5 Fun Water Activities In Colorado Springs

After I got a lot of great feedback on my Colorado Springs Bucket List, I started thinking about taking my trip planning up a notch. If we were to visit Colorado Springs in the summer, what kind of adventures could we have on water? After digging around the Visit Colorado Springs website, I got some great inspiration. Here are the water-based activities in Colorado Springs that are kid-friendly and fun:

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Visit Colorado Springs #visitcos #GetOutdoors #Adventure #ColoradoSprings

Whitewater rafting

Adventure level: High

I was surprised to read that whitewater rafting can be quite family-friendly in the Colorado Springs area. I counted 14 different outfitters on the website, with many clearing marketing to parents by touting all-ages excursions and “family class” rapids.

Fishing

Adventure level: Low

Colorado Springs has several fishing spots including the Pike Peak area at the Crystal Creek Reservoir and at Arkansas River in Cañon City. For more urban fishing, try Fountain Creek in Manitou Springs. There are also three reservoirs on Pike Peak’s South Slope that are accessible if you have a permit. If you want a guide to show you the best spots, check this website out.

Stand-Up Paddleboard

Adventure level: Low-Medium (depending on your balance and core strength)

If your kids are a little older, try hitting the water on stand-up paddleboards (SUP). Try SUP at Palmer Lake, Prospect Lake, Monument Lake, Quail Lake or any of the reservoirs around Pikes Peak. You can also try a SUP yoga class. I did that one time in Omaha, and it’s a mix of peacefulness and quite a workout trying to stay balanced.

Pools, Spray Grounds & Water Parks

Adventure level: Low

My kids love a good water park. Aga Park is a 4,000-square-foot water park with a ton of kid-friendly features like an elephant cannon and tidal bucket.

For pools, the YMCA of the Pikes Peak Region has collaborated with the City of Colorado Springs to bring several great options to the public without requiring a Y membership. These include indoor pools like Memorial Park Family Center YMCA and Cottonwood Creek Family Center YMCA, as well as outdoor options at Prospect Lake Beach, Wilson Ranch Pool, Portal Pool and Monument Valley.

Spraygardens are those seasonal water features at parks that typically are weather-dependent. Find spray grounds and fountains in the Colorado Springs area at Uncle Wilbur Fountain at Acacia Park (pictured), Julie Penrose Fountain at America the Beautiful Park, Deerfield Hills Spray Ground at Deerfield Hills Park, and The Water Hole at Venezia Park. Deerfield sounds pretty impressive with 16 different spray features as features like foaming geysers, soak stations and a water wall.

Hike to waterfalls

Adventure level: Medium-high

If you like the rush of that first glance of a waterfall, Colorado Springs has some trails for you. Moderate trails that are family-friendly include about a one-miler leading to Helen Hunt Falls; the Broadmoor Seven Falls (pictured), which takes some stair-climbing, but I hear it’s worth it; and St. Mary’s Falls in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, with a much longer hike of 6.1 miles round-trip.

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