Last weekend I had the major itch to get to the mountains and really wanted to hike to enjoy the warm 70-degree weather. Going west on I-70 towards the ski resorts was an automatic no because I knew it would only lead me to snowy mountains. Don’t get me wrong—I love the snow but I’m ready for spring and wanted to enjoy nature without clothes piling me down.

As soon as I woke up Saturday morning I reached for my phone and opened Google maps. I zoomed in and out of different places further south and eventually settled on Manitou Springs. The weather was similar to Denver and in the high 60’s due to its elevation. I had never been but heard it’s a “cute” place to visit and a short hour and a half drive from Denver. I originally sought out the hot springs but they were all booked. After reading, I discovered Manitou Lake known for its still waters, bird habitat, and wildlife. We recently bought stand-up paddle boards so I thought it’d be a perfect place to take them out for the first time.

Spring in the Colorado mountains is referred to as “mud season” because it’s typically muddy as the snow melts. It’s a weird time when Denver has 70-degree, beautiful days, the ski towns have days of snow and cold weather or sunny and icy, and then there are those in-between pockets that you search for to utilize for all your other fun outdoor activities. I feel like the places I’m sharing below should be noted as great places to visit around April/May time of year because they offer warmth, flowing rivers, and beautiful nature. They’re great other times but especially now when most places can’t offer the same.

Ok, back to the weekend. We headed south towards Colorado Springs to realize we forgot to pack our paddle so SUP was a no-go. We decided to continue to Manitou Lake to see what it was all about.

Manitou Lake

The reviews online raved about Manitou Lake but it was much smaller than I expected. It’s a reservoir and I don’t think it’s fair to call it a “lake.” We paid $7 to enter. Was it worth it? I think so. We decided to take off on a walk to explore. At first sight, we were unimpressed. As we kept going, it was so lovely. We saw herons and ducks nesting. There were different types of birds flying and singing everywhere. The plants were beautiful—even out of season. The natural habitat of the lake was so impressive and fun to read about on signs throughout. If you’re a bird person, this is a great place to visit!

It’s a small 5-acre reservoir fed by Trout Creek. It sits at 7,700 feet elevation, and has grassy meadows and ponderosa pines (my favorite). Note that there is no swimming or body contact allowed with this water since it is a wildlife haven. Online it says you can paddleboard so I’m a little confused and would do your own research if this is an activity you’re looking to enjoy.

It features some cool red rocks along the trail which is no surprise since Garden of the Gods isn’t too far away.

After Manitou Lake, Andrew tried to convince me to head back to Denver for the night but I had other plans. We drove our camper van because I needed a night out of the city. All of the campgrounds surrounding the lake were currently closed for the season.

Platte River Campground

We headed back a different way (on 67 instead of I-25). I kept my eye out for any campgrounds that appeared to be open for first-come, first-serve. I couldn’t believe how magical Platte River Campground was when we stumbled upon it. We pulled in and claimed the first site, #1, for $21 a night. It had a fire pit and picnic table where we planned to spend the evening. The campground is tent-only, pack-in/out. We backed the van facing towards the Platte River which offered incredible views and nature sounds. We set up our chairs along the river and enjoyed a quiet evening taking in the views. Ziggy had a lot of swim and fishing time which entertained us for hours.

Indian Creek Trailhead (Sedalia, CO)

As we continued to head back towards Denver, we were on the lookout for any hiking trails when we came across Indian Creek Trailhead located in Pike National Forest. We decided to pull over and give it a go. The trail was snow free and offered pretty Colorado views.

The drive back to Denver is only about an hour. You pass through Chatfield State Park if you wanted to check out something else close to the city but worth seeing! Happy Camping!

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