Local Guide
The first things to know about Colorado Springs.
A quick read before you go deeper. Everyday life, eating out, staying social, and the planning piece worth watching. Each one links to a source.
Everyday life
Garden of the Gods, free and open early
Having a world-famous landmark you can walk for free, any morning you like, is a real perk of living here.
Source: Garden of the Gods
Eating out and guests
Pork green chile is the local dish to chase
Trying a few versions around town is an easy, low-cost way to feel like a local instead of a tourist.
Source: Colorado Springs green chile (VisitCOS)
Staying social
Monument Valley Park, 15 dedicated courts downtown
Fifteen courts in one spot means you can usually find a game and meet other players without much waiting.
Source: Monument Valley Park Pickleball Courts
Worth watching
Sunny days, real winters, and snow to plan around
Planning for snow tires, a clear driveway, and a slower first month at altitude saves you a rough start.
Source: City of Colorado Springs
Move tools
Thinking about moving to Colorado Springs? Run the rough math first.
Use these quick checks to test Colorado Springs as a retirement move. They are not the full map; they help you decide what deserves a deeper look.
Tax and Medicare
Check the Colorado Springs income picture.
Estimate how Colorado treats Social Security, pension income, IRA/401(k) withdrawals, city income tax, and Medicare premium tiers before you build the full journey.
Social Security
Check thresholds
Pension
Check exemptions
IRA / 401(k)
Generally taxed
Mortgage
Test the payment or refi
Compare a current mortgage against a new rate, closing costs, and break-even timing.
Open mortgage checkWeather fit
Four-season planning
Colorado Springs has real seasonal variety, so winter driving, indoor routines, and visitors need a closer check.
Avg
51°
Sun
240
Rain
86
Snow
42
Things to do
Things to do in Colorado Springs
Parks, trails, classes, and easy outings for an ordinary week.
Garden of the Gods
Garden of the Gods, free and open early
These towering red sandstone rocks against Pikes Peak are a free city park and a National Natural Landmark. The gates open at 5 am year round, with paved paths that are easy on the knees.
Why it matters
Having a world-famous landmark you can walk for free, any morning you like, is a real perk of living here.
Visit Colorado Springs, Things To Do
Pikes Peak, the mountain that names everything
America's Mountain rises over 14,000 feet right at the edge of town. You can drive the highway or ride the cog railway to the summit instead of hiking it.
Why it matters
It is the view you wake up to, and the drive or train makes the summit reachable even if your hiking days are behind you.
Cave of the Winds (VisitCOS)
Cave of the Winds for an easy day trip
Just west of town, this cave system offers guided walking tours through underground rooms. It is a good rainy-day or hot-afternoon option when you want to stay cool.
Why it matters
It is a short, shaded outing that grandkids love and that does not ask much of your legs.
Browse by activity
Mapped places near Colorado Springs. Tap a category to open the full list with directions.
Fishing
Boat ramps, piers, lakes, and shore access.
8 places tracked
Hiking trails
Named trails, parks, and nature reserves for a real walk.
6 places tracked
Birding
Top-rated birding hotspots from the eBird community.
206 places tracked
Camping & RV
Federal campgrounds, RV parks, dispersed sites, and horse-friendly camps.
3 places tracked
Where to eat
Where to eat
Local spots for an easy dinner or a visit from family. Rough prices included.
Colorado Springs green chile (VisitCOS)
Pork green chile is the local dish to chase
Ask anyone what Colorado Springs food is and they say green chile, the pork and roasted-pepper stew smothered over burritos and eggs. The visitor bureau keeps a running list of where to find the good stuff.
Approx. price
$
Known for
Pork green chile
Why it matters
Trying a few versions around town is an easy, low-cost way to feel like a local instead of a tourist.
The Rabbit Hole
The Rabbit Hole, a night out underground downtown
You head downstairs off Tejon Street into a dim Alice in Wonderland room and order sticky ribs, duck, or bison. It is open 4 to 10:30 pm every day right in the heart of downtown.
Approx. price
$$$
Known for
Sticky ribs
Why it matters
When the kids visit and you want one memorable dinner out, this is the spot people in the Springs name first.
Marigold Cafe & Bakery
Marigold Cafe & Bakery for French comfort food
This longtime west-side bistro pairs a real French bakery with a sit-down dining room. The French onion soup and beef bourguignon are the dishes regulars come back for.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
French onion soup
Why it matters
It is the kind of dependable, slightly dressy place that works just as well for a quiet lunch as a birthday.
Shuga's Restaurant
Shuga's and its famous Brazilian coconut soup
Shuga's is a small, artsy cafe on South Cascade where the coconut shrimp soup has a cult following. They are open late, from 11 am to midnight most days.
Approx. price
$$
Known for
Coconut shrimp soup
Why it matters
It is casual and cheap enough for a regular stop, and that soup is one of those local things everyone tells you to try.
Pickleball and rec
Pickleball in Colorado Springs
Where to play, drop in, and meet people. Court times, fees, and how busy it gets.
Monument Valley Park Pickleball Courts
Monument Valley Park, 15 dedicated courts downtown
Right along the creek downtown, Monument Valley Park has 15 dedicated outdoor hard courts. They can be reserved for tournaments, so weekends get busy.
Why it matters
Fifteen courts in one spot means you can usually find a game and meet other players without much waiting.
Bear Creek Regional Park pickleball (Gazette)
Bear Creek Regional Park on the west side
Bear Creek Regional Park offers 12 outdoor hard courts open to the public on the western side of the city. It is a relaxed, no-reservation place to drop in.
Why it matters
If you settle on the west side, this is a free, close court you can roll up to most days.
Springs Pickleball
Springs Pickleball, indoor near Garden of the Gods
This indoor club near Garden of the Gods and Fillmore has 8 courts plus a players lounge, a practice dink room, and organized open play by skill level.
Why it matters
Indoor courts mean snow and cold do not end your season, and skill-based open play makes it easy to find your level.
Peak Pickleball
Peak Pickleball, a big indoor membership club
Peak Pickleball calls itself one of the nation's largest privately owned indoor pickleball spots, with memberships at its Colorado Springs location. It is built for people who play often.
Why it matters
If pickleball is your main social outlet, a membership room like this gives you a year-round home base.
Senior help and discounts
Help and discounts for Colorado Springs seniors
Programs, classes, free city services, seasonal help, and useful local deals.
Colorado Springs Senior Center (YMCA)
Colorado Springs Senior Center for 55 and up
The city senior center, run by the Pikes Peak YMCA, is built for adults 55 and over. It offers classes, a daily meal, and social activities, and it takes SilverSneakers and Renew Active.
Why it matters
It is the easiest single place to build a routine and meet people when you are new in town.
What’s coming up
What’s coming up in Colorado Springs
Local events worth putting on the calendar. Check the host page for dates and parking before you go.
First & Main Summer Concert Series (VisitCOS)
Fridays in June and July 2026
5 to 7 p.m.
Free Friday concerts at First & Main
When
This free summer concert series runs Fridays in June and July from 5 to 7 pm in the park at First & Main Town Center. There are local vendors and family stuff alongside the live music.
Why it matters
A free standing date every Friday evening makes it an easy weekly habit with friends or neighbors.
Colorado College Summer Music Festival
June 6 to 26, 2026
Colorado College Summer Music Festival
When
For three weeks in June, visiting artists perform a chamber music season on campus. There are ticketed concerts plus several free recitals and a free children's orchestra concert.
Why it matters
If you love classical music, this is a serious, in-town season you do not have to drive to Denver for.
Colorado Springs Sunday Market (Acacia Park)
Every other Sunday, June 8 to October 26, 2026
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday farmers market in Acacia Park
When
The downtown Sunday Market sets up in Acacia Park every other Sunday from June through late October, 9 am to 2 pm. Expect produce, makers, and food stands.
Why it matters
A regular downtown market gives you fresh food and a low-key social morning all summer long.
Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off
September 5 to 7, 2026
Mass liftoff 7 to 9 a.m.
Labor Day Lift Off balloon festival turns 50
When
Dozens of hot air balloons fill the sky over Memorial Park on Labor Day weekend. Get there by 6:30 am to watch them inflate; the mass liftoff runs 7 to 9 am all three mornings.
Why it matters
It is one of the longest-running balloon festivals in the Rockies and a free, jaw-dropping morning if you do not mind the early alarm.
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
July 14 to 18, 2026
Evenings 7:30 p.m.
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo every July
When
This long-running PRCA rodeo takes over the Norris Penrose Event Center for five days. Evening shows start at 7:30 pm with Friday and Saturday matinees at 12:30 pm.
Why it matters
It is a piece of old Colorado the city still does proudly, and there is even a downtown parade to go with it.
Territory Days, Old Colorado City
May 23 to 25, 2026
10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Territory Days street fair in Old Colorado City
When
Every Memorial Day weekend the historic Old Colorado City district closes its streets for a three-day fair of food, crafts, and music. It runs 10 am to 7 pm Saturday and Sunday and 10 am to 6 pm Monday.
Why it matters
It is a friendly, walkable kickoff to summer in one of the prettiest old parts of town.
Pikes Peak Pride
June 13 to 14, 2026
Parade Sunday 10 a.m.
Pikes Peak Pride downtown in June
When
Pride weekend brings a festival and a parade to downtown Colorado Springs. The parade steps off Sunday at 10 am near Acacia Park and marches south on Tejon Street.
Why it matters
It is a lively, welcoming downtown weekend whether you are marching, watching, or just people-watching with a coffee.
Worth knowing
Worth knowing about the area
City services, neighborhood updates, seasonal notes, and the everyday details that matter.
City of Colorado Springs
Sunny days, real winters, and snow to plan around
Colorado Springs sits above 6,000 feet, so it is sunny and dry but winters bring cold snaps and snow, and the thin air can take newcomers a few weeks to adjust to. The city portal handles trash, water, and snow questions.
Why it matters
Planning for snow tires, a clear driveway, and a slower first month at altitude saves you a rough start.
City decisions
City decisions to watch
Council agendas, hearings, and public meetings that can change access, housing, services, or costs.
El Paso County Assessor
How property taxes work here
The El Paso County Assessor values your home, then mill levies from local districts turn that into your tax bill. Colorado homes are assessed at a small percent of value, and the assessor site lets you look up and estimate yours.
Why it matters
Knowing your assessed value and which districts levy on it tells you what your real yearly housing cost looks like.
Health and Medicare
Health and Medicare
Care, Medicare counseling, caregiver help, transportation, and the local senior support to line up.
Colorado SHIP Medicare counseling
Free Medicare help through Colorado SHIP
Colorado's State Health Insurance Assistance Program gives free, unbiased Medicare counseling to help you compare plans and sort out costs. You can reach the statewide line at 1-888-696-7213.
Why it matters
Having a free, no-sales-pitch counselor to call makes the yearly Medicare puzzle far less stressful.
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central
UCHealth Memorial is the main hospital
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central is a 413-bed hospital downtown and the region's main acute-care center, with a second Memorial campus on the north side. It is part of the UCHealth system.
Why it matters
Living near a large, full-service hospital matters more every year, and this is the anchor for serious care in the Springs.
Upcoming events in Colorado Springs
See all eventsOutdoors & nature
8 a.m. to noon
Gather Mountain Blooms farm · Colorado Springs, CO
Summer Garden Party at Gather Mountain Blooms
Gather Mountain Blooms farm
You can spend a morning at a flower-farm garden party cutting blooms and enjoying the fields.
Classes & arts
5 to 7 p.m.
Colorado Salt Cave · Colorado Springs, CO
The Art of Henna: A Creative Intro Workshop
Colorado Salt Cave
You can learn the basics of henna design in a hands-on creative workshop at the salt cave.
Music & concerts
7:30 PM
Pikes Peak Center · Colorado Springs, CO
Music & concerts
8 PM
Black Sheep · Colorado Springs, CO
Community & civic
1 PM
Colorado Springs area calendar (calendar.colorado.edu) · Colorado Springs, CO
Monthly Office Hours: Program Management Office
Colorado Springs area calendar (calendar.colorado.edu)
The Program Management Office (PMO) holds standard monthly office hours to support the CU Boulder research community with program and project management needs related to research and sponsored projects and programs. These open, drop‑in sessions are available to anyone on campus and are facilitated by trained PMO program and project managers with experience supporting standard to complex researc...
Community & civic
ppld · Colorado Springs, CO
Monument Library Book Group
ppld
Join us for a monthly book group that meets on third Fridays, 10:30 a.m. This month we will be reading The Elephant Whisperer by Lawrence Anthony. Book groups are open to everyone, and they are a great opportunity to discover new genres and titles, meet new people, have a good conversation, and get to know more about PPLD. All Book Groups are facilitated by PPLD Staff.
Common questions
What people ask before retiring in Colorado Springs
Short answers to the questions most people ask first. The full source trail sits in the guide above and the sources panel below.
Is Colorado Springs, CO a good place to retire?
Plenty of people do retire here, so it is a real option worth a look. What matters is whether the home costs, the health and senior support, the things to do, and the family side all fit your life. Not just how it ranks on a list somewhere.
Source: The Rabbit HoleWhat costs should you check before moving to Colorado Springs?
Price the month, not the postcard. Keep separate lines for home, property taxes, insurance, utilities, getting around, health, and everyday spending. A low-tax headline can quietly hide a high insurance bill, or the other way around.
Source: City of Colorado SpringsWhere do you find things to do in Colorado Springs?
Start with parks and rec, the local event calendar, the visitor bureau, the senior center, and the restaurants people actually go to. The real question is whether they are close enough, and happen often enough, that you would use them all year. Not just visit once.
Source: The Rabbit HoleWhat health and senior support matters in Colorado Springs?
Look at Medicare counseling, the nearby hospitals, pharmacies, ways to get around, caregiver help, and one emergency contact. These can decide whether the move works, even when the rest of life looks great on paper.
Source: Colorado Springs Senior Center (YMCA)What should your family ask before you move to Colorado Springs?
Talk through driving, airport access, local services, who to call in an emergency, care backup, home upkeep, and how often someone would be needed. The point is to see the move as a real support plan, not just a nice address.
Source: City of Colorado SpringsRetirement Life Score
A quick read on the life you would actually live.
Colorado Springs scored across eight things that decide whether a move feels good: monthly affordability, home costs, restaurants and outings, activities, parks, health and senior support, weather, and getting around. The full numbers are below.
Colorado Springs Retirement Life Score
75
Strong fit with tradeoffs / 75-84
Activities is the strongest daily-life fit. Home costs is the piece to verify before treating the move as settled.
A city looks livable and useful for many retirees, but one or two planning areas need a closer look.
Strongest fit: Activities & social calendar
Verify first: Home, taxes & insurance
Everyday affordability
Counts a lot68/100
How the ordinary monthly life could feel once taxes, insurance, fees, utilities, meals, and errands are in view.
What’s good: Lower-tax signals, visible discounts or free programs, ordinary-cost dining and errands, and practical transportation backup.
What to check: High housing pressure, insurance or storm costs, HOA or assessment friction, resort pricing, and thin cost evidence.
Price the month, not the postcard.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Garden of the Gods, free and open early · Watch: Garden of the Gods
Evidence weighed: Tax, housing, insurance, senior-service, transportation, and local deal sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Home, taxes & insurance
Counts a lot42/100
Property taxes, assessments, homeowners insurance, storm exposure, maintenance, and local housing friction.
What’s good: Clear assessor or property-appraiser sources, homestead or senior relief signals, and plain-language housing-cost context.
What to check: Coastal or wildfire exposure, insurance pressure, high home prices, amenity fees, HOA or district assessments, and missing local tax sources.
Separate the house from the lifestyle.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Sunny days, real winters, and snow to plan around · Watch: City of Colorado Springs
Evidence weighed: County assessor, property appraiser, tax collector, insurance, emergency management, and housing sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Restaurants & outings
89/100
Restaurants, coffee, arts, downtown meals, family visits, and low-friction places to go without over-planning.
What’s good: Specific restaurants, coffee shops, arts districts, downtown routines, visitor-hosting ideas, and source links that feel repeatable.
What to check: Only generic visitor copy, heavy seasonal crowds, hard parking, expensive dining signals, or no specific local outing ideas.
Look for repeatable evenings, not only famous spots.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: The Rabbit Hole, a night out underground downtown · Watch: The Rabbit Hole
Evidence weighed: Restaurant sites, tourism boards, chambers, downtown groups, event venues, and local dining guides.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Activities & social calendar
90/100
Events, clubs, classes, pickleball, senior programs, volunteer options, and the weekly social rhythm.
What’s good: Dated events, parks and rec classes, senior-center programming, clubs, pickleball options, volunteer leads, and repeatable weekly activities.
What to check: Undated or stale calendars, few senior-friendly programs, heat or traffic timing issues, and no clear way to register or show up.
Make sure the week has more than errands.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Garden of the Gods, free and open early · Watch: Garden of the Gods
Evidence weighed: City calendars, recreation departments, senior centers, libraries, clubs, parks districts, and community event pages.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Parks & outdoor life
85/100
Parks, trails, beaches, gardens, preserves, water access, golf, and everyday outdoor routines.
What’s good: Specific parks, trails, beaches, gardens, water access, golf, outdoor classes, and low-friction places to be outside often.
What to check: Extreme heat, smoke, flooding, storm seasons, winter driving, crowding, parking friction, or thin park-level detail.
Check whether outdoor life works in the season you will actually live there.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Garden of the Gods, free and open early · Watch: Garden of the Gods
Evidence weighed: Parks departments, park districts, conservancies, recreation sources, tourism sources, and trail or beach authorities.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
Health & support access
Counts a lot85/100
Medicare help, aging agencies, caregiver backup, transportation support, pharmacies, and local service depth.
What’s good: Area Agency on Aging, SHIP or SHINE counseling, senior services, caregiver support, transportation help, and credible health-resource depth.
What to check: Weak care-radius evidence, no benefits counseling source, unclear transportation backup, or hints that specialist access requires long drives.
Do not let a fun town hide a weak care radius.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Peak Pickleball, a big indoor membership club · Watch: Peak Pickleball
Evidence weighed: Area Agencies on Aging, county health and human services, senior services, Medicare counseling, transit, and hospital or clinic sources.
Weight in the total: High weight
Weather comfort
65/100
Heat, storms, flooding, smoke, winter, seasonal swings, and how much resilience planning the move demands.
What’s good: Evidence that outdoor life works in ordinary seasons, plus clear planning sources for heat, storms, winter, smoke, or emergency readiness.
What to check: Sustained heat, hurricane or flood exposure, wildfire or smoke risk, winter driving, evacuation complexity, and missing resilience sources.
Plan the hard season, not the best week.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Garden of the Gods, free and open early · Watch: Garden of the Gods · 51F annual average, 240 sunny days
Evidence weighed: Emergency management, weather-resilience, utility, health, parks, insurance, and local government sources.
Weight in the total: Core weight
Getting around & family visits
73/100
Driving, parking, airport access, golf-cart life, visitor logistics, medical trips, and family backup.
What’s good: Airport or transit access, shuttle or senior transportation, walkable routines, golf-cart usefulness, and simple family-visit logistics.
What to check: Traffic, parking scarcity, seasonal congestion, night-driving issues, long medical trips, or no car-light backup.
Test the drive on an ordinary Tuesday.
How this factor is scored
Signals checked: Colorado Springs Senior Center for 55 and up · Watch: Colorado Springs Senior Center (YMCA)
Evidence weighed: Transit agencies, airports, city transportation pages, senior services, tourism access pages, and guide items with location detail.
Weight in the total: Supporting weight
How we keep this current
Sources for Colorado Springs
A mix of city pages, community calendars, senior services, council agendas, official tourism, restaurant sites, and registration pages. Every claim above links to where it came from.
See the 26 sources behind this guideEvery claim above links to where it came from.ShowHide
community / weekly
The Rabbit Hole
Underground New American spot at 101 N Tejon downtown, open 4 to 10:30 pm daily.
community / weekly
Marigold Cafe & Bakery
Longtime French bistro and bakery, known for French onion soup and beef bourguignon.
community / weekly
Shuga's Restaurant
Quirky cafe at 702 S Cascade Ave famous for its Brazilian coconut shrimp soup.
institutional / weekly
Colorado Springs green chile (VisitCOS)
Pork green chile is the regional dish; the visitor bureau rounds up local spots to try it.
institutional / weekly
Garden of the Gods
Free city park and National Natural Landmark with red sandstone formations; open 5 am to 9 or 10 pm.
institutional / weekly
Visit Colorado Springs, Things To Do
Official attractions list including Pikes Peak, Cave of the Winds, and Seven Falls.
institutional / weekly
Cave of the Winds (VisitCOS)
Mountain cave attraction west of the city listed among top Colorado Springs sights.
official / weekly
City of Colorado Springs, Tennis & Pickleball Courts
City list of park courts including Cottonwood Creek, Foothills, and John Venezia.
institutional / weekly
Monument Valley Park Pickleball Courts
15 dedicated outdoor hard courts downtown, reservable for tournaments.
local-media / weekly
Bear Creek Regional Park pickleball (Gazette)
12 outdoor hard courts on the west side, open to the public.
community / weekly
Springs Pickleball
Indoor club near Garden of the Gods and Fillmore with 8 courts, a lounge, and open play.
community / weekly
Peak Pickleball
Large privately owned indoor pickleball facility with memberships.
institutional / weekly
Colorado Springs Senior Center (YMCA)
City senior center run by the Pikes Peak YMCA for adults 55+, with classes, meals, and SilverSneakers.
official / weekly
City of Colorado Springs Senior Center info
City page describing the 55-and-up center, activities, and meal program.
community / weekly
Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off
Hot air balloon festival at Memorial Park; 50th anniversary Sept 5 to 7, 2026, mass liftoff 7 to 9 am.
community / weekly
Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo
PRCA rodeo at Norris Penrose Event Center, July 14 to 18, 2026, evenings at 7:30 pm.
community / weekly
Territory Days, Old Colorado City
Memorial Day weekend street festival in Old Colorado City, May 23 to 25, 2026.
community / weekly
Pikes Peak Pride
Pride festival and parade downtown June 13 to 14, 2026; parade Sunday at 10 am from Acacia Park.
institutional / weekly
First & Main Summer Concert Series (VisitCOS)
Free Friday concerts in June and July, 5 to 7 pm, at First & Main Town Center.
institutional / weekly
Colorado College Summer Music Festival
42nd season June 6 to 26, 2026, with ticketed concerts plus free recitals and a children's concert.
institutional / weekly
Colorado Springs Sunday Market (Acacia Park)
Farmers market every other Sunday June 8 to Oct 26, 9 am to 2 pm, in downtown Acacia Park.
institutional / weekly
Wine Festival of Colorado Springs (VisitCOS)
34th annual wine festival, March 4 to 7, 2026.
official / weekly
City of Colorado Springs
Main city portal for trash, water, snow, and resident services.
official / weekly
El Paso County Assessor
County office that values property and posts assessment and tax info.
institutional / weekly
UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central
413-bed UCHealth hospital downtown, the main acute-care center for the region.
official / weekly
Colorado SHIP Medicare counseling
State program offering free, unbiased Medicare counseling; statewide line 1-888-696-7213.
Activities & recreation in Colorado Springs
What there is to do here, with the sources.
The things people retire for, in Colorado Springs. Each links to the full activity guide and the states that fit it.
Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services maintains several pickleball and tennis courts across the city, with schedules posted on the city website. Peak Pickleball and Springs Pickleball West both operate large private indoor facilities, with Springs Pickleball West offering eight courts near Garden of the Gods.
City of Colorado SpringsThe Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center at Colorado College presents a combination of well-regarded art exhibitions, Broadway-caliber theater, and a permanent art collection, positioning itself as the top cultural attraction of the Pikes Peak region. The Ent Center for the Arts and Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts provide additional venues for touring productions and local performances.
Colorado Springs Fine Arts CenterPikes Peak Area Agency on Aging, at 14 South Chestnut in Colorado Springs, serves adults 60 and over with information and assistance services, benefits counseling, and caregiver support Monday through Friday. The Colorado Springs Senior Center for adults 55 and up complements the AAA network with daily activities, meals, and fitness programming.
Pikes Peak Area Agency on AgingEleven Mile State Park, about 38 miles west of Colorado Springs, offers fishing for rainbow, brown, cutthroat, and kokanee salmon in a high-altitude reservoir managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Rampart Reservoir in Pike National Forest closer to the city also requires a valid Colorado fishing license, and holders of an America the Beautiful Senior Pass get discounted park entry.
Published local price
Colorado resident adult annual fishing license (ages 18-63); senior (64+) annual $12.96; youth under 16 fish free; habitat stamp ($12.76) required separately; valid March 1 through March 31 of following year
cpw.state.co.us · as of 2025-2026Garden of the Gods, a city-owned park, offers 15 miles of trails including a 1.5-mile paved accessible loop through the signature red rock formations, and is open daily from 5 a.m. with no admission fee. The park sits at the base of Pikes Peak, and the visitor center provides trail maps and natural history programming.
Published local price
Colorado state parks annual individual pass (non-vehicle entry by foot, bike, etc.); Keep Colorado Wild vehicle pass also $29/yr (included in DMV registration for CO residents); daily vehicle pass $4-$17 depending on park; senior (64+) Aspen Leaf Pass $70/yr
cpw.state.co.us · as of 2025-2026Chatfield State Park, south of Denver and accessible within an hour of Colorado Springs, is the closest Colorado Parks and Wildlife reservoir with a full-service marina offering kayak, canoe, and paddleboard rentals through Colorado Water Sports from May through September. Two boat ramps and multiple paddling access points are available with a $7 park pass.
Published local price
Colorado resident annual vessel registration: under 20 ft $36.25, 20-30 ft $46.25, 30 ft or longer $76.25 (includes $1.25 search-and-rescue surcharge, excludes $25 Aquatic Nuisance Species stamp); ANS stamp required separately
cpw.state.co.us · as of 2026Patty Jewett Golf Course, operated by the City of Colorado Springs, features both a regulation 18-hole course and a 9-hole layout with a full-service pro shop and driving range. The city's parks, recreation, and cultural services department manages the course, which dates to 1898 and is one of the oldest west of the Mississippi.
City of Colorado SpringsColorado State University Extension in El Paso County trains Master Gardener volunteers who deliver research-based gardening information and staff community education programs, including an end-of-season celebration co-hosted with the City of Colorado Springs Parks Department. The city also maintains a community gardens program with plots available to residents.
CSU Extension El Paso CountyGolf
Golf near Colorado Springs
Courses around Colorado Springs worth a round, with how to book each one.
Course profile
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,948 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Century-old tree canopy and Pikes Peak views from in town
One of the oldest public courses west of the Mississippi, right in town under a canopy of hundred-year-old trees. Weekday rates stay friendly and the Pikes Peak views never get old.
Opened 1898 · $ · Slope 124
Course profile
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 6,940 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
An easily walkable city layout with mountain views · Henry B. Hughes
A walkable city course on the southeast side, with open views and honest municipal pricing. An easy, low-pressure round when you just want to play nine or eighteen.
Opened 1954 · $ · Slope 131
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,241 yds
- Round
- ~4h
- On foot
- Walkable
Natural grasslands and creeks in play on most holes · Richard M. Phelps
A polished daily-fee course winding through the Pine Creek valley, with grasslands and creeks that keep you honest. Walk-in nine-hole times open up in the afternoons if you would rather stroll.
Opened 1988 · $$$ · Slope 145
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 8,058 yds
- Round
- ~4h
One of the nation's longest courses, with lakes and bunkers · Rick Phelps
A wide-open daily-fee course in Falcon, a short drive northeast of town, and one of the longest in the country if you ever want to play the tips. Plenty of forward tees keep it fair for an easygoing round.
Opened 2004 · $$ · Slope 150
- Par
- 72
- Back tees
- 7,355 yds
- Round
- ~4h
Tree-lined fairways where putts break away from the mountains · Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr.
The historic resort course at The Broadmoor, with tree-lined fairways and big mountain vistas that have hosted national championships. A splurge round to save for a special occasion.
Opened 1918 · $$$$ · Slope 127
Photo: PEO ACWA (Flickr), CC BY 2.0