Mountain Towns near Colorado Springs

When visiting Colorado Springs, make sure to stop through the nearby mountain towns. Each one has much to offer by way of their quiet, woodsy locations as you travel west along Hwy 24.

Within just a few miles drive are:

• Manitou Springs
• Cascade
• Green Mountain Falls / Chipita Park
• Woodland Park
• Cripple Creek

Nestled up in the foothills along the Ute Pass, each town has its own unique mountain character, and offers their own attractions and highlights.

Virtually connected to Colorado Springs’ west side, Manitou Springs is most popular for its eclectic shopping along Manitou Ave, where you’ll find art galleries, bookstores, souvenir shops, and restaurants.

Also home to several natural mineral springs you can drink, the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, Cliff House, Cave of the Winds, many charming Victorian B&Bs, and the infamous Manitou Incline.

CASCADE

Just a few minutes past Manitou is Cascade. Best known for being the gateway to the Pikes Peak Highway, Cascade is also home to the North Pole, a year-round Christmas theme park, and the Wines of Colorado, one of our favorite restaurants where you can eat creekside and taste dozens of Colorado wines.

GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS

Another few miles west is the town of Green Mountain Falls, surrounded by Pike National Forest. With a population of only 1,400, this is a sleepy little mountain hamlet with a beautiful park, lake, and gazebo at its heart. Restaurants, hiking trails, and an historic church are also included.

WOODLAND PARK

Known as “the city above the clouds,” Woodland Park is 17 miles west of Colorado Springs. It has an amazing view of Pikes Peak, and due to its 8500-foot elevation, often enjoys sunny clear days when other populations are under cloud cover.

Also surrounded by Pike National Forest, Woodland Park is a hot spot for fishing, camping, hiking, and mountain biking. Nearby Rampart Reservoir offers all of these activities.

W.P. is also home to Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center, the popular Donut Mill, and two miles of shops and restaurants.

CRIPPLE CREEK

This former gold camp southwest of Colorado Springs is on the other side of Pikes Peak and sits at 9494 feet. It's about a 40-minute scenic drive to get there, and has incredible views of the Sange de Cristo mountain range.

The main attractions in Cripple Creek are the casinos and hotels, where you can play slots, poker, even craps and roulette. And History buffs will find plenty to do, whether its the narrow gauge train ride, taking a descent down into the Mollie Kathleen gold mine, or visiting the dynamic Heritage Center.