Iron Spring, Pikes Peak Region Travel Guide

4.6 (98)

Discover the historical Iron Spring in Manitou Springs, a testament to the town's mineral water heritage and healing traditions.

Iron Spring in Manitou Springs offers a taste of the town's rich mineral water history. Originally used for medicinal purposes, the spring provides a unique glimpse into the past and the area's long-standing connection with natural springs.

A brief summary to Iron Spring

Manitou Springs, West Colorado Springs, Colorado, 80829, US

From Eve

Know before you go

Hi, I'm Eve. Here are a few practical things to know before exploring Iron Spring.

Bring your own bottle to sample the mineral water. The springs are open to the public and free to access.
Combine your visit with a walk along Ruxton Avenue to explore other historical sites and attractions.
Visit during the off-season for a less crowded experience.

Do you manage this location?

Take control to get all the benefits, like improved information, better appearance, and stronger visibility across AI-powered discovery. Learn more about listing your business on Evendo

Activate your presence

Other nearby places you may find interesting

The closest places of the same kind, if this one is not quite what you had in mind.

Pikes Peak - America's Mountain

Cave of the Winds Mountain Park

Pikes Peak

Manitou Cliff Dwellings

Garden of the Gods

Explore Iron Spring on the Map

A handpicked selection of must-see spots near Iron Spring, mapped for you.

Getting There

Walking

From the roundabout at the intersection of Manitou Avenue and Ruxton Avenue, walk northwest on Ruxton Avenue for approximately 0.3 miles. Iron Spring will be on your left, just before the Iron Springs Chateau Melodrama Dinner Theater. The walk is slightly uphill.
Public Transport

Take the free Manitou Springs Shuttle (Route 33). This shuttle runs year-round and has multiple stops throughout town. Get off at the Ruxton Avenue stop near the Cog Railway. From there, walk a short distance down Ruxton Avenue to Iron Spring. The shuttle arrives approximately every 20 minutes.
Parking

Limited paid parking is available at the Iron Springs Chateau. The cost is $15 for 4 hours, cash only, on a first-come, first-served basis. Alternatively, park at the Hiawatha Gardens lot at 10 Old Man's Trail and take the free shuttle to Ruxton Avenue. Parking at Hiawatha Gardens costs $1.50 for 1 hour, $3.00 for 2 hours, $5.00 for 3 hours, $7.00 for 4 hours, $9.00 for 5 hours, $14.00 for 6 hours, and $19.00 for 7 hours.

Discover more about Iron Spring

Iron Spring, also known as Iron Spring Geyser, is a historical landmark in Manitou Springs, Colorado, that played a vital role in the town's development as a mineral springs resort. The Manitou area was considered a sacred and healing place by Native Americans long before European Americans settled in the area. They believed that the Great Spirit Manitou created the bubbles, or effervescence, in the spring water, making the springs sacred grounds for drinking and soaking to replenish and heal themselves.In the 1870s, Iron Springs began attracting visitors, particularly to the Ute Iron Springs. In 1910, Joseph G. Hiestand, recognizing the benefits of the iron-rich waters, drilled the Iron Springs Geyser. He fitted the geyser with a hand-blown glass font under a hip-roof style pavilion. The spring was prescribed to patients suffering from iron deficiency. The waters emitting from the mineral springs along Ruxton Creek were known as “The Strongest of Tonics”.Today, Iron Spring stands as a testament to Manitou Springs' history and the enduring allure of its mineral waters. Though the Ute Iron Spring font has been capped and lies beneath the Goldmine Room's floor, the Iron Springs Geyser remains accessible to the general public.