Ecotourism in Colorado Springs

There are plenty of big adventures with small carbon footprints in the Pikes Peak region.

From an endless array of hiking and biking trail systems to locally-sourced food and sustainable goods, you can enjoy your time in the Pikes Peak Wonders region knowing you minimized your environmental impact.

WHERE TO STAY

SCP – SCP (Soul Community Planet) Hotel aims to serve people and the planet through its services in what it calls “Holistic Hospitality.” Its mission is to provide a great hotel for people who “believe in the power of healthy living, kindness toward others and compassion to the planet.” The hotel focuses on giving back, offers healthy and fresh food, provides fitness opportunities, reduces waste, uses sustainable materials and provides green spaces for guests.

Kinship Landing – Downtown Colorado Springs’ newest boutique hotel was built around the idea of connection and the way hospitality can turn strangers into friends. Opening in December 2020, Kinship offers a clean, comfortable and affordable lodging option. They provide a sustainable way for guests to preserve their funds for creating epic memories in the area. They offer both private and shared rooms to accommodate every type of traveler.

Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort – Buffalo Lodge Bicycle Resort is a historical, bicycle-themed motor lodge motel with amenities and activities suited to cyclists and hikers. Located on a popular designated bike route connecting Colorado Springs and Manitou Springs, you won’t need your car to get from the hotel to the trails.

Switchback Coffee Roasters

WHERE TO EAT

Pizzeria Rustica – Not only does this local favorite serve up delicious pizza, but they are also a 4-Star Certified Green Restaurant. They have one of the highest ratings in all of Colorado and are among the top 10 in the United States. Pizzeria Rustica has taken great steps to decrease the environmental impact of your dining experience.

Skirted Heifer – Skirted Heifer uses Energy Star efficient equipment in the kitchen, all of their takeout boxes and napkins are 100% recycled, they use plant-based cups and lids, their furniture is made from trees salvaged from the Waldo and Black Forest fire and they have bamboo flooring because bamboo plants grow faster than trees. Not to mention, their burgers are made from local, 100% grass-fed, grass-finished beef. Each don a skirt – one made of melted cheddar cheese!

Goat Patch Brewery -– Goat Patch Brewery’s values center around balanced brews, community engagement and adventure. Each year, the brewery chooses two nonprofits to host for its It Takes a Tribe initiative. When people purchase a pint of the It Takes a Tribe Red Ale, they receive a wooden nickel that represents 25 cents that will be given back to the organization at the anniversary party each year. They also host a food truck each day for delicious bites along with your beer.

Switchbacks Coffee Roasters – When it comes to finding coffee, Switchback focuses on quality, sustainability and transparency. The coffee roastery and café work with importers and producers that share the same values, including environmentally conscious farming practices and paying a decent wage to coffee pickers.

PikeRide

WHAT TO DO

Take a PikeRide – Rent an e-bike from PikeRide to get around downtown Colorado Springs as well as Old Colorado City. PikeRide is elevating our community with a fun, healthy, planet-friendly and cost-effective way to get around. The electric-assist bikes make it super easy to get up small inclines, keep up with traffic and get going again once you've made a stop. Take a free, 15-minute ride, pay-as-you-go ride for more than 15 minutes, or purchase a 24-hour unlimited pass for $20.

Find Outdoor Adventure with UpaDowna – UpaDowna works to provide access to outdoor adventures for all, through events and programs that empower individuals, create healthier communities and foster respect for the environment. Join one of their monthly group hikes and connect with the natural surroundings while practicing environmental stewardship.

Volunteer with Trails & Open Spaces Coalition – This organization believes in protecting our trails, parks and open spaces, which in turn, protects our lifestyle for generations to come. Join a volunteer group with the Trails & Open Space Coalition to ensure trails & parks are being taken care of in the most sustainable, responsible way.

Visit Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Give the giraffes some lettuce while supporting Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s wildlife conservation and sustainability initiatives. Beyond living green themselves, their ongoing wildlife conservation products and Quarters for Conservation initiative, they are committed to spreading the word about how each and every person can make a difference in the health and sustainability of wildlife and wild places.

Learn about conservation with Palmer Land Conservancy – Join an event like a group hike, brewery hang, film screening, trail cleanup and more where you'll learn about and contribute to conservation in our local community.

Heartshake Studios

WHERE TO SHOP

Frayla Boutique – This socially responsible fashion boutique gives back every time its clothing is sold. Its concept is to support companies that make their products in the U.S. or give back in some way, including through ethically made fair trade fashion.

Yobel Market – this local market is a fair-trade retail store whose mission is to empower and promote the value of exploited, displaced and impoverished people groups of the world through the development of sustainable economic opportunities. Yobel contributes to product development and expands global marketplaces utilizing fair trade principles while partnering with organizations committed to ethical and sustainable production processes. Yobel is committed to educating consumers locally about the power of our purchases in the role of promoting freedom and dignity globally.

Eclectic Co – This cooperative space provides support, education and camaraderie to makers, as well as quality sustainable and handmade goods to better the community. Eclectic CO. supports local artisans, healthy local economies and social impact enterprises to promote social justice and environmental improvement. They proudly house dozens of social impact businesses making improvements in our communities, environment and social justice initiatives.

Heartshake Studios – With a taste for natural materials, bold color and a bohemian sensibility, the stop is filled with high-quality goods at attainable prices. The store supports local, handmade, fair trade and especially women-run businesses.

Lindsay Cluckey

Marketing Coordinator | Visit Colorado Springs

While Lindsay was born and raised in Ohio, they fell in love with the mountains and have not looked back since. They recently graduated from Colorado State University with a Masters degree in Tourism Management. Their favorite spot in the Region is the top of Pikes Peak, where the views are breathtaking. They are most likely to be found hiking and taking photos of the gorgeous scenery. Ask them about how we can become better stewards of our natural resources and protect them for future generations to come!

Goat Patch Brewing Company

2727 N Cascade Ave Ste 123 | Colorado Springs, CO | 80907 (719) 471-4628

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