At the Eastern foot of the Rocky Mountains with 14,000-plus Pikes Peak looming above, plus the iconic red rock formations at Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs is an outdoor enthusiast’s haven. This city just 70 miles south of Denver enjoys 260 days of sunshine and also offers a compelling destination for meetings and events. Its natural scenery provides inspiring backdrops for gatherings, and its 450,000 square feet of flexible meeting space gives groups of many sizes options.
After the meeting is done, your attendees will want to explore the stunning sights that call Colorado Springs home, and the city offers many ways to dig into its majestic outdoors by jeep, train or on foot. Following are some of the best ways groups can get out, explore and bond in the process.
Adventures Out West Tours
Adventures Out West offers jeep tours for groups that want to get outside and explore the natural wonders that can only be found in Colorado Springs. With a fleet able to accommodate groups up to 100, jeep tours provide participants with a chance to see Garden of the Gods, a registered National Natural Landmark featuring 300-foot sandstone rock formations and mountain views, plus Cheyenne Canyon, Helen Hunt Falls and Manitou Springs. The tour operator also offers segway tours for smaller groups to explore the foothills and Garden of the Gods.
The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway
If you’re meeting in Colorado Springs, chances are you may be at The Broadmoor, the area’s famous luxury resort that has been a fixture in Colorado Springs for more than a century and boasts Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five Diamond designations. The 784-room property is a popular option for groups, featuring more than 315,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
Outside of the meeting room, plan a group trip up to the world’s highest cog train to the summit of Pikes Peak at 14,115 feet. The attraction, which reopened in 2021, has a new Pikes Peak Summit Visitor Center at the top, where you can learn more about Pikes Peak and the region’s history, enjoy some refreshments (including donuts!) and panoramic views. Group bookings can be made for 25 or more passengers.
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Rocky Mountain Food Tours
The blossoming food scene in Colorado Springs is easy to explore with a dine-around with Rocky Mountain Food Tours. Tour guides provide a history lesson on Colorado Springs while bringing groups to some of the city’s best spots for food and drink. Rocky Mountain Food Tours can accommodate groups from eight to 45 people and can customize tours depending on group needs and availability.
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Flying W Ranch Chuckwagon
Capture the spirit of the Old West with a night of entertainment at Flying W Ranch and a performance by the Flying W Wranglers. According to Flying W, the experience includes a western Chuckwagon spread of smoked meats with all the trimmings is followed by a western stage show performed by the world-renowned Flying W Wranglers, the second longest-running western performance band in the world.
Flying W welcomes corporate groups and private events and can accommodate up to 1,000 people with its indoor and outdoor dining spaces. The venue can also customize activities for groups, arranging for teambuilding events like paintball or capture the flag, western line dancing, private rodeos and more.
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Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
While the mountain views are the main attraction in Colorado Springs, a trip below into its caves is equally thrilling. This unique mountain park brings visitors into the dark cave formations at the base of Pikes Peak. Through guided tours, participants can learn about the history and geology of the caves, exploring the depths of the mountain.
The park can arrange for group tours of the caves of 15-20 people for the standard Discovery Group Tour or the more unique Haunted Lantern Group Tour, where you’ll explore the caves with a hand-held lanterns as guides detail legends and folklore surrounding the caves, including some ghost stories. For groups that would prefer to stay above ground, Cave of the Winds Mountain Park has a ropes course for additional teambuilding options.
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