Colorado Springs Outdoors

Colorado Trail - Summit County off Tiger Road
We might get some guff from the locals for saying it, but we’d argue this is the best stretch of singletrack in Summit County, which puts it in pretty strong company. Once you reach the high point on this 20-mile loop, prepare to have some fun.

Falcon Trail
This rolling 12.7-mile singletrack loop is one of the best bike and trail running spots in town, especially in fall and spring when mountain trails are still snowy.

Intemann Falls
This short loop takes hikers to an ephemeral waterfall that changes from season to season and year to year, depending on water levels. Sometimes it rushes in a noisy torrent. This June it is almost dry, but even in dry years, it attracts an array of small wildlife.

Crags overlook
This short, steep climb has a big payoff at the end — a secluded granite dome overlooking The Crags and the western slope of Pikes Peak.

i-35 downhill mountain bike trail
This is perhaps the most insane trail in the region -- an old route that’s been on local maps for decades, and may date back to the era of the stagecoach, it has been co-opted by mountain bikers who have added jumps and other stunts.

Monument Rock Loop
Just west of Monument, a network of gentle trails at the foot of Mount Herman lets hikers ramble over charming terrain without worrying about steepness or snow.

Red Fox Loop in Fox Run Regional Park
This rolling forest loop, which lopes through Fox Run Regional Park, east of monument Monument, is a shorter hike good for families or a quick after-work jaunt.

Garden of the Gods Palmer Loop
This classic tour of the Garden is a good place to spot the first spring flowers.

Bear Creek Park race course
This fun, winding loop through Bear Creek Regional is a great practice trail for new mountain bikers or a short loop for after work or when winter snows have blocked off higher trails. Good for walkers and joggers too.

Bull Park
A little known meadow named for the bull elk that gather at certain times of the year. Winter blocks Jeeps from this spot, making it a snowshoerâ€™s delight.

Frosty's Park
A gorgeous subalpine meadow sometimes unfortunately abused by off-roaders. It's quiet and lovely in winter, and a good jumping off point for many trails.

Schubarth Road
This narrow Rampart Range Road is a classic bike or ski, and connects to many other worthy hikes.

Bott Trail and Codell Hogback
The short Bock trail in Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a useful connector for longer forays in the park, and the best way to glimpse the little-seen relics of the property’s gold-refining past. It makes a nice loop with the Codell Hogback.

Tunnel Drive
This gorgeous canyon walk near Cañon City is a sure bet for hikers who want to avoid ice and snow, and a fun family hike through abandoned railroad tunnels

Mays Peak
This short Cheyenne Cañon hike to a summit with broad views of the city is a nice, and often forgotten alternative to more popular hikes in the canyon, such as Mount Cutler.

The Paint Mines
Hidden in a grassy basin on the eastern plains, the Paint Mines is a trove of whimsical hoodoos made from bright, sherbet-colored stone. For generations, this geologic oddity on the plains has drawn people to it. Archaeological evidence suggests that paleolithic hunters have camped in the area for thousands of years, using the regional clay to make crude cooking vessels. In modern times, it has been an engaging day trip for city dwellers. Trails created in the past few years make this long-time favorite spot easier to enjoy.

Mount Rosa via Zeb Pike's south ridge
This untrailed route is never-the-less a classic, both because you can retrace Pikes route, and the scenic bristlecone grove is a natural winter route.

Templeton Trail
Rocks, rocks and more rocks. A lovely rolling hike, but also the toughest mountain bike proving ground in Colorado Springs.

Beaver Creek Wilderness Study loop
The broken, rocky ridges cascading down the south slope of Pikes Peak make Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area one of the most remote, wild places in the region. This loop is a good introduction to what could turn into a lifetime of exploring the area.

Palmer Park loop
Palmer Park may be the sweetest and most vexing network of trails in the city. The low sandstone bluffs littered with little ledges give hikers and bikers a fun challenge, but too often newcomers end up on trails that are either far too easy or far too hard. Here's a good loop that encompasses the best of the park's intermediate terrain.

Stanley Canyon
This steep, hidden canyon is a natural avenue between the Air Force Academy and secluded Stanley Reservoir on the crest of Rampart Range.

Tubing the Arkansas in Pueblo
When it's hot, there's no better treat than this mellow float from Pueblo Reservoir to the Pueblo Nature Center.

Jones Downhill
One of the longest, toughest bike rides in the region, and that's saying something. But it's also one of the most beautiful.

Stratton Open Space Ladders
This is a safer uphill access to the popular Chutes Trail that allows bikers to dodge most of the dangerously fast downhill traffic.

Ski Pikes Peak
Colorado Springs' own drive-to backcountry skiing. This can either be a shuttle, or a ski tour. Experts only.

The Caves at the Fossil Beds
Officially known as the Boulder Creek Trail, this Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument path leads to a fun series of grottoes along a creek.

Fossil Beds Sawmill Trail
This trail rolls through the gentle meadows of Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

Red Mountain
Above the Paul Intemann Memorial Nature Trail in Manitou Springs is a short, sweet summit hike with an great view of the city.

Fremont Peak
Perched above Royal Gorge near Canyon City is a rocky summit Zebulon Pike used to survey the country in 1807. It is a spectacular winter hike.

Bluestem Prairie Open Space
Just south of the Colorado Springs Airport, a natural bowl of prairie holds El Paso County's largest body of water and one of the area's newest open space parks. On a winter morning, it can be a great place to spot bald eagles and other winter raptors.

Ute Valley Park
This rocky square of open space tucked into the northwest corner of the city is a favorite after-work ride with rocky, technical terrain.

Pueblo mountain bike trails
This is the Front Range Fruita. Dry desert trails with great views. This riding is best in winter and spring when mountain snows have closed off other options.

Rampart Reservoir
This is a favorite of bikers, hikers, trail runners and fisherman, and one of the best trails in the region for anyone looking for a longer trail without a lot of altitude gain.

Lizard Rock Trail
No name is more fitting, this moderate, fun hike leads to a rock outcrop that looks like a sunning lizard.

Kenosha Peak
This variation on a classic Lost Creek Wilderness trail takes hikers along a mossy creek to a gentle alpine summit with views all around and plenty of options for further wandering. This high, lonesome peak is a perfect hike as long as the snow holds off.

Elk Park
The Elk Park trail trots below Pikes Peak's rocky cirque through a patchwork of dense, mossy forest and sun-splashed meadows, eventually ending at Barr Camp. It's a nice alternative start for a summit hike.

Duffield's Meadow
A hidden on the shoulder of Black Mountain above Emerald Valley that is a splendid backcountry picnic spo.

Waldo Canyon
If you want to avoid crowds, this trail is not for you, but it is hard to beat for pure variety of flowers, views, and fresh air. Try it and you'll see why it's a favorite.

Seven Bridges to Jones Park
North Cheyenne Canyon Park is a tangle of lush conifers and there aren't many aspens in its lower reaches. A hike up Seven Bridges Trail to Jones Park, however, reveals a golden wonderland in fall and a nice retreat any time of the year.

Picketwire Canyon
Spring is a perfect time to visit this hidden river canyon in the grasslands because rain and cool temperatures have turned the prairie green and carpeted canyon bottoms with flowers. The canyon also hides remnants of a Hispanic village and Jurassic-era dinosaur footprints. Picketwire Canyon can be explored by horse, bike, or foot.

Castlewood Canyon
This canyon east of Castle Rock is a surprise and a delight. Get down in the cliff walls, along the creek, and you'd never guess you're east of Colorado Springs.

Ring the Peak - Putney Gulch to Horsethief Park
Ring the Peak is a trail under construction, but this section is finished, and is a fine walk.

The Crags
This classic back-of-the-peak wander is great for summer days, when high altitude. Due west of Colorado Springs, on the western slope of Pikes Peak.

Palmer / Section 16 Trail
This classic loop, which leaves from the edge of Colorado Springs, is easy on the up, steep on the down. This popular (but not too crowded) trail is a popular day hike, trail run, and advanced mountain bike.

New Santa Fe Trail
This railroad grade-turned-bike trail heads south to Colorado Springs through the Air Force Academy and hooks up with the Pikes Peak Greenway trail. It's great for jogging or riding when you want to put on the miles.

Devil's Head Fire Lookout
The last manned fire lookout in Colorado sits on a picturesque crag in the South Platte District of the Pike National Forest, off Rampart Range Road.

Pulpit Rock in Austin Bluffs Open Space
You've seen it when you're stopped in traffic on I-25, that white band of cliffs to the east. It's Pulpit Rock, a great quick getaway for watching the sun set.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Sundance Trail
There are plenty of quick hikes within minutes of your front door, but few new ones. If you haven’t stopped by Cheyenne Mountain State Park, you’re missing out on local adventure. The park includes 20 miles of trails that intersect here and there — perfect whether you’re looking for a quick run or a day of discovery.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space - Hogback Valley Trail
This isn’t a new trail, but we’ve found it’s often the least crowded at Red Rock Canyon Open Space. On a recent weekend the main parking lot was at overflow capacity, yet we saw only two hikers and one mountain biker on this trail. At times, it’s abloom with wildflowers, and if you go in the early morning or evening almost yearround you’re almost sure to see deer.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park - Blackmer Loop
We haven’t tried this trail on the hottest of summer days, but it kept us cool one spring afternoon when temps passed 80 degrees. You can hike or bike this route. It’s not difficult, but stretches are rocky, so keep an eye on toddlers and others with uneven balance.

Red Rock Canyon Geology Loop
This walk will take you through 200 million years of geology in about two hours while providing some of Red Rock Canyon Open Space’s finest views.

Felton Thomas Trail
This is a fun forest trail, winding up and down, over rocks and under branches — with a waterfall to boot. It’s also a great hike on a warm day, with plenty of shade.

Almagre Mountain from the West
Few places can hikers feel so remote on an alpine peak, and be so close to town. The high, but gentle summit of Almagre can go unvisited for weeks at a time, but this hike, with great views and a beautiful reservoir at 11,900 feet, will keep you coming back.

St. Peter’s Dome
Perched above Cheyenne Cañon, this granite rampart promises a steep, airy climb with a sharp summit scramble that is a rare find in the Pikes Peak massif’s crumbly ridges. At one point, hikers must use a rope to climb a short section where the trail goes from steep to truly vertical.

Muscoco Mountain
Muscoco Mountain, above Cheyenne Canyon, has the distinction of being right in the city’s back yard and far off the beaten path. The gentle climb up a ridge is a perfect half-day hike.

Grayback Peak
Tucked behind Cheyenne Mountain off Old Stage Road, this trail climbs a wandering ridge with views tumbling down into Emerald Valley on one side and the plains on the other.

Greenland Open Space
This rolling grassland path just over the hill from Monument is great for hikers, bikers and horse riders. It could win a contest for best beginner mountain bike ride in the region. No roots. No rocks. No gullies to suddenly spring novices off their seats. Greenland just has ribbons of gravel path looped over stunning prairie hills with enough twists and turns to keep riders alert.

Sesame Canyon
On the north side of Bear Creek Canyon, an old trail climbs over mossy logs and granite blocks into a charming little valley that ends with views with on all sides.

Grape Creek Canyon
Draw a line between Westcliffe and Cañon City, and you will have a good idea of where this canyon cuts down through granite and metamorphic rock to deliver Sangre de Cristo snowmelt to the Arkansas River. Along the way, it forms a winding stone gallery exhibiting stately cottonwoods, remnants of an abandoned railroad and lots of wild life. This hike follows a piece of the canyon to its narrowest point, called The Tights. Since this area rarely sees much snow, it’s a perfect day hike for fall, winter and spring.

Buckhorn Trail Loop
Buckhorn Trail climbs a ridge on the sunny side of Cheyenne Cañon, where snow quickly melts away. Its a favorite local bike and trail run, and in winter, is one of a few Cheyenne hikes that don’t require snow shoes.

Tunnel Drive
This old railroad grade, now only open to walkers, snakes along the Arkansas River west of Cañon City.

Curley Peak
South of Cañon City, the trail up Curley Peak climbs through ancient forests to a panoramic view of the Sangre de Cristos.

Aiken Canyon Preserve
There are few better places to greet the first signs of spring or a colorful fall than this south-facing Nature Conservancy gem on the road to Penrose. The 1,600-acre preserve starts in yucca-studded grasslands, then rises gently to shrubby hills of Gambel oak and mountain mahogany, and finally peeks into montane forests of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir.

Red Mountain
This short steep climb leads from Manitou Springs to the top of Red Mountain. It has a sweeping view of the city that's perfect for a sunrise or sunset hike.

East Fork of Eight Mile Creek
This branch of Phantom Canyon, south of Victor, is a gentle walk along a creek and a gateway to rarely visited corners of the Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area. It's a great place to stretch your legs on a scenic loop drive of Phantom Canyon.

Blodgett Peak
The peak rises to 9,423 feet, making a commanding granite prow just south of the Air Force Academy in the Rampart Range. This is a fun, but gnarly summit hike.

Rocky Mountain
This summit tucked off the Barr Trail above Manitou Springs gives hikers great views of Pikes Peak and the city on an old trail popular when the Manitou Incline still operated.

Wheeler Lakes
These lakes hang just below tree line in the Eagles Nest Wilderness in Summit County, and offer an amazing view of Copper Mountain and the peaks beyond.

Grays Peak
This fourteener on the Continental Divide west of Denver is a perfect "first-teener" for budding mountaineers.

The Punch Bowls
This series of pools hidden in Queens Canyon above Glen Eyrie is one of the coolest hikes in the region, and a sure-fire hit with kids on a hot day.

Emerald Valley / Pipeline Loop
Just off Old Stage Road west of Cheyenne Mountain, this trail winds through arcades of aspen below the ramparts of Mount Vigil. It follows an old city water pipeline, so it never gets too steep. It's a great place to see the aspen change in fall.

Mount Rosa, the hard way
Every once in a while, Happy Trails likes to throw down its stretchy polyester hiking glove in a challenge. None of this “one boot,” “two boots” stuff, but a hike so epic that your feet never want you to mention boots again. Mount Rosa, the hard way, is one such hike. It’s a full-day pilgrimage to a pitched summit. The 4,000-foot climb is a challenge worth accepting, and those who make it will find their sweat and sore feet rewarded.

Red Rock Meadow Loop
A short, rewarding loop between the Section 16 trail and Red Rock Canyon Open Space that offers the flavor of both.

Narrow Gauge Trail
This old railroad grade, near the quaint town of Pine, dallies along the north fork of the South Platte River through an evergreen-decked granite valley that reveals the best of this rugged hill country.

Park View Loop
On a crest of rock above the north fork of the South Platte River, this loop leads explorers along steep cliffs and through open meadows. Best of all, it offers a fascinating glimpse into how forests rebound from fire.

Lovell Gulch
On the northern edge of Woodland Park, this gorgeous loop combines quiet, mossy creeks with open ridge views that make for some of the best hiking and intermediate mountain biking in the region.

Mount Vigil
Jagged Mount Vigil, looming above the Emerald Valley, is one of the most stately granite sentinels in the Pikes Peak massif, and one of the least appreciated. Rock climbing gear is recommended for reaching the summit block, but those who prefer to keep both feet on the ground will find a hike to the spire’s shoulder, with its tumbling brook and exhaustive views, is just as rewarding.

Raspberry Mountain
Tucked between Woodland Park and Pikes Peak, this blocky granite summit is known for delivering great views. The somewhat unusual trailhead described here is a fresh approach that should delight even the most jaded connoisseurs.

Monument Creek Headwaters
This gentle mountain stream eventually tumbles down through Palmer Lake and Monument to become one of the main waterways flowing through Colorado Springs. In town it can be a torpid torrent filled with plastic bags and sunken shopping carts, but in its nascent miles, the creek is a quiet strand of willows and grassy glens — a perfect venue for the first cool, crisp edge of fall.

Columbine Trail
This old favorite forms the spine of North Cheyenne Caï¿½on Park as it runs from the nature center at the bottom to the Gold Camp Road at the top. Keep this scenery-packed trail in mind for fall and spring. This is also a tough, but rewarding connector trail for bikes.

Puma Peak
Puma Peak is the highest summit in a chain of wooded hills that runs north from Wilkerson Pass. This jeep road and bushwhack hike offers great views of South Park.

Spruce Mountain Loop
This loop in the 3,000-acre Greenland Ranch Open Space north of Monument, with its pairing of sweeping views and strolling terrain, is easily the best new trail in the region.

St. Marys Falls
This is a classic trail to a tumbling cascade: not too long, not too steep, and drop-dead gorgeous. There are views of the city, views of the mountains, and plenty of solitude.

Long's Ranch Loop
This brute of a loop takes hikers up to the forested flanks of Pikes Peak, with views of the summit and long stretches of solitude, then empties onto Barr Trail for a long downhill finish.

Mount Big Chief
At the turn of the century, someone crafted a gorgeous trail to the top of this peak west of Mount Rosa, complete with well-planned switchbacks and rock cribbing to make the path level. Then time swallowed the trail. The Short Line railway that used to bring tourists here closed in 1922, and then the rustic inn that served them closed. Moss and slumping firs began to take over the trail. But it hasn’t disappeared. And it’s a perfect destination for those looking for a mix of views and solitude.

Cheeseman Canyon
This trail follows the South Platte River as it cuts through the granite domes of the Rampart Range. Few hikers explore the spot, thinking it’s only a short fly fisher’s path. Nothing could be less true. The trail is long and swimming with great views.

Spruce Meadow Trail
Anyone who drives I-25 knows the high grassy hills of the Palmer Divide are a weather trap. In winter that means icy roads. In spring it means lush grasses and a display of prairie flowers that is hard to match. One of the best places to see the show, whether for a short jaunt or a long jog or bike ride, is this open loop in Douglas County’s Greenland Ranch Open Space.

Stratton Open Space Gold Camp Trail
Anyone who has ever had a near-death experience thanks to the fast, downhill mountain-bike traffic on the Chutes Trail will appreciate the pedestrian-only Gold Camp Trail.

Garden of the Gods Mountain bike trails
Most trails in this flagship city park are closed to bikes, but the southeast corner holds a network of fun trails that may be the best beginner mountain bike classroom in the city. The loops combine rolling shale singletrack with a few sets of wooden water bars and rocks that can build new riders’ confidence. More seasoned riders will find a few tricky, rocky switchbacks. Aspiring and advanced riders alike can revel in the awesome backdrop of red sandstone fins and purple mountains.

Eagle Peak from the Air Force Academy
This near-vertical trail from the edge of the Air Force Academy was clearly made by young, hard-body cadets. It climbs relentlessly. There are few spots for a rest. But the 360-degree view at the top, with the spires of the Cadet Chapel on one side and the oft-snowy profile of Pikes Peak on the other, makes this serious quad-burner worth the pain.

Williams Canyon
This limestone canyon running north from Manitou Springs is one of the most beautiful spots on the Front Range. It is marked “no trespassing,” but anyone can hike with permission.

Red Rock Canyon Roundup Trail
This new trail is a rare treat: real singletrack, real close. When Red Rock Canyon Open Space opened in fall of 2004, one of the obvious shortcomings was that all the paths were existing roads. Not anymore. The Roundup Trail, completed by volunteers in spring 2007, is an hour of wandering trail that traverses the upper limits of the park for a loop that barely touches road.

Cheyenne Mountain Summit
Colorado Springs and Colorado State Parks plan to buy the top of Cheyenne Mountain by the beginning of 2009 and add it to Cheyenne Mountain State Park. This oft-seen but rarely visited mountaintop is a real gem. The steep sides guard a gentle top with long, lush meadows flanked by arcades of mature aspen. Much of the top is public land. It can be visited by combining two almost forgotten historic trails, the McNeil Trail and the Swisher Trail.

Section 16 overlook
The beautiful Section 16 Trail has one drawback: a big climb without a comparably big view at the end. But a short spur trail takes hikers to one of the most stunning overlooks of the city.

Sheep Mountain
Sheep Mountain, the Pikes Peak massif’s third-highest mountain, is so rarely visited that it has no trail. But the 12,398-foot summit is well worth a visit, especially in early fall when the resident elk herd is particularly vocal. Just make sure to take a map and warm clothes, and a nice lunch so you can linger in one of the most beautiful spots in the region.

Dome Rock - Spring Creek Loop
Few places are as gorgeous, or as little visited as the Dome Rock-Spring Creek Loop. The hike strings together a saunter down a willowchoked creek with views of soaring granite ramparts and quiet aspen groves. But few people see it because the area is closed most of the year to protect the resident bighorn sheep herd during lambing season. For an eye-popping hike, time your trip when the aspens are turning yellow and gold.

Red Fox Loop, Fox Run Regional Park
A rolling forest loop lopes through the low hills of Fox Run Regional Park near Monument makes a great family outing, begining mountain bike, or cross-country ski.

South Shore of Twin Lakes
Few trails offer the grandeur of the high mountains without the hills. This hike or bike south of Leadville does just that by sticking to the shores of Twin Lakes with views across the water of Colorado’s highest peak, Mount Elbert. The trail crosses through an abandoned 1880s lake resort called Interlaken.

Cheyenne Mountain via Swisher Trail
Colorado Springs and Colorado State Parks plan to buy the top of Cheyenne Mountain by the beginning of 2009 and add it to Cheyenne Mountain State Park. This oft-seen but rarely visited mountaintop is a real gem. The steep sides guard a gentle top with long, lush meadows flanked by arcades of mature aspen. Much of the top is public land. It can be visited by combining two almost forgotten historic trails, the McNeil Trail and the Swisher Trail.

Fountain Creek Regional Trail
This path along Fountain Creek is the only one in the region offering hikers a fair chance of spotting a firefly or two. The trail is wide and flat, so it’s perfect for the whole family. And it makes for a cool evening escape on sweltering summer days. It's also a great spot to spy migrating birds.

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