Fort Carson

Day Trips

Begin your immersive journey by arriving at Colorado Springs Airport and heading to Fort Carson’s Visitor Center for a warm welcome briefing. Meet with a base guide to obtain your access credentials, maps, and safety orientation. Familiarize yourself with the installation layout, emergency procedures, and key amenities such as the PX and fitness center.

Enjoy a campus-style lunch at Iron Horse Sports & Fitness Center’s cafe and settle into your on-post lodging. Take a guided driving tour of the main garrisons, training areas, and recreational facilities to get an insider’s view of life on Fort Carson. Stop by the post exchange to pick up souvenirs and essential supplies.

Dine at the Freedom’s Edge dining facility alongside service members and families to experience genuine base camaraderie. Attend an optional evening briefing on local wildlife safety and base regulations. Unwind with a stroll through Founders Field and admire the sunset over Cheyenne Mountain.

Drive west to Garden of the Gods for a sunrise hike among its towering red sandstone formations. Join a ranger-led walk to learn about the park’s geological history and native wildlife. Capture panoramic views of Pikes Peak framed by the dramatic rock spires.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at the North Gateway picnic area before tackling the Perkins Central Garden Trail. Try a beginner-friendly rock scramble under the guidance of a certified climbing instructor. Visit the Garden of the Gods Visitor & Nature Center to explore interactive exhibits and purchase local artisan crafts.

Return to Fort Carson for a relaxed barbecue at Iron Horse Sports & Fitness Center’s outdoor grills. Attend a stargazing program on Founders Field, where telescopes offer views of the Milky Way above the Rocky Mountains. Share stories around a campfire with fellow travelers and service members.

Set out early for the Pikes Peak Highway to catch the sunrise near the 14,115-foot summit. Stop at scenic overlooks en route to photograph elk grazing in subalpine meadows. Arrive at the summit house to soak in sweeping views and celebrate your first 14er conquest.

Descend via the iconic Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway for a leisurely lunch at the Manitou Springs Depot Café. Explore the historic town of Manitou Springs, browsing art galleries and sampling local mineral spring water. Stroll along the Manitou Incline base to watch hikers tackling the famous steps.

Head back to the base for a hearty dinner at the LBV Sportsmen’s Grill inside Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club. Catch a free outdoor concert or movie on Founders Field when available. Relax with a nightcap at the Warrior Call Lounge and mingle with service members.

Start with a guided tour of the Fort Carson Museum to delve into the base’s storied military history. View artifacts from World War II through modern deployments and hear firsthand accounts from veteran docents. Participate in an interactive artillery demonstration to feel the rumble of history.

Have lunch at the Trooper’s Café and check out the installation art on display in the nearby Combat Aviation Brigade lobby. Visit the Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center to learn about military healthcare innovations. Take a self-guided walking tour of memorials and monuments honoring decorated soldiers.

Dine at the Mountain Post Brewing Company for locally crafted beers and hearty pub fare. Join a trivia night event that highlights military history and local lore. Wind down with a lakeside stroll around John Metcalfe Lake before returning to your quarters.

Head back to Garden of the Gods for a specialized rock-climbing clinic led by expert guides. Warm up with basic knot-tying and belaying exercises at the park’s designated climbing zones. Ascend the iconic Kissing Camels Tower for an adrenaline-pumping view.

Enjoy a sack lunch under Balanced Rock before switching to multi-pitch climbing techniques. Challenge yourself on varied routes rated for intermediate climbers, all while taking in views of Pikes Peak and the Colorado Springs valley. Capture aerial photos using a GoPro mounted to your helmet.

Return to Fort Carson and freshen up before dinner at Torch & Spoon, the on-post steakhouse. Attend a motivational talk by an Army mountaineering team member sharing expedition stories. Relax around a fire pit at the Warrior Call Lounge, sipping hot cocoa.

Load your bike onto the base rack and drive to Fox Run Regional Park for a guided mountain biking excursion. Tackle single-track trails that wind through pine forests and aspen groves. Pause for water breaks at scenic overlooks over Monument Valley and Pikes Peak.

Refuel with a deli-style lunch at Fox Run’s picnic pavilion before exploring Owl’s Nest Loop, a challenging six-mile circuit. Learn trail maintenance tips from a Park Ranger and assist in a short volunteer trailwork project. Return to base with time to relax in the fitness center’s sauna.

Grab dinner from a rotating food truck at Iron Horse Sports & Fitness Center. Take part in a yoga class on Founders Field to stretch your muscles after a day of biking. Spend the rest of the evening stargazing or enjoying board games in the Community Recreation Center.

Kick off your culinary exploration with a brewery shuttle that departs from Fort Carson’s Visitor Center. Stop first at Pikes Peak Brewing Company for a behind-the-scenes tour and tasting flight. Learn the art of brewing from grain to glass.

Enjoy lunch at a popular food hall in downtown Colorado Springs featuring local vendors. Continue your tasting journey at Phantom Canyon Brewing Co. with a guided pairing of IPAs and artisanal cheeses. Wrap up the tour with a visit to Bristol Brewing Company to sample signature saisons and barrel-aged stouts.

Return to Fort Carson for a chef-led cooking demonstration in the Culinary Arts Center, where you’ll prepare a dish using seasonal Colorado ingredients. Dine on your own creation alongside fellow participants. Wind down with live acoustic music at the Warrior Call Lounge.

Drive north to the United States Air Force Academy for a guided campus tour. Visit the iconic Cadet Chapel, walk the Honor Court, and learn about cadet life from current students. Observe a morning formation on the Terrazzo and witness the precision of Academy traditions.

Grab lunch at the Cadet Area Food Court and then explore the Falcon Stadium concourse displays. Tour the Cadet Field House and learn about the rigorous athletic training programs. Finish at the USAFA Visitor Center to view aerospace exhibits and interactive flight simulators.

Return to Fort Carson for dinner at Freedom’s Edge dining facility with views of the foothills. Attend an evening lecture by an Academy professor covering aerospace history and the future of flight. Relax on your balcony, reflecting on the day’s inspiring sights.

Set out early for Cheyenne Mountain State Park’s multi-use trail system to catch the sunrise over Pikes Peak. Follow the Thunder Ridge Trail for panoramic foothill views and chances to spot mule deer and bighorn sheep. Practice outdoor skills with a ranger-led session on backcountry navigation.

Enjoy a trail-side lunch at the Devils Head Vista before tackling the 15-mile round-trip Vista Ridge Trail. Participate in a guided photography workshop to capture dramatic vistas and native wildflowers. Conclude the hike at the Nature Center with a badge-earning junior ranger ceremony, open to all ages.

Return to base for a casual dinner at the Iron Horse Bowling Alley’s grill. Take part in a night hike around Founders Field under the guidance of Wildlife Division staff. Conclude your last evening with s’mores at a post-wide community campfire event.

Pack up your gear and enjoy a farewell breakfast buffet at Freedom’s Edge dining facility. Stop by the souvenir shop to pick up mementos and share postcards with friends and family. Attend a final briefing at the Visitor Center to collect any last-minute travel tips.

Check out of your on-post lodging and say goodbye to your guides before heading to Colorado Springs Airport. Reflect on your immersive Fort Carson experience as you drive through the scenic Pikes Peak corridor. Plan promising return visits to favorite spots you discovered.

Board your flight home with memories of Colorado’s natural wonders and Army camaraderie fresh in your mind. Share photos and stories from your Fort Carson adventure with family back home. Dream of future expeditions in the Rocky Mountains and beyond.