Locations near Colorado Springs

[rgs]

My oldest daughter has just moved to Colorado Springs. I'm looking for interesting locations within about hour or two from Colorado Springs. West and probably north. Thanks for any suggestions.

[wolfnowl]

Russ would probably be the best person to answer that.  There's Garden of the Gods in Manitou Springs, Cave of the Winds, Bridal Veil Falls and Pike's Peak.  That should get you started anyway, but it's been nearly twenty years since I was down that way.

Mike.

[rgs]

Thanks for those suggestions. I know those places well and will probably visit them. But I'm looking for suggestions farther away from town that may not be well know to visitors but that locals would be aware of. I'm planning another visit to Rocky Mountain Park also.  May be some road to RMP that is not the usual route through Boulder and Estes Park.

[pwatkins]

A slower and more interesting route to Rocky Mtn NP would be to take the Virginia Canyon Road from Idaho Springs to Central City/Blackhawk, then the Peak to Peak Hwy (SRs 119 & 72) through Rollinsville and Nederland.

--Paul

[kgelner]

My oldest daughter has just moved to Colorado Springs. I'm looking for interesting locations within about hour or two from Colorado Springs. West and probably north. Thanks for any suggestions.

To my mind the more interesting bits are west, but south.  The Great Sand Dunes National Park is just 2.5 hours from Colorado Springs, and is a fantastic place to see.  The southern mountain ranges of Colorado are also really interesting but generally further out.

Florissant Fossil beds national monument may also be worth a visit, it's less than an hour away.  Just wandering around some of the back roads out there and to the south may find some interesting places.

[OldSchoolPentax]

I like Mueller State park

[OldSchoolPentax]

The area around Westcliffe is also beautiful.

[rgs]

Thanks for all of these suggestions. That's what I'm looking for. The kind of thing a resident might know about but a visitor might miss.

[Craig Lamson]

A slower and more interesting route to Rocky Mtn NP would be to take the Virginia Canyon Road from Idaho Springs to Central City/Blackhawk, then the Peak to Peak Hwy (SRs 119 & 72) through Rollinsville and Nederland.

--Paul

+1 a great drive

[Josh Trefethen]

When do you plan to visit?  Time of year may dictate some recommendations.  I live in Evergreen, CO in the foothills west of Denver.  Between here and CO Springs, there is a ton to see and photograph of course.  I'd look at exploring some back roads of off highway 285...especially in the fall.  Kenosha Pass is remarkable, as is Guanella Pass.  Drive the road above Idaho Springs....do Mt Evans...so much to see.

[rgs]

When do you plan to visit?  Time of year may dictate some recommendations.  I live in Evergreen, CO in the foothills west of Denver.  Between here and CO Springs, there is a ton to see and photograph of course.  I'd look at exploring some back roads of off highway 285...especially in the fall.  Kenosha Pass is remarkable, as is Guanella Pass.  Drive the road above Idaho Springs....do Mt Evans...so much to see.

We may go in mid to late March but more likely in the summer. My wife is afraid of winter. I used to live in Fairbanks so winter doesn't bother me at all.