Cave of the Winds

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.

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.

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.

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.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

Cave of the Winds is a popular cave attraction near Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, Colorado, offering guided tours through a beautiful limestone cave adorned with stunning formations, along with thrilling above-ground adventure rides. Perched dramatically above Williams Canyon, the site combines the natural wonder of its underground chambers, filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and intricate formations, with adrenaline-pumping attractions like a zip line and cliffside thrill rides overlooking the canyon. A longtime Colorado Springs favorite, Cave of the Winds provides a fun and varied experience blending fascinating cave exploration with exciting outdoor adventures for visitors seeking both natural beauty and thrills.

You can take a guided cave tour through the illuminated chambers to see the beautiful limestone formations, with options ranging from a standard walking tour to more adventurous lantern or off-trail caving experiences, and above ground you can ride the zip lines, the cliffside thrill rides that swing out over Williams Canyon, and other attractions. There is also scenic canyon viewing. The mix of cave exploration and adventure rides suits families and thrill-seekers alike. With its cave tours and exciting rides in a dramatic canyon setting, Cave of the Winds offers a fun and memorable outing near Colorado Springs.

Cave of the Winds typically offers a standard walking tour along paved, lit pathways through the main chambers, ideal for most visitors and families, as well as more adventurous options like a lantern tour that explores the cave by lantern light for an old-fashioned feel, and a hands-on caving experience through tighter, undeveloped passages for those wanting a more rugged adventure. The tours vary in length and difficulty. Checking the current tour offerings, times, and any reservation requirements before you go helps you choose the right experience, from an easy stroll to a more challenging caving adventure.

The cave stays a cool, comfortable temperature year-round, making tours enjoyable in any season, including a refreshing escape on hot summer days, while the above-ground adventure rides are best enjoyed in mild, dry weather from spring through fall. Summer is the busiest season, so arriving early or on weekdays helps with crowds. Checking current hours and ride operations before you go is wise. For the full experience of both cave tours and outdoor rides in pleasant weather, spring through fall is ideal, though the cave itself is a great option year-round.

Cave of the Winds is near Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs, close to the iconic Pikes Peak with its cog railway, the stunning Garden of the Gods, the historic town of Manitou Springs, and the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, with the Front Range and Denver within reach to the north. That makes Cave of the Winds a fun stop to combine with Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and the many other attractions of the Colorado Springs area on a visit to Colorado.