A trip to the summit of Pikes Peak is a definite must for experienced as well as amateur hikers. In 1806, Zebulon Pike declared Pikes Peak unclimbable, but today, visitors have their choice of many manmade paths that lead to the top of the 14,110-foot mountain. The climb up to the top of Pikes Peak can take anywhere from six to eight hours, making this hike an all-day event. In addition to its wealth of natural wonders, the area surrounding Colorado Springs offers some noteworthy sights of human origin, including the Royal Gorge Bridge in Canon City. The structure is the world's highest suspension bridge, and it sits at 1,200 feet above the Arkansas River.
Tourists can take either the aerial tramway across the gorge or the incline railway to the bottom.
The Broadmoor, a Renaissance-style resort built by another prominent citizen, Spencer Rose, lies at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain. The Myron Stratton Home, built by Cripple Creek gold miner Winfield Scott Stratton and named after his father, can be found on Highway 115. The Shove Chapel, modeled after Winchester Cathedral in England, sits north of downtown, on the Colorado College campus. Old Colorado City, located west of downtown, was the state's first capital. Now a National Historic District, the town charms visitors with its red-brick buildings housing shops, restaurants, and art galleries.