Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
100 Cave of the Winds Road, Manitou Springs, Colorado
Tucked in the hinterlands of Colorado Springs, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park is an adventure park and cave system inside the Rocky Mountains. Learn about Colorado’s ancient geology while exploring lamp-lit caverns and narrow passageways. Above ground, aerial thrill rides offer an action-packed way to explore Williams Canyon.
On the family-friendly Discovery Tour, marvel at stalactites and cave formations and feel the chill of the cave’s cold air. Go even deeper on the 1.5-hour Lantern Tour, or learn basic spelunking skills on the Caving 101 trek. Back in the light of day, thrill seekers find plenty of ways to get the adrenaline pumping with canyon rim rides such as the Terror-Dactyl freefall, Bat-A-Pult zipline, and Wind Walker aerial challenge course.
Wear closed-toed shoes, as the cave has many rocks and uneven surfaces
Temperatures inside the cave can get chilly, so bring a jacket even in summertime
Most of the cave is not wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair uses can enter the Canopy Hall — the cave’s first room — for free
Strollers and baby backpacks are not allowed inside the cave, but front baby carriers are permitted
Cave of the Winds is located just outside Manitou Springs, 15 minutes west of Colorado Springs near the base of Pike’s Peak. Parking is free.
June through August, the cave is open daily from 9 am to 9 pm; hours are 10 am to 5 pm the rest of the year. Check the website for restaurant and adventure ride hours and seasonal events like the Cheyenne Mountain ZOOMobile in September and Mountain Illumination Festival during the winter holidays.
There's plenty to do for even the youngest visitors to Cave of the Winds. Educational exhibits introduce kids to geology and cave wildlife including bats, spiders, and ringtail cats. If little ones aren't ready for thrill rides quite yet, they can take a spin down a twisty slide, take a virtual reality adventure at the Magic Lantern Theater, or go panning for gemstones just like early Colorado gold miners.
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