Cave of the Winds
100 Cave of the Winds Rd, Manitou Springs, CO
Manitou Springs, CO
A historic limestone cave beneath the Pikes Peak foothills, lit by more than a century of lantern tours and now edged by thrill rides over the canyon rim.
Cave of the Winds is one of Colorado's oldest tourist attractions, a decorated limestone cave in the foothills below Pikes Peak that has welcomed visitors for well over a century. Guided tours lead down through a series of chambers and passages hung with stone formations, and among the offerings are lantern-lit tours that evoke the early days when the only light came from a flame in the dark.
Above ground, the site has grown into an adventure park perched on the rim of Williams Canyon, with a zipline, thrill rides, and overlooks that swing out over the drop. Together the underground and the open-air experiences make it a longtime favorite along the Pikes Peak corridor, blending natural wonder with a dose of adrenaline.
What Guests Love
- Guided walks through beautifully decorated limestone passages and chambers
- Lantern-lit tours that recall how the cave was first explored
- Thrill rides and a zipline perched on the edge of Williams Canyon
- The red-rock foothill scenery around the cave entrance
Worth Knowing
- The cave stays cool year-round, so bring a light layer even on hot days
- Tours involve stairs and uneven footing, so wear closed, sturdy shoes
- It is a popular Pikes Peak-area stop, so busy times fill up; plan ahead in summer
- The outdoor thrill rides are separate from the cave tours and weather-dependent
Details
Manitou Springs, CO
Learn about Cave of the Winds
A cave discovered and opened
The limestone country around Manitou Springs has drawn people for a very long time, and the mineral springs the town is named for were valued by Native peoples, including the Ute, whose homeland includes this stretch of the Front Range foothills. The land here carries that older heritage beneath its more recent tourist history.
Cave of the Winds was explored and opened to visitors in the late nineteenth century, in the same era that made Manitou Springs and Pikes Peak famous resort destinations. Guides led early tourists through the passages by lantern and candlelight, and the cave has operated as an attraction ever since, one of the enduring landmarks of the region's Victorian-era tourism boom.
Underground tours
The heart of the experience is still the guided walk through the cave. Paved and lit passages wind past flowstone, columns, and delicate formations built up drop by drop over immense spans of time, with guides telling the story of the cave's geology and its long human history along the way.
For a taste of how the cave was first seen, lantern tours dim the electric lights and lead visitors through by handheld lantern, letting the shadows and quiet do their work. The cave holds a steady cool temperature year-round, a welcome relief on hot summer days and a reminder of how far removed the underground world is from the surface.
Thrills on the canyon rim
Above the cave, the site perches on the edge of Williams Canyon, and that dramatic setting has been put to use with an outdoor adventure park. A zipline strings across the canyon, and thrill rides swing and dangle riders out over the rim, trading on the sheer drop for their scares.
The overlooks and rides give the place a second personality entirely, an open-air complement to the hushed world below. Because they depend on the weather, the outdoor attractions run seasonally and on clear days, while the cave tours continue year-round.
Season by season
Spring brings mild foothill weather, greening canyon walls, and a good time to enjoy both the cave and the outdoor rides before the summer crowds build.
Summer is the busiest season, warm and lively, when the cool cave is especially welcome and the thrill rides run at full tilt, so plan around peak times.
Fall offers crisp air, thinner crowds, and golden light on the red-rock foothills, one of the loveliest times to visit.
Winter keeps the cave open at its steady cool temperature, while the outdoor rides run on a reduced, weather-dependent schedule in the cold months.
Closest Boutels
The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is an independently owned, editorially selected place to stay.
Things to Do Near Manitou Springs
Manitou Springs
About 1 mile east
A walkable historic resort town of mineral springs, arcades, shops, and eateries at the foot of Pikes Peak.
Garden of the Gods
About 4 miles east
A free public park of towering red sandstone formations set against the backdrop of Pikes Peak.
Pikes Peak
About 15 miles west
The famous fourteen-thousand-foot summit reachable by cog railway or a winding scenic highway.