Things to Do on a Budget This Summer in Colorado Springs

May 25, 2023

Nestled high in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado Springs is an enticing summer destination with its mix of city living and sublime natural scenery.

With abundant sunshine and deep blue skies, the beautiful city attracts large numbers of visitors during the summer months. While many come to enjoy the area’s array of incredible natural attractions, there’s also plenty to see and do in the city itself at this time of year. If you’re coming to Colorado Springs this summer and would like to pack your itinerary with some great sites and activities to enjoy that fit into your budget, we’ve picked out 10 affordable summer highlights.

Garden of the Gods

Among the glut of majestic natural scenery in and around Colorado Springs, the Garden of the Gods represent not only some of the most visually arresting but also, arguably, the most sacred. Down the ages, several tribes were known to travel the vast public park, lending the area a deep reverence that endures to this day.

Nowadays, most visitors come here to enjoy the magnificent surroundings while partaking in energetic activities such as climbing, hiking, cycling and even horseback riding, being sure to stop at regular intervals and take snaps of the park’s stunning red rock formations that adorn so many postcards.

Rocky Mountain State Games

Colorado’s largest multi-sport festival for athletes of all ages and athletic abilities, the Rocky Mountain State Games are held over two action-packed weekends each July. Olympic-style events including figure skating, Taekwondo, swimming, tennis and lacrosse take place at several venues across the Pikes Peak region.

Spectators can watch from the sidelines for a daily admission fee, or those who want to really get involved can register to participate in events of their choosing, for prices starting at $15 (plus $40 for registration).

Venues: Across Pikes Peak / When: Each July

May Natural History Museum

Located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in-between Colorado Springs and Canon City, the May Natural History Museum houses one of the largest private displays of tropical bugs anywhere in the world and is the perfect family attraction for those keen to escape the area’s summer heat.

Everything from giant tropical insects, squishy beetles and gigantic spiders to colourful butterflies, moths and deadly scorpions can be found here, making it a hugely fun place for bug enthusiasts, scientists and anybody wanting to explore the creepy and crawly.

Admission: $12 for adults / $9 for kids

Pikes Peak Cog Railway

Pikes Peak, known as America’s Mountain, is the star attraction, but the journey along the way is full of show-stopping moments on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, which lays claim to being the world’s highest cog railroad.

While not the cheapest experience on this list, embarking on the 3.5-hour round-trip adventure is nothing short of retracing the footsteps of history, combining stunning scenery with an evocative taste of the region’s industrial past.

Price: $58 for adults / $48 for children

“Eiko Otake: I Invited Myself, vol. II” Exhibition

After growing up in post-World War II Japan, artist Eiko Otake studied dance and performance in Europe before moving to New York in 1976. For more than four decades she was part of a collaborative that created performance, choreography, visual design, sound, videos and texts.

Since 2014, Otake has worked as a soloist, directing her own projects in collaboration with other artists. This exhibition foregrounds the artist’s video and media, which have developed alongside her dance, choreography and performance installations.

It presents new and recent media that feature a body as it moves in and through various spaces, including the urban infrastructure of Tokyo and New York and the vast landscapes of Wyoming and California.

Admission: $10 (Kids under 12 free)

ArtWalks in Old Colorado City

From April through December, the historic Colorado Springs neighbourhood of Old Colorado City hosts a popular Art Walk. On the first Friday evening of each month, art enthusiasts can enjoy self-guided tours of the district’s huge array of art galleries and open artist studios.

Visitors can also purchase art pieces they encounter along the way.

Admission: Free

Broadmoor Seven Falls

Set in a natural box canyon, the Broadmoor Seven Falls is a series of seven cascading waterfalls and is perhaps at its most visually stunning when set against the glistening summer sunshine.

Visitors can view the scenic wonder from either the top of a 224-step staircase or from the Eagle’s Nest viewing platform, which can be accessed via elevator. During summer evenings, the falls stay open until 10:30pm and are illuminated by colourful lighting.

Admission: Free

“Pioneering the Field: Women in Mining” Exhibition

Situated on the growing north side of Colorado Springs, just across from the US Air Force Academy, the Western Museum of Mining and Industry preserves the rich mining history of Colorado and the American West.

This special exhibition recognises the influential women who have made positive changes in the field of mining over the decades, highlighting their stories, challenges and successes.

Admission: $12

Pikes Peak Pride

Pikes Peak Pride is a community event expected to gather thousands of visitors from across the state into downtown Colorado Springs each June.

The event features two full days of vendor booths, food trucks, drinks lounges and high-energy entertainment, including a colourful parade. It celebrates the achievements and diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities in southern Colorado.

Admission: Free

Palmer Park

Sprawling over 692 acres in the northern suburbs of Colorado Springs, Palmer Park is officially a municipal park but feels more like a wilderness preserve.

The vast area features 25 miles of trails for mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. There are also baseball fields, volleyball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds and picnic grounds with spectacular views of the city and surrounding mountains.

Admission: Free

U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum

Through a wide range of interactive exhibits and displays, the museum celebrates the long and illustrious history of the Olympic Games.

Among its most popular areas is the Summer Games gallery, which features historically significant artefacts from iconic athletes and competitions.

Admission: $19.95 adults / $11.95 children

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

Located just west of Colorado Springs, the mysteries of these underground caverns date back to 1881 when they were first discovered by explorers.

Today visitors can join daily tours through spectacular cave formations including stalactites and stalagmites. Above ground there are also adventure attractions including zip lines and climbing experiences.

Open: Mon–Sun 10am–5pm

By Paul Joseph