Seven Falls was absolutely, positively beautiful in every way. Words can't even describe it, but…read morehopefully these photos can convince you. Seven Falls started out with a semi-short shuttle ride to the actual scenery. From there, it just got more amazing. I understand how the steps could be strenuous for many, and it definitely wasn't easy, but a little stop to catch your breath is provided about midway through. I saw a couple people who didn't feel up to finishing the steps stopping at the rest point, taking some photos, and coming back down. The views were still stunning from that height. Heck, they're stunning from any height or viewpoint. There was also a little shop with delicious popsicles located before the steps. Clean bathrooms along the way as well. It all just seemed very well-thought-out. This was also partially due to the employees, who were all very helpful and pleasant. To put it simply, Seven Falls has it all-it's beautiful, clean, and unique. Amazing in every aspect, stunning from every angle. I felt immersed in the mountainscape from the first step out of that shuttle.

Overrated. The parking is 20 minutes from the actual falls. Waited 45+ minutes for our shuttle bus…read moreto arrive in 90 degree heat. Finally the bus showed up & it was a 20 minute ride to the falls. Get off the bus, then walk up hill half a mile, then half to walk over 200 steps in order to get to the waterfalls and trails. When you're done, you have to go the opposite direction and do it all over again. They charge $5 a piece for any beverage (water, Gatorade, etc.) and $5 a piece for an ice cream bar. If you get tickets, get them in advance on the website. Afternoon tickets after 1pm are cheaper. You do not have the option to drive to the location yourself & taking the shuttle is a requirement. Overall, not worth the price for the wait and hassle.

The train ride and views at the top were unmatched but the food/drinks sold at the top were…read moreseverely overpriced and very low quality. We went first thing in the morning and the food was hard and cold.

What a great experience, the views are unbelievable and our Engineer Jeff kept us safe and our…read moreConductor/ Comedian Neil kept us informed and entertained the whole trip. I would highly recommend this experience if you are in Colorado Springs.

Helen Hunt Falls is not something you simply stumble upon. City slickers have to earn it a bit…read more Nearly three miles into North Cheyenne Cañon, the road leaves the city behind. Houses disappear well before the entrance to its mouth or rocky gates west of Starsmore Nature Center. Red granite walls rise closer, pine and cedar lean over the pavement, temperatures drop as the canyon wraps you in cool embrace. Helen Hunt Falls sits within a city park, but it never really feels like one. North Cheyenne Cañon is its own character. Intimate. Shaded. Winding. While the city feels far away, beware the tight hairpin curves and oncoming vehicles. In its own way, it is unique like South Cheyenne Cañon, home to the dramatic Seven Falls. Where Seven Falls dazzles with height and dramatics, this canyon offers its own closeness to stone, forest, and water. It is a place where the road slows, voices soften, and the canyon quietly reminds you how close wilderness can be to a city.

Super amazing quick little hike that you can drive up to near manitou springs with a good amount of…read morefree parking. The views from on top and bellow are spectacular and this is definitely meant for all ages. The twisty roads might be a little challenging for some drivers but it is definitely worth the drive if you can make it here!

I wanted some vibes like Garden of the gods but did not want the crowds so I checked out Red Rock…read moreCanyon Open Space! I was really impressed with this open space. Parking was easy, they had plenty of spots while I was visiting. They've got something for everyone! Hiking trails, bike park/paths, rock climbing (permit needed), an off leash dog park. I specifically went for the hiking trails. They were great for my 4 year old. When I go with him I try to look for trails under 3 miles. My only complaint is I wish they had real bathrooms by the parking lot. The porta potty was pretty gross. P.s. you can see garden of the gods from this park! They are pretty close to each other!

Colorado is the healthiest state in the US (this is fact, you can look this up on the CDC website)…read moreand I can see why. With such amazing hiking available, that is free to residents and visitors, all over the state, it encourages you to get outside and enjoy what mother nature has to offer. Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a series of canyons and ridges sculpted by erosion of the area's uplifted rock strata. The ridges and canyons offer beautiful views that are photo worthy for those wanting to post to their social media (or hey, just keeping these photo keepsakes in your own camera roll is also fine too). Red Rock Canyon Open Space is dog friendly, with some off leash areas (where noted), and 11 trails that you can hike. The trails are anywhere from 1.7 miles to 5.4 miles, with a lot of pretty easy trails for those that are not as active but still want to partake in the journey. You can also see views of Garden of the Gods, which is nearby. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is not nearly as busy as Garden of the Gods (but highly recommend a visit there too, which is also dog friendly). From May 1 and Oct. 31, you can enter Red Rock Canyon Open Space between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.; during the rest of the year, the park closes at 9 p.m. There is free parking available and also one porta potty at the beginning of the trail (but I did not use it) and also trash cans (I did not see trash cans anywhere else in this open space). My husband and I visited Red Rock Canyon Open Space with our little girl dog. We came on a Sunday afternoon, a little after 1 pm. It was an overcast day, which was nice. But it was rather busy but not crowded. We were able to find a parking spot without any trouble. We only did 2 light trails but enjoyed the views. The trails we had were pretty easy for the most part. We also did see a handful of dogs during our visit. Please note that there is hardly any shade so make sure you plan accordingly (hat to shade your face, plenty of water, etc).

My experience is a little different. We just had a wedding and rented the pavilion and the…read moreamphitheater. The price was exceptionally good and the areas were incredibly maintained. The facilities were so clean and well maintained. Since we had these spots all day, we had a hike in the morning for people attending the wedding as well as the actual wedding in the evening. Most of our guests explored the facilities and hiked most of the morning. I know many of them will return soon because it was great. The amphitheater had electrical connection on the center circle. We didn't need it because the acoustics of the amphitheater were amazing. We had a harpist and the music carried beautifully. Their voices were clearly heard throughout the amphitheater. Our rainy day plan was the pavillion, which is lovely and amazingly well planned. This is a gorgeous place for a wedding. I can't believe I didn't mention the staff. They were so communicative and helpful. They were such a joy.

We love this state park! It's a hidden gem that's so close to home. There are plenty of trails that…read moreloop together that offer a variety of difficulty. We moved to the Springs from Denver a few months ago and we love how quiet this park is compared to other trails near Denver. This park is also very clean! As someone who doesn't like using public restrooms I thought these bathrooms were so clean. We enjoy that the park has plenty of parking, one of the parking lots even has a playground, and a pump for your bike tires. There's also picnic tables which we really enjoy using after our hike. We haven't camped here or mountain biked but that is an option too. Some hikes are easy enough for you to bring your kids, and others offer more of an incline. In the summer you see birds, butterflies, and lizards. This place is great, we really enjoy it!

A must-do if you're visiting Colorado Springs! We spent several hours here and ended up hiking…read moreabout 4 miles with our Labrador, exploring many of the different trails and rock formations. Every turn seemed to offer another incredible view, and it's easy to see why this is one of Colorado's most popular attractions. The trails are well-maintained and range from easy walks to slightly more adventurous routes. There isn't a ton of shade, but there are enough shaded spots along the way to take a break. Definitely bring plenty of water, especially if you're visiting in the summer or hiking with a dog. Parking wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great either. Some lots filled up quickly, so be prepared to drive to another parking area and possibly walk a little farther to get where you want to start. One of the best parts? It's completely free, and it's also very dog-friendly. We saw lots of people hiking with their dogs, and Luna had an amazing time. Just remember dogs must stay on a leash. If you're in Colorado Springs, don't skip Garden of the Gods--it absolutely lives up to the hype!

Garden of the Gods is a must-see when visiting Colorado! It's absolutely beautiful and was one of…read moremy top places to show my mom and sister when they were visiting me from California. There's something so majestic about the formation of these beautiful red rocks. The best thing about this park is that it was gifted to the city of Colorado Springs under the agreement that it remain free and available to the public, so it's a great place to visit on a budget! There are a lot of iconic rock formations and view points. I would recommend visiting the park earlier in the day so that it's cooler to walk around and so that it's not so busy. If you're also a fan of audio tours, there's a good one from TravelStorys, which you can also find on the Garden of the Gods website. They do have free shuttles available to can take you from the visitor center to key spots where you can roam around or begin a hiking trail. These hiking trails are generally not strenuous and are overall pretty family friendly. Additionally, there are also trolley tours where there's a tour guide talking you through the history of the park and stopping at iconic places where you can take some photos. The trolley tour will require purchased tickets, but we opted out of it. Plus, if you can stop by the Garden of the Gods trading post, there are a lot of cool finds and a cafe to grab some snacks! Would highly recommend!

This park is really nice. You can camp here but we just day tripped. We hit the river. Went…read moreswimming. Beautiful view. Lots of room to not he near people if you chose not to. Pueblo itself is a terrible city but this park is gorgeous.

The reservoir is a great place to go spend time on the water. All the people that work there are…read morevery helpful and full of knowledge. Love spending time out there. So easy to add the park pass when you renew your vehicle plates. Really a beautiful reservoir.

Great Sand Dunes National Park is otherworldly and honestly one of the most unique landscapes to be…read moreexperiences in North America. It's a bit of a smaller park in terms of trails and not going to be like RMNP so make sure you know what you're getting into. We planned our trip for May when the creek is usually flowing and the dunes are optimal for sledding. Unfortunately for us we hit a patch of bad weather and it was drizzling our whole day spent here. Additionally the park is experiencing a dry spell and the creek that is usually flowing in May was still dry. C'est la vie! We still had a blast climbing the dunes, letting the kids play in the sand, and taking in the views. To be honest the views are the best part - it's incredible to see these dunes and learn more about the history of the landscape in this region of Colorado. We didn't get to sled as the conditions were not ideal for it but we plan on someday returning and doing the full experience. If you're on the fence about coming here it's well worth a visit!

As home to the tallest sand dunes in North America, this place is absolutely worth checking out. We…read morecame over Memorial Day weekend and we had been hearing rumblings in town that this is typically one of their busiest seasons of the year so we were really nervous we would have to wait in long lines, it would be crowded, and we wouldn't be able to enjoy our hike up the sand dunes. It was actually totally chill, it took maybe 15 minutes to get situated and pay for our park pass, drive to the dunes, and find parking but nothing outrageous. I will say the park rangers here are not friendly and fairly rude if I'm being honest. The dunes themselves were super fun, we had never been to anything with this much sand before so it was a blast sledding down the hills! All of the visitors were really nice and friendly to one another which is always great to see. We specifically rented a 4x4 jeep so we could go on the Medano Pass Primitive Road and probably only made it about 5 miles. THIS was actually crowded and unruly as it's one lane and you have to park on the side every now and then to let cars from the opposite direction come through. It was bumpy, not scenic at all, and rather annoying having to stop so frequently so we ended up ditching it and leaving to go to the visitor center instead. If I were to redo this part, I would have just rented a cheaper car that wasn't a 4x4 and saved loads of gas. Because the park is open 24/7, we were especially excited to come back at night though and see the dunes. We returned around 10:30pm and although there were some really annoying people blasting music in the dunes parking lot that ruined the ambiance, the stars were absolutely magnificent. Since it's a certified International Dark Sky Park,they were absolutely stunning and radiating from the night sky. We got so lucky it was a clear night so we could see them so well! That was the highlight of our trip for sure.