SOUTH CENTRAL ITINERARY
Total Number of Days/Nights: Five - Seven
The Facts:
Start Location: Colorado Springs
Distance: 323 miles
Suggested Duration: 5–7 days
Map of Route
Itinerary Summary: Begin your trip with a different kind of "drive" throughColorado Springs—hit the greens at one of The Broadmoor's famed golf courses. Then, visit the Garden of the Gods' unique rock formations for some rock climbing pointers, followed by a ride on the Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the top of Pikes Peak. Tour the U.S. Air Force Academy with its Cadet Chapel, featuring stunning stained glass. If you're an art buff, the new FAC Modern at the Fine Arts Center is sure to inspire you. This wing of the museum has drawn visiting exhibits from Frida Kahlo and Pablo Picasso.
Destinations Include
Colorado Springs
The Broadmoor
Garden of The Gods
Pikes Peak Cog Railroad
U.S. Airforce Academy
Buena Vista
Salida
Lost Canyon Zip Line
Canon City
Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge
Royal Gorge Route Railroad
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve
Days
From Colorado Springs, drive west on Highway 24 to Buena Vista, Spanish for "Good View," which is nestled at the foot of the Continental Divide. Here, you can hike one of the Collegiate Peaks, part of Colorado’s collection of 54 Fourteeners (14,000-foot mountains). Afterwards, delight in the family-owned restaurants and local heritage in town.
Make a quick trip south on Highway 24 and end in the charming town of Salida, one of Colorado’s largest historic districts, featuring a multitude of eclectic galleries and shops. Spend the night at a local hotel, and the following morning, wake up early for a not-to-be-missed raft trip down the Arkansas River, where you'll enjoy the beautiful scenery and wild rapids. For a different view of the area, glide far above the trees on the Lost Canyon Zip Line tour.
Travel east on Highway 50 to Cañon City and traverse the Royal Gorge Suspension Bridge, the highest suspension bridge in the world. Then, take a different look at this expansive gorge on the Royal Gorge Route Railroad which travels along the canyon floor. Be sure to stop at the Dinosaur Depot, where you can see terrific exhibits of local archeological finds, as well as get directions to a self-guided dinosaur hike not far from town. Get back to the Old West at Buckskin Joe Frontier Town and revel in 1800s buildings, gun fights, a trolley ride and an old time saloon.
Retrace your steps back to Salida and drive south on Highway 285 to Alamosa. Make a quick day trip from here to ascend to the top of the Star Dune in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. Then, ski or “sandboard” your way to the bottom. Return to Alamosa and watch as the sunset turns the Sangre de Cristo Mountain Rangeinto a shade of brilliant red.
Insiders Tip:
The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is one of the world’s top destinations for sandboarding and sandskiing. If you choose to hit the "slopes" of the dunes after your hike, make sure you bring a pair of skis or a board you don’t mind scratching up.