Springs

If you only have one day, this is the rhythm I would follow. Ride the Cog Railway in the morning while your legs are fresh and the summit weather is calmest, come back down and walk the mineral springs loop through town, grab lunch on the main street, and spend the afternoon poking through the shops or heading a couple minutes up the road to Cave of the Winds. If you have kids, swap in the Penny Arcade after lunch. That single day hits the best of Manitou without ever feeling rushed.

Ride the Pikes Peak Cog Railway (my personal favorite)

This is the one I tell everyone to do first. I will be honest with you: I lived here for twenty years and never rode the Cog Railway until a friend visited from out of town. I am glad we finally did, and now it is the thing I recommend more than anything else in Manitou.

What I loved most is how easy it is. You catch it right out of Manitou Springs (the depot is on Ruxton Avenue), you sit back, and the train climbs a surprisingly steep grade all the way to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak in about an hour. It stops at the top for roughly an hour, which is plenty of time to look around and catch your breath in the thin air, and then it carries you back down. The whole round trip runs about three hours.

Is it worth the price? Yes. I will not tell you it is better than driving the Pikes Peak Highway, because that drive is amazing in its own right, with pull-off views the whole way up. The train is just a different experience. It is a historic old railway with a story of its own, and you do not have to do any of the driving. Two honest tips: parking near the depot gets tight in busy season, so arrive early, and the train runs year-round, even in the deep snow of mid-winter. I still want to do the winter ride myself someday. Book ahead on the official Cog Railway site, because trains sell out, and if you want the full breakdown of the train versus driving, read our Pikes Peak Cog Railway guide.

Drink from the free mineral springs (and yes, they are cold)

Manitou got its name from these springs, and tasting them is free, self-guided, and genuinely fun. Naturally carbonated water bubbles up at fountains scattered through town, each one a little different in mineral content and fizz. Bring a reusable bottle and make a walking loop of it. Cheyenne Spring and Shoshone Spring are two of the well-known stops, and you can pick up a springs map at the visitor center or just follow the plaques.

One honest clarification, because people ask me this constantly: Manitou does not have hot springs. These are cold, carbonated mineral springs you sip, not warm soaking pools. If a hot soak is what you are after, that is a different trip. I break down your real options in our guide to the best hot springs near Colorado Springs. In Manitou itself, think tasting tour, not spa day.

Explore Cave of the Winds

Just up the road from downtown Manitou, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is one of the area’s classic stops, and it works for a wide range of people. The guided cave tours are the heart of it, walking you through cavern passages and formations that took a very long time to form. For families and thrill-seekers, the park also has a cliff-side ropes course, zip lines, and a canyon swing perched right over Williams Canyon. If you have teenagers who groan at the idea of a cave tour, the aerial stuff usually wins them over. Weather can shift plans on the outdoor rides, so check current hours and tour times on their official site before you drive up.

Play the Penny Arcade

The Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is a slice of old-fashioned fun right in the middle of town, and it is free to walk in. You bring the quarters (and yes, a few machines still take pennies), and you can burn a happy hour on vintage games mixed in with newer ones. It is one of those places that is genuinely charming for adults and kids alike, and it pairs perfectly with a mineral-springs stroll. We wrote a whole deep-dive on it, including hours, parking, and which games are worth your coins, in our Penny Arcade and mineral springs day-trip guide.

Hike the Manitou Incline (if you are up for it)

The Incline is the big challenge everyone talks about: roughly 2,744 steps built into old railroad ties that climb straight up the mountainside, gaining around two thousand feet in less than a mile. It is brutal and it is beautiful, and it is not for everyone. If you decide to take it on, two things matter. First, you need a free timed reservation to hike it, so grab one in advance rather than showing up and hoping. Second, start early, before eight in the morning, to beat both the crowds and the heat. Most people come down the gentler Barr Trail rather than reversing the steps. If a two-thousand-foot stair climb at altitude is not your idea of a vacation, that is completely fine, plenty of Manitou’s best moments happen at street level.

See the Manitou Cliff Dwellings and Miramont Castle

For history, two spots stand out. The Manitou Cliff Dwellings let you walk right up to and through Ancestral Puebloan-style stone structures, with an on-site museum that fills in the story. It is an easy, kid-friendly stop that does not eat much of your day. Miramont Castle is the other one, a genuinely unusual 1895 mansion with a mash-up of architectural styles, forty-plus rooms, and a tea room. If you like old buildings with character, it is worth an hour, and the tea room makes a nice pause.

Wander the shops and art galleries

Manitou’s main drag is made for walking, and the shopping here is the good kind: local, quirky, and hands-made rather than mall chains. The Commonwheel Artists Co-op is a longtime favorite for original work from area artists, and Ruxton’s Trading Post is a fun browse. First Friday art walks bring the galleries to life if your visit lands at the start of a month. Give yourself an unhurried hour or two to drift in and out of the storefronts. This is where Manitou’s personality really shows.

Where to eat in Manitou Springs

You will not go hungry. Adam’s Mountain Cafe is a reliable farm-to-table sit-down, Manitou Brewing Company is the spot for craft beer and a solid meal, and there are good coffee shops and casual bites all along the main street for when you just need to refuel between stops. Ice cream and fudge shops are easy to find when the kids need a bribe. If you want a wider set of picks around the whole region, browse our roundup of the best restaurants in Colorado Springs.

Parking and getting around

Here is the practical truth about Manitou: parking is the one thing that trips visitors up. The town is small, old, and popular, so lots fill fast on summer weekends. The easiest move is to park once at the Hiawatha Gardens lot on the east end and ride the free shuttle that connects the parking areas with the main attractions. Then you can walk the whole town and never move your car again. Wear comfortable shoes, bring layers because mountain weather turns quickly, and carry water, especially if the Incline or the summit is on your list.

Time your visit right

Spring and fall are my favorite windows: mild weather, lighter crowds, and easier parking. Summer is beautiful but busy, so lean on the shuttle and get an early start. If you are here in October, the Emma Crawford Coffin Races are a genuinely fun, only-in-Manitou tradition worth planning around. Winter is quiet and has its own charm, and remember the Cog Railway keeps running straight through it.

Make it a bigger day trip

Manitou pairs naturally with the rest of the Pikes Peak region. Garden of the Gods is just minutes away, and you can easily combine the two in one outing. If you want to stretch it into a full day or weekend of exploring beyond town, we mapped out the best options in our guide to day trips from Colorado Springs and our broader local’s guide to things to do in Colorado Springs.

Frequently asked questions about Manitou Springs

What are the best things to do in Manitou Springs?

The standouts are riding the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit, tasting the free mineral springs around town, touring Cave of the Winds, playing the Penny Arcade, and, for the very fit, hiking the Manitou Incline. Add in the shops, galleries, and casual dining and you have a full, easy day.

Does Manitou Springs have hot springs?

No. Manitou has free, naturally carbonated cold mineral springs that you sip, not warm soaking pools. For actual hot soaking, you need to look elsewhere in the region.

Is Manitou Springs worth visiting?

Yes. It packs a train to a fourteen-thousand-foot peak, free spring water, a historic arcade, caves, hiking, and a walkable downtown of local shops into a small, easy-to-navigate town. It is one of the best day trips in the Colorado Springs area.

How long should you spend in Manitou Springs?

A full day is ideal if you want to ride the Cog Railway and still explore town. If you are skipping the train, a relaxed half-day covers the springs, the arcade, the shops, and lunch comfortably.

Is there free parking in Manitou Springs?

Parking is limited and mostly paid, and it fills quickly in peak season. The simplest approach is to park at the Hiawatha Gardens lot and use the free shuttle that links the lots with the main attractions, so you only park once.

How many steps is the Manitou Incline?

Roughly 2,744 steps from bottom to top, gaining about two thousand feet in under a mile. The exact count shifts a little with trail maintenance, and a free timed reservation is required to hike it.

Author: Dominic