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Divide Activity Recommendations

Any Season

Visit the Colorado Wolf & Wildlife Center (Divide, Tours from $20, 15 min drive). I highly recommend you visit at some point during your stay. The Wolf & Wildlife Center is one of the truly unique attractions in the area. They are a rescue center for wolf, fox, and coyote, and more that offers tours to the public. Their current “pack” includes 13 wolves. The photo by the downstairs bathroom is of two wolves from the center. Reservations are required. The tours are best for ages 6+ because there is a lot of talking and standing around.

Visit the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (Woodland Park, Tickets from $13, 20 min drive). A must-do for families with dinosaur-crazy kids. The museum was rated #2 best dinosaur museum in the US by America’s Best and Top 10.

Visit North Pole- Santa’s Workshop (Cascade, Tickets from $35, 30 min drive). A Santa-themed amusement park that is open May through December. They have an antique car ride, a Candy Cane Coaster, carousels, a Ferris wheel, and more.

Visit Garden of the Gods (Colorado Springs, Free, 40 min drive). Along with Pike’s Peak, Garden of the God’s is Colorado Springs’ other top notch outdoor attraction. The park’s sandstone formations are visually stunning, especially when set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. If you want a little visual preview, the photo in the downstairs Family Room is of Garden of the Gods.

Ride the Cog Railway to Pike’s Peak’s Summit (Manitou Springs, Tickets from $65, 40 min drive). The cog railway takes visitors from Manitou Springs at an elevation of 6,320 feet up to the summit of Pike’s Peak at an elevation of 14,115 feet. Each roundtrip journey is three hours. At the summit, be sure to pick up the famous donuts.

Explore Mining History at the Cripple Creek Heritage Center (Cripple Creek, Free, 20 min drive) This is an interesting stop for any history buffs. Cripple Creek was a world-famous gold mining camp in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The Heritage Center helps visitors understand Cripple Creek’s mining heydays.

Hike or Bike in Mueller State Park (Divide, Day Pass $10, 5 min drive). Mueller State Park is an outdoor recreation paradise. The 5,117-acre park offers over 50 miles of trails that meander through rolling grassy meadows, aspen groves, and conifer forests. Views of Pike’s Peak are excellent. A great destination for hiking and mountain biking in the summer.

Hike Raspberry Mountain (Divide, Free!, 15 min drive). Raspberry Mountain is my favorite hike in the area. It is a 5-mile round trip hike with 1,200 feet of elevation gain. The 360-degree views from the rocky outcrop at the summit are breathtaking.

Hike the Manitou Incline (Manitou Springs, Free, 40 min drive). This hike is only for the adventurous and very physically fit. It is a 4-mile round trip hike with 2,000 ft of elevation gain. The elevation gain all comes in the first mile- it’s less like hiking a trail and much more like climbing stairs straight up.

Swim in Paradise Cove (Guffey, Tickets $6, 35 min drive). If you are looking for someplace to cool off on a hot summer day, pack up your swimsuit and head to Paradise Cove. It is a 1-mile round trip hike to the swimming hole. There is cliff jumping for the adventurous kids. Be forewarned that this is a very popular destination in the summer and it will be packed- whether it is a Saturday or a Tuesday.

Enjoy the Playground at Hayden Divide Park (Divide, free, 10 min drive). For those with young children, check out the brand-new playground at Hayden Divide Park. It has multiple slides, climbing structures, monkey bars, etc. Plenty to keep them occupied.

Explore the Cripple Creek Ice Castles (Cripple Creek, Tickets from $21, 20 min drive). The attraction includes a frozen maze and slides made of ice. The ice castles are usually open mid-December through late February but check before heading out as operations are weather dependent.

Snowshoe/Hike at Mueller State Park (Divide, Day Pass $10, 5 min drive). Mueller State Park is an outdoor recreation paradise. The 5,117-acre park offers over 50 miles of trails that meander through rolling grassy meadows, aspen groves, and conifer forests. Views of Pike’s Peak are excellent. You are welcome to use the four pairs of adult snowshoes & poles as well as two sets of kids snowshoes & poles in the entry closet. There are also six pairs of slip-on ice cleats in the entry closet. You can use the ice cleats when the trails are hard packed and icy as opposed to snowy. Please return the snowshoes, poles, and ice cleats to the bin in the entry closet after use.

XC Ski at Mueller State Park (Divide, Day Pass $10, 5 min drive). If you want to cross country ski, be sure to bring your own gear or rent ahead of time. Mueller doesn’t have any rental services. I also recommend calling Mueller ahead of time to ask about cross-country trail conditions and grooming.

Sled at Mueller State Park (Divide, Day Pass $10, 5 min drive). Mueller has dedicated hills for sledding. The main sledding hills are at Elk Meadow and Preacher’s Hollow. Before you head out, call the Mueller Visitor’s Center (719-687-2366) to check on snow conditions. Please use caution and always supervise children when they are sledding. Sledding can be dangerous.

Sled at Rampart Sled Hill (Woodland Park, Free, 30 min drive). This is another option for sledding if Mueller doesn’t have good snow conditions. It is a longer drive on an unpaved road and doesn’t have any bathrooms. But the sledding itself gets rave reviews. Please use caution and always supervise children when they are sledding. Sledding can be dangerous.