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Hotel Class: 
2 Stars - 39 Opinions
8280 State Highway 83, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920-1542, United States
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of people enjoy staying here
39 Opinions
The Western Museum of Mining and Industry
Location of the town
Brochure of the mountain
Academy Riding Stables, Main Barn
We have 5 days to travel from Durango to Denver in mid June. We would like to take some mountain hikes (less than 1-2 hours round trip) to see waterfalls. Where would be the best places to do this? Do Durango and Colorado Springs have mountain trails, or should be go on up to Rocky Mountain National Park ? Are the mountains more impressive in the park than in Durango and Colorado Springs?
If you want to see waterfalls in hikes of less than two hours, then I recommend
-- paying for entrance to the Seven Waterfalls park in Colorado Springs. A bit artificial (particularly the lighting at night), but still has good views.
-- the hike in RMNP from the Bear Lake Trailhead up to Alberta Falls.
www.nps.gov/romo/planyourvisit/upload/Bear%20Lake%20Summer%208x14%202008.pdf
Also, I've enjoyed several trips to Colorado Springs over the decades, but the mountains in RMNP are more impressive than almost anywhere else.
There is a nice hike up to Hanging lake from Glenwood Springs that I think would fit your parameters. You could raft from here also and there is a beautiful bike path.
Consider spending some time in Mesa Verde Ntl. Park, which is close to Durango. Its a fascinating place with lots of walking possibilities.
You have plenty of time to try this itinerary: Highway 550 from Durango to Montrose, 50 from Montrose to Gunnison to Poncha Springs, 24 from Poncha Springs to Buena Vista(excellent rafting) to the Twin Lakes area, 82 to Aspen to Glenwood Springs, Interstate 70 to Denver. There are countless oppurtunities for streamside hiking along this entire route.
Colorado Springs is gorgeous, but RMNP has more impressive mountains. What makes the Springs really pretty is Garden of the Gods (more big rocks than mountains) and Pike's Peak.
You may also want to look into Black Canyon of the Gunnison, which is on the way from Durango to the Springs and just a bit off the road. Gorgeous and very isolated as it doesn't tend to receive the number of visitor numbers that RMNP does.
US 550 up from Durango ("the Million-Dollar Highway") is very impressive, although a bit scary if you don't like sheer cliffs.
I can't think of any really impressive waterfalls on that route. There's a smaller one outside Boulder and Seven Falls in Co Springs.
The nature in Colorado is jaw-dropping! l ived in Colorado Springs for a short while. I loved every minute of it. I loved waking up every morning, opening my curtains and seeing the mountains in the distance. Hiking around in the mountains!
A park of sandstone hogback formations. The hogbacks are ridges of sandstone which layers instead of lying horizontally are even vertically oriented. And don’t think the human hand touched those stones, all of them are created by nature, and this is why they look so amazingly.
The park was given to the city of Colorado Springs in 1909 by the children of railroad magnate Charles Elliot Perkins, in fulfillment of his wish that it be kept forever open and free to the public. As a result, this amazing park can be enjoyed free of charge.
Park Hours:
November 1 - April 30: 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.
May 1 - October 31: 5 a.m. - 11 p.m.
About the Garden of the Gods
One of my favorite afternoons in Colorado was spent with my family driving "the back way" to Cripple Creek. The back way is called Gold Camp Road, and it has some great scenery. From the start, you will see wonderful views of Colorado Springs. As you go up in elevation and get away from the town, you will see deer and possibly elk...we also saw turkeys during our drive. Later you will drive along roads with sheer drop offs and no guardrails--not for the faint of heart! You will also pass through an old tunnel carved through the rock. At the other end, you will end up in Victor, Colorado; a great spot to grab a beer!
To get to Gold Camp Road: go toward Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (behind the Broadmoor), then take Old Stage Road... after a few miles, turn onto Gold Camp Road. The trip takes 2-3 hours and the road is closed during much of the year due to snow.... Even in May, parts of the road were iced covered, causing us to consider turning around.
The road almost turns to dirt when you arrive at the trailhead for section 16, Bear Creek. This is a good trail, with great views of the city. I biked it, of course, and I must say that it does a lot of 'up' and little flat. Of course, going back it's all downhill. But it is steep, rocky in parts. A good trail had I the energy for it. Recommended. Garden of the Gods is visible in this photo.
This restaurant is owned by a family who moved from Germany to Colorado for many years. Their dishes taste greatly, like made at home. Located in a quiet place and has 2-3 rooms that don't look very fancy, but I think we go to a restaurant for food, don't we?
It does not work all day around, just lunch and dinner time. Also sometimes can be closed for a month or more, because family goes back to Germany to visit their relatives. However, if you get lucky to try their food, you will like it.
Open hours M-Sa 11a-2p; 5:30p-8:30p Schnitzel, Sauerbraten, goulash, and apple pie
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Address: 8280 State Highway 83, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80920-1542, United States
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