Manitou's Mineral Springs

“Doing what you like is freedom, liking what you do is happiness.” ~Anonymous

The mineral springs in Manitou Springs are a vital part of what makes this area special. There are eight distinct naturally-carbonated mineral springs in town and each has a slightly different taste. While we wandered through town we looked for each one and had a little taste...I thought they all tasted about the same.

The source of these famous mineral waters lies deep underground in a system of cavernous aquifers. As the ancient water erodes the surrounding limestone, carbonic acid is created, which gives the Manitou springs their effervescence. This natural carbonation forces the water back to the surface through cracks in the rocks, where it absorbs high concentrations of sodium bicarbonate (soda) and other minerals, including Lithium!

7 Minute Spring gets its name from the fact that when it was drilled, it produced a “geysering event” every seven minutes. It has the lightest, least mineral taste of all of the springs and is located near a gazebo in 7-Minute Spring Park.  

Shoshone Spring came highly recommended by early physicians for its high mineral content and curative powers. The water boasts the highest mineral content of any of the downtown springs and has a very strong, but not unpleasant mineral taste.

Navajo Spring is now located beneath a popcorn and candy store, where it still provides sweet soda mineral water to all who stop by. This spring has a salty, bubbly taste, second lightest after the 7-minute spring. Once the most popular spring in Manitou. This sweet-tasting water became so popular that it was used in beverages made by the Manitou Mineral Water Company, including their world-famous Manitou Ginger Champagne and other popular cola drinks.

Cheyenne Spring is a sweet soda spring, and tastes the best of the mineral springs in Manitou. It’s also one of the oldest in the area, dating back 20,000 years. This spring is among the highest in both magnesium and potassium content, both essential minerals for a healthy body and brain.  

The Wheeler Spring was created in 1920 and donated to the city by the family of Jerome Wheeler. This spring is high in copper and has a saltier taste than the other springs.  

Stratton Spring is located at the “Loop”, an old turnaround for the trolley. It was drilled in 1936 by the Stratton Foundation. It’s part of a bronze and stone sculpture of a woman gathering water. The water is very effervescent and has a higher mineral taste than Twin Spring, but less than Shoshone Spring. 

Twin Spring has been known by many names, but one thing that hasn’t changed is its incredible flavor. It originally began as two springs whose waters merged into a single flow. The sweet waters were popular in making lemonade (Manitou Lemonade and Manitou Mojitos). It's the locals’ favorite spring for its sweet taste.   

Iron Spring: Physicians prescribed the waters from the upper Ruxton Creek, known as “The Strongest of Tonics”, to patients for iron deficiencies and other ailments long before this spring was drilled. The original structure still stands today and may be among one of the oldest constructions sheltering a mineral spring in Colorado. It was once the most popular spring in Manitou.

Oct. 30 - Pikes Peak

“Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” –Barry Finlay

Pikes Peak is one of the most beautiful landmarks in Colorado and the most visited mountain summit in North America. The views from the summit inspired the words to America the Beautiful. In 1803, Pikes Peak mountain became part of the United States as part of the vast Louisiana Purchase. Three years later in 1806, Lt. Zebulon Pike was sent to explore the borders of the new territory. On November 24, 1806, he set out from his stop near modern-day Pueblo, Colorado, to climb the mountain. He was forced back by a blizzard and declared that no man would ever reach the summit that now bears his name. Visitors now reach the summit by taking the cog train, hiking, biking or driving to the top.

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway boasts they have all new trains, new depots and a new visitor center at the top. It would definitely have been the least stressful way to get to the top, but after reading reviews about horrible parking, uncomfortable seats, crowded cars and limited time at the top to enjoy the view, we decided to drive up. The Pikes Peak Highway was completed in 1915, is 19.5 miles long with an elevation change of 6,715 feet and has approximately 162 turns. Conditions were amazing for our visit, although a little cold at 35º, but the sun was out and the sky was perfectly clear. The day and the views were amazing.

A look at parts of the highway. There were amazing views, unfortunately it was hard for Stan to really appreciate them.

There were many places to pull over and enjoy the view or even do a little hiking.

Just one of the endless views we enjoyed.

The new sign at the top of Pike's Peak.

The views were wonderful at the top.

This view looks towards Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. You can see the rock formations in The Garden of the Gods center left.

Looking towards Denver.

The Arkansas River

Glenn Cove Inn at mile 13. Rangers check your breaks on the way down.

Pike's Peak highway map. It also shows where the cog railroad goes up the mountain.

The Broadmoor Manitou and Pikes Peak Cog Railway has been climbing to the top of Pikes Peak since 1891. Some have described the Pikes Peak summit as the “gateway to heaven.” On a clear day you can see Collegiate and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges, the Continental Divide, the mining town of Cripple Creek, and  the skyscrapers of Denver. 

I saw someone taking a video on our way down...I wish I would have thought about doing it early.

Oct. 29 - Garden of the Gods

“Because when you stop and look around, this life is pretty amazing.” ~Anonymous

After our long drive from the east coast we decided to spend the day outside enjoying an amazing fall day. We spent the morning hiking at the Garden of the Gods. We hiked three short trails in the park that gave us a chance to get close to the largest rock formations and also provided us with wonderful views of the surrounding area. We hiked a total of 4.5 miles today. 

The Garden of the Gods is a unique biological melting pot where the grasslands of the Great Plains meet the pinon-juniper woodlands of the American Southwest and merge with the mountain forest of Pikes Peak. The park’s famous red rocks formed millions of years ago due to upheavals in the earth’s surface and erosion. The rocks are conglomerates of red, pink, and white sandstones and limestone.  

The first European explorers referred to this site as Red Rock Corral. But, in 1859 a new group of surveyors explored the site and one gentleman remarked that the area would be a great location for a beer garden. His companion replied that this place of incredible beauty was suited for more than just a beer garden, that it was a place fit for gods to assemble. And that’s how “Garden of the Gods” got its name! 

In 1879 Charles Elliott Perkins purchased 480 acres of land that included a portion of the present Garden of the Gods. Upon Perkins death in 1909, his family gave the land to the city of Colorado Springs, with the provision that it would be a free public park.  

We started our visit to the park at the visitors center...wow what a great view they have.

North Gateway Rock

Our first hike was on the Central Garden Trail. The trail (paved path) takes you through the heart of the park at the base of the highest rock formations.

South and North Gateway Rocks

Can you see the moon through the Kissing Camels?

South Gateway Rock

The backside of North and South Gateway Rocks.

The Three Graces

The Cathedral Spires

Our second hike was on the Ridge Trail. It was more of a real trail that took us up and over rocks to the Sleeping Giant. It was a nice little hike with no one else on the trail. 

Our third hike took us to a formation called Siamese Twins. It offers spectacular views of the area and Pike's Peak.

A view of Pike's Peak from the window of the Siamese Twins

A beautiful view of the fall colors below.

Balanced Rock is at the southern end of the park and is one of the most photographed formations in the park. People have had their pictures taken here for centuries. 

Off to Manitou Springs, CO

“The journey is my home.” -Anonymous

We decided to take a little detour on our way back to Texas this fall. We're going to spend the next week exploring and relaxing around Manitou Springs, Colorado. It's been the quintessential tourist town since the 1870s, when visitors discovered the healing waters the Ute Indians had been drinking for years. The Native Americans who once lived here considered this area sacred and believed the water had healing and spiritual benefits (Manitou). The waters come from the underground streams from the Colorado Rocky Mountains which collect minerals along its journey. The town became a hub for those looking to recover from tuberculosis and other ailments. But Manitou Springs has a lot more to offer than healthy water. They have tons of diverse shops and art galleries, natural attractions like the Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak, endless amounts of hiking trails and great restaurants.  

The apartment we're staying in is part of what was Jerome Wheeler’s carriage house built in 1888. Wheeler married into the Macy (department store) family and became its president in 1879. He and his wife visited Manitou Springs for their health and built a summer home there. He was instrumental in building many things in Manitou Springs and the development of Aspen, CO. He's also known for the railroads he built in Colorado, including the Manitou and Pikes Peak Railway, a cog railway that still transports passengers to the top of Pikes Peak.

We've been very busy the past 2-3 weeks so we're looking forward to doing a little exploring, a little hiking and a whole lot of relaxing.