North Cheyenne Cañon Park
On our drive into Colorado Springs we stopped at North Cheyenne Cañon Park. The park is cut 1,000-feet deep into a 1.5-billion-year-old granite rock. We started at the farthest point – Helen Hunt Falls – and made our way back to the entrance. You can view the falls from the base by the parking lot or take a short walk to the bridge which goes over the falls.
The waterfall wasn’t overly strong that day but was still charming. We were excited to see our first hint of fall colors in the park since the leaves back home hadn’t changed yet.
Cave of the Winds
On our first full day in Colorado Springs we started with Cave of the Winds Mountain Park, an adventure park in nearby Manitou Springs. While there, we completed a cave tour and the Bat-A-Pult zip line. They were both fun! All the outdoor adventure activities are tested in the morning when they open so we started with the cave tour and then came back for the Bat-A-Pult.
Discovery Cave Tour
2018 Price: $21 per person
Pioneer Package (for Bat-A-Pult)
2018 Price: $30 per person
Discovery Cave Tour
The Discovery Cave Tour was approx. 45 minutes and covered the history of the cave and the geological formations. Cave of the Winds was discovered in 1880 and has had guided tours since 1881. The cave is lit by electrical lighting throughout.
There is a ladder hanging from the original tour exit. It’s not the original ladder – which burned down due to visitors using candles while they climbed out. The black marks on the wall are from people putting out their candles before climbing.
At one point, the guide cut off the lights and had us stand in absolute darkness to show what it is like. She said that your eyes would never adjust to the dark.
Near the end, there is a line from the poem Titan of Chasms. George Jeffries donated money to continue excavating the cave beyond the original tour. He only requested that his name be mentioned on every tour and that a line from his favorite poem be placed in the cave.
Bat-A-Pult
I had never done any kind of zip line, so the short Bat-A-Pult was a good way to conquer that fear. The line covers a 1,200-foot round trip flight across Williams Canyon. You sit in a double chair with another person and there are seat belts. Now I feel like I can try another zip line when the opportunity arises.
Garden of the Gods
After Cave of the Winds, we decided to walk through the Garden of the Gods. Admission into the park and visitor center is free. This park is full of 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations caused by an upheaval millions of years ago in a natural fault line in the area. The main 1-mile trail is paved and an easy walk through the stunning structures.
We ate twice at Saltgrass Steakhouse which was near the hotel. While more expensive than other restaurants throughout the trip, it was very good. A family friend who moved to Colorado was kind enough to drive down for dinner with us.
Baymont Colorado Springs
2018 Price: $267 for three nights
There was some bad weather for the remaining days of our trip – rain and snow. It was a good opportunity to relax after so many days of hiking and driving. We slept in and went to a movie. From there we flew home from Colorado Springs via Dallas.