The Perfect Weekend in Colorado Springs for Outdoorsy Craft Beer Lovers
This post is sponsored by Visit Colorado Springs — your go-to resource for all things COS.
When you think of Colorado, you probably picture mountains and cold beer. And while Denver plays a prominent role in the craft brewing scene, we are here to tell you that Colorado Springs is a fierce competitor when it comes to traveling, hiking, and craft beer.
This mountain town is home to over 20 breweries, has easy access to various hikes, and is only an hour's drive from the Denver International Airport.
Here's where you should stay, hike, drink, and more to have the perfect weekend in Colorado Springs, CO.
WHERE TO STAY
We were fortunate enough to stay in one of the newer hotels in Colorado Springs: the Element Colorado Springs Downtown. Location-wise, this hotel sits right on E Costilla & S Tejon, putting us in walking distance (or a short drive!) to a variety of restaurants, breweries, and museums.
The rooms were extremely spacious, the fitness center was top-notch, and they also have an indoor pool and hot tub if you need to decompress after a long day of hiking (hint: we did).
As a fun bonus, the "Rise" complimentary breakfast was one of the better hotel breakfasts we've experienced! They have an in-house chef who whips up omelets, breakfast tacos, and other daily specials to make sure you are kicking off your day all fueled up.
We'd definitely recommend staying here if you're looking for a new, clean, and health-minded hotel to spend your downtime at!
WHERE TO DRINK
When in Colorado Springs, sign up for the FREE Crafts & Drafts passport! Not only does this passport get you deals & discounts at a variety of local craft breweries, but it also includes distilleries and specialty coffee shops! We've listed a few of our favorite stops below.
Craft Breweries
Metric Brewing Co. — BOGO draft beer with the passport
Goatpatch Brewing Co. — BOGO draft beer with the passport
OCC Brewing — BOGO OCC beer with the passport
Cerberus Brewing — Free Cerberus beer with the passport
Bristol Brewing Company — BOGO flagship beer with the passport
Pikes Peak Brewing Company Lager House — BOGO Pikes Peak beer with the passport
While we didn't get to visit Atrevida Beer Company (our visit didn't align with their hours), this brewery is home to the first [female] Latina Brewery Owner and Head Brewer in Colorado, and you should 100% add it to your itinerary.
Coffee Shops
Mission Coffee Roasters — BOGO latte (we recommend the PSL in the Fall) with the passport
Story Coffee Company — BOGO with the passport
WHERE TO HIKE
Our perfect travel weekend includes kicking off each day with a hike (or any other workout). We do need to "work for our beer" somehow, right? Hiking in Colorado Springs is a must-do. Below are the hikes we knocked out this trip — each hike was vastly different from the other, which was great!
Manitou Incline
Y'all, this hike is no joke. This 4.0-mile loop trail kicks off with 2,768 steps straight up, gaining nearly 2,000 feet of elevation over less than 1 mile. The average grade for the trail is 45 percent and, in some places, it is as steep as 68 percent.
Once you reach the top, take some time to celebrate! From there, you'll have a pretty easy hike down four miles of the Barr Trail.
If you're not used to the elevation, you'll definitely be huffing and puffing on this trail. We recommend taking frequent breaks and consistently hydrating.
Oh, and you'll need to make a reservation here to access the trail.
View the trail on AllTrails here.
Garden of the Gods — Perkins Central Garden Trail
First of all — did you even go to Colorado Springs if you didn't visit the Garden of the Gods? If you're just looking for an easy walk around this beautiful, historic area, this 1.1-mile loop is perfect!
From Alltrails, "This short, paved, family-friendly path has great views of rock formations such as White Rock and Kissing Camels." We definitely recommend bringing a camera to shoot some fun photos along your walk!
View the trail on AllTrails here.
Seven Bridges Trail
This moderate 3.5-mile out-and-back trail was the perfect complement to the other two hikes we knocked out this trip. As the name states, this trail takes you across seven bridges that hover over a creek, giving you a water feature along the entire hike.
This hike was significantly less busy than Manitou and Garden of the Gods — we went on a Tuesday morning and only encountered a handful of other hikers.
View the trail on AllTrails here.
Cheers to exploring Colorado Springs!
We are so grateful to have had the opportunity to explore this outdoorsy, craft beer-loving, mountain-infused town. We want to send a BIG thank you to Visit Colorado Springs for hosting us!
Have any suggestions for our next trip? Shoot us a message at mel@workforyourbeer.com and be sure to tag us at @workforyourbeer if you swing by any of these spots during your next visit to Colorado Springs!