Fall into Colorado Springs

Sunny skies and dry, mild climate have long drawn wellness seekers west, and for more than 100 years they’ve made their way to The Broadmoor. At the foothills of Cheyenne Mountain and the southern edge of the Rocky Mountains, the 5,000-acre resort provides ample opportunities to get outside and breathe in the fresh mountain air amidst the season’s stunning fall foliage. 

One way to experience The Broadmoor and all its surrounding splendor is to join a guided hike with Broadmoor Outfitters. Whether a strenuous hike that will get your blood pumping, or a more laid-back hike with a naturalist highlighting the local flora and fauna, the guides will work with you to chart your course. Broadmoor Outfitters offers guided mountain-, hybrid- and fat-tire bike tours, too, if you’re keen on covering more ground.

If you would rather go it on your own, one popular nearby hiking spot is Seven Falls, a series of waterfalls in a 1,250-foot walled box canyon. Climb the 224 steps to the top or follow the one-mile trail to watch water topple 180 feet below, just as adventurers have since 1883. If the climb leaves you famished, stop by Restaurant 1858 and refuel with a healthy meal for lunch or dinner, like the new Pillars of Hercules Ancient Grain Bowl with wood-charred Brussels sprouts, farro, quinoa, kale, corn and more, or the Inspiration Point Hikers Salad with beets, carrots, blueberries and more.

Towering over Colorado Springs is Pikes Peak, known as “America’s Mountain.” Riding The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the top of the 14,115-foot summit is a terrific way to sit back, relax and take in the stunning views of Colorado’s fall colors. The round-trip railway ride is 3.5 hours. For a more heart-pumping experience, consider hiking to the top and taking the Cog Railway down, or ride the railway up and bike down; biking the climb to the top is considered “one of the most intense challenges in the world.” Whichever route you choose, you will surely realize why Katharine Lee Bates was inspired to pen “America the Beautiful.” 

Back at The Broadmoor proper, like many places, pickleball has taken hold—the resort boasts three dedicated courts and four certified pickleball instructors. A series of clinics are on offer to up your game, whether novice or more experienced player, like the Adult Indoor Pickleball Camp slated for December 1-3 during which instructors lead on-court activities with a variety of drills, strategy sessions and supervised match play.

After all this activity, retreat to The Spa at The Broadmoor. This five-star spa features restorative treatments that are tailored to each guest’s needs and desires. Before your treatment, take advantage of the steam room, dry sauna, oxygen room and relax in the Mountain View Lounge. One treatment to indulge in, The Queen Bee package, features a honey-based wrap with notes of cinnamon and cloves, followed by an agave full body massage, and mani and pedi to pamper your well-used feet.

Additional experiences at The Broadmoor include stargazing at Cloud Camp, sitting 3,000 feet above the resort; hiking, biking, horseback riding and fly-fishing in the more than 100,000 acres that surround The Ranch At Emerald Valley in Pike National Forest; and the Orvis-endorsed Fly Fishing Camp on the Tarryall River at the edge of 120,000 acres of the Lost Creek Wilderness.

With all that it has to offer, it is no wonder that The Broadmoor is one of our picks for Where To Go Next this fall. broadmoor.com