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The Fountain Creek Inn
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The town

Manitou Springs

Manitou Springs is a small mountain town that still feels like one: a walkable main street of shops and cafes, mineral springs you can taste your way through, and trailheads that start where the sidewalk ends.

Everything, within minutes

The lay of the land

The inn sits at the quiet center of it all. Tell the map what you're in the mood for, and the whole town rearranges around a single unhurried day.

Show places by what you want to do

Seven of Manitou's best, none more than about a 12-minute trip from your door.

A hand-painted almanac map of Manitou Springs with the Fountain Creek Inn glowing at its center on the creek, downtown's main street just beside it, the Manitou Incline staircase and Pikes Peak cog railway to the west, the red rocks of Garden of the Gods to the northeast, Cave of the Winds and the cliff dwellings in the bluffs, and a steaming spring to the east.
Travel times measured from the inn. Hand-drawn plate, illustrative, not to scale.

What's nearby

The area

Where to eat, where to walk, and what to see, the places our guests come back for, all within a short walk or drive of the inn.

Eat + Drink

  • Adam's Mountain Café

    One of the stronger Manitou brunch and breakfast picks.

  • Manitou Brewing Company

    Laid-back Manitou spot for a burger, a beer, and a casual night.

  • Sahara Cafe

    Strong for falafel, hummus, bowls, and platters.

  • Queen's Parlour Tea Room at Miramont Castle

    A special-occasion Manitou experience.

Parks, Trails + Green Space

  • Manitou Incline

    The signature climb; ~7-minute drive from the inn.

  • Barr Trail

    Trailhead near the Incline for a longer hike toward Pikes Peak.

  • Garden of the Gods

    Red-rock formations, about 8 minutes away.

See + Do

  • Pikes Peak Cog Railway

    The classic ride up the peak; ~6-minute drive.

  • Cave of the Winds

    Cave tours and overlooks, about 12 minutes away.

  • Manitou Cliff Dwellings

    Historic dwellings, about 4 minutes away.

  • SunWater Spa

    One of the best relaxation picks in Manitou; about 4 minutes.

  • Penny Arcade

    Old-school arcade downtown; ~6-minute walk.

Find us

Directions

We sit at the quiet end of Manitou Avenue. Tap through for turn-by-turn directions, or use the map below.

1224 Manitou Ave, Manitou Springs, CO 80829Get directions →

The innkeepers' list

Everything below is somewhere we actually send guests. No sponsorships, no affiliate links, no ranking algorithm. Some of it is a walk from the door, some is a drive into Colorado Springs, and we say which is which.

Eat

The short list, by what you are in the mood for.

  • BrunchAdam's Mountain CaféManitou SpringsAlso the vegetarian pick.
  • Bakery + sandwichesRed Dog Coffee & Bakery
  • PizzaHell's Kitchen PizzaManitou Springs
  • BurgersBorder Burger BarManitou Springs
  • ThaiManitou Thai & RamenManitou Springs
  • ItalianSavelli'sManitou Springs
  • MediterraneanSahara Cafe
  • MexicanCrystal Park CantinaManitou Springs
  • HimalayanNorbu's Himalayan Hut
  • KoreanTong Tong
  • VietnameseSaigon Café
  • SushiSushi Row
  • SeafoodJax Fish House & Oyster Bar
  • SteakhouseMacKenzie's Chop House
  • FrenchLa Baguette
  • GermanEdelweiss German Restaurant
  • CaribbeanRasta Pasta
  • Latin AmericanMonse's Pupuseria
  • TapasTAPAteria
  • BBQFront Range Barbeque
  • WingsO'Furry's
  • VeganBurrowing Owl
  • Food hallIvywild School
  • Ice creamColorado Custard Company
  • Smoothies + juicePersephone Grae's Cafe & Juice Bar
  • Tea houseQueen's Parlour Tea Room at Miramont CastleManitou SpringsA special-occasion room inside the castle.
  • CoffeeThe Loft Espresso

Drink

Where to end up after the mountain.

  • Brewery + happy hourManitou Brewing CompanyManitou Springs
  • Live musicArmadillo RanchManitou SpringsLocal live music. Tokki is the pick once you are into Colorado Springs.
  • CocktailsShame & Regret
  • DistilleryAxe and the Oak Distillery
  • Wine barCork & Cask
  • TaproomTrails End Taproom
  • UpscaleLumen8 Rooftop Social
  • Dive barTony's
  • Theme barShrunken Head Tiki
  • Late nightThe Rabbit Hole
  • WestsideMother Muff's
  • NorthsideThe Public House
  • Dog friendlyCerberus Brewing CompanyWorth knowing if you booked one of the two rooms that take dogs.
  • ComedyLoonees Comedy Corner
  • Music venuesThe Black Sheep, or Stargazers Theatre

Trailheads and green space

Nearest first. The Incline is the famous one and the one to be careful about.

  • The signature climbThe Manitou InclineManitou SpringsOnly attempt it if you are in good shape and have had one to three days to acclimate to the altitude. Manitou sits at about 6,300 feet.
  • The long way downBarr TrailManitou SpringsThe usual descent from the Incline.
  • Red rockGarden of the GodsColorado Springs
  • Red rock, quieterRed Rock Canyon Open Space
  • Close to townIntemann TrailManitou Springs
  • Open spaceStratton Open Space
  • Open spaceSection 16 Trailhead
  • CanyonNorth Cheyenne Cañon Park
  • City parkMonument Valley Park
  • City parkPalmer Park
  • Regional parkBear Creek Regional Park
  • Open spaceRed Mountain Open Space
  • Summit hikeIron Mountain Trail

With kids

What actually works with children, from people who get asked constantly.

  • WalkableDowntown Manitou SpringsManitou SpringsFive minutes on foot from the door, and the penny arcade is in it.
  • Walkable-ishDowntown Old Colorado City
  • The trainThe Pikes Peak Cog RailwayManitou Springs
  • Cliff dwellingsManitou Cliff DwellingsManitou Springs
  • CastleGlen Eyrie Castle
  • MuseumColorado Springs Pioneers MuseumColorado Springs
  • Water parkGreat Wolf Lodge
  • CinemaRoadhouse Cinemas
  • GolfTopgolf
  • Mini golfLost Island Mini Golf
  • KartingOverdrive Raceway
  • Christmas, all yearNorth Pole, Santa's Workshop
  • Cooking classesFrench Kitchen Cooking Classes

Soak and unwind

Manitou is a mineral springs town. This is what to do about it.

  • SpaSunWater SpaManitou SpringsCedar soaking tubs fed by the mineral springs, plus sauna and treatments.
  • Hot springsMount Princeton Hot Springs ResortFurther afieldIn Buena Vista, so a real drive rather than an evening plan. Worth it as a day out.

If you need something

The practical list, including what to do with the dog.

  • BookstorePoor Richard's Bookstore
  • FloristSweetwater Flower Market
  • BarberFloyd's Barbershop
  • Dog boardingCamp Bow Wow, or Lucky Dog BoardingTwo of our rooms take dogs, but not every plan does.
  • Cat boardingCatology

Picture the trip you're about to have.

No. 05 · The best of your stay

Park once at the door, then the whole region is yours, dawn to dark.

  1. A steaming coffee mug on a deck railing beside a mountain creek at dawn
    7:00

    Coffee by the creek

    Wake to the water. Coffee on the deck before the town stirs.

  2. The Manitou Incline's long staircase climbing a forested mountainside
    8:00

    The Incline, before the crowds

    The legendary climb, minutes from your door, beat the heat and the line.

  3. Snow-capped Pikes Peak with the cog railway winding toward the summit
    11:00

    Pikes Peak or the red rocks

    Drive the Pikes Peak Highway, or ride the Cog, to 14,115 ft, or wander Garden of the Gods.

  4. A historic downtown street of storefronts beneath red-rock bluffs
    2:00

    Manitou & Old Colorado City

    Stroll the charming streets, shops, mineral springs, and the galleries of historic Old Colorado City.

  5. A steaming mineral hot-spring soaking pool among pines at golden hour
    5:00

    A soak at SunWater Spa

    Mineral hot-spring pools and quiet, the day's perfect reset before dinner.

  6. A downtown street in the evening with lit storefronts and a theater marquee
    7:30

    Dinner & a show downtown

    Into the Colorado Springs city core for a great dinner, a show, or a game.

  7. The cottage inn at night beside the creek under a crescent moon
    Late

    Back to the quiet

    The creek again, a real bed, a deadbolt that's only yours. Sleep in tomorrow.

Reservations

Stay steps from all of it

Self check-in, the creek past your door, and a five-minute walk to town. Rooms from $149 a night.

4.9 on Google, from 416 reviews

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