Outdoor Living

Hit the Trail

  • Garden of the Gods Park:  This stunning park is in the heart of our fine city and a playground for many.  If you want to see mountain climbers and mountain goats on the same ridge, this is your spot.  The red rocks are glorious and you will get a different perspective on every trip.

  • Red Rock Open Space: Located on the south side of Highway 24 before you enter Ute Pass, this city park offers excellent day hike options as well as several mountain bike trails.  It is possible to mountain bike or hike all the way from Stratton Open Space to the parking lot of Red Rock Open Space. Red Rock Open Space has spectacular views of the city, Pikes Peak and neighboring Garden of the Gods.  https://coloradosprings.gov/parks/page/red-rock-canyon-open-space

  • Stratton Open Space: Situated in Cheyenne Canyon, Stratton Open Space is popular for mountain biking, dog walking, and hiking.  Popular trails, includes Chutes and Ladders, Upper Meadows, Columbine, Reservoir trails. There are two reservoirs in the park, one of which is open for dog swimming (though leave your bathing suit at home). 

  • North Cheyenne Canyon: North Cheyenne Canyon looks like a movie set, with the rugged granite rocks and a creek that runs along the canyon floor. Visitors can drive, hike and bike from the entrance of the canyon up to Helen Hunt Falls. Beyond Helen Hunt Falls, North Cheyenne Canyon Road continues until it reaches Gold Camp Road. There is a large parking area where bikers, hikers and runners can access additional trails. Popular trails include:  Seven Bridges, Captain Jack’s , St. Mary’s Falls, High Road.

  • Seven Falls: Seven Falls is located in South Cheyenne Canyon and is owned and operated by The Broadmoor.  There is an entrance fee, and you must take the shuttle, located at the Norris Penrose Events Center in order to get in.  But the cost and ride are worth it for spectacular views of a cascading waterfall, that indeed, has seven falls to it.  Hike up past the falls to the top of the mountain for breathtaking scenery.  

  • Ute Valley Park: Located in the middle of the Springs, Ute Valley Park is a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, dog walking, and running. The park offers vistas, geological features and destination-level trails, all readily accessible to outdoor enthusiasts in surrounding neighborhoods and the city.

  • Blodgett Peak: Blodgett Peak requires a challenging 3.2 mile ascent through the passage of rocky canyon to the summit where hikers gain panoramic views of Pikes Peak, Rampart Reservoir, and the United States Air Force Academy. Located on the northwestern edge of Colorado Springs, Blodgett Peak is a local favorite for those looking for a demanding workout or just to enjoy the 360 degree views of the plains and mountains.

  • Manitou Incline:  As a newcomer, you will be asked repeatedly if you have “hiked The Incline yet?”. The Manitou Incline is one of the most popular hiking trails in all of Colorado.  With over 2,000 feet of elevation gain in less than one mile, the Incline is undoubtedly the steepest trail in town. The base of the Incline is located in Manitou Springs near the base of the Barr Trail and across the street from the Cog Railroad. 

  • Fox Run Regional Park: Visitors will find a restful environment among the thick forest of ponderosa pines. Timber Ridge provides an overlook of Aspen and Spruce Lakes as well as a picturesque setting of Pikes Peak and the mountain backdrop. Trail users will enjoy four miles of multi-use trails that wind through the Fallen Timbers area, pavilions, playgrounds and gazebo on the lake. Fox Run Regional Park is a hidden jewel in the northern part of El Paso County. Hiking, trails, playing fields, a climbing rock and picnic areas are just a few of the amenities awaiting tourists and locals alike.

  • Cheyenne Mountain State Park: Often overlooked, Cheyenne Mountain State Park, located in the southwest corner of town, offers plenty of hiking, biking and camping opportunities.  Although a day pass (or annual pass) is required, the fee is worth it for less trail traffic and stunning views.  

  • Bear Creek Park: Located in the foothills of southwest corridor, Bear Creek Regional Park offers many activities for the whole family.  There is a nature center, hiking and horse trails, a community garden, pickleball courts, tennis courts, playgrounds and a massive (and popular) dog park.  Trails extend up into Bear Creek Canyon, where you can connect into the North Cheyenne Canyon trail system.  This is the starting point of the popular Section 16 trail, which leads all the way to Manitou Springs and the Crystal Park Cantina! 

  • Palmer Park: A regional park located several miles northeast of the downtown area, Palmer Park was named Elevation Outdoors Magazine named it Best Urban Park in its Best of Rockies 2017 list.  If you hike to the top of the bluff, you will be treated with what may be the city's best views of Pikes Peak and a place "where an escape into deep nature is easy.

  • New Santa Fe Trail: This biking/walking trail starts in the town of Monument and runs west, through the Air Force Academy all the way down to Woodmen Rd, where it connects to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail.  From there, you steer east and can ride all the way to the southern part of town, ending at the El Pomar Sports Park. The two trails together combine for a total of 32 miles.  The Greenway Trail is paved, but plan for a hybrid/mountain bike for the New Santa Fe.

  • Pulpit Rock: From the top of Pulpit Rock, next to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs campus, you have 360 degree views of the city.  This moderate hike ends with a scramble up a unique rock formation, where the park gets its name from. 

Hunting and Fishing

  • Colorado offers over 23 million acres of public land and boasts one of the largest elk populations in the world. There are 10 big game species that are allowed to be hunted in the region including deer, elk, bear, moose, and pronghorn. Whether you are an avid hunter or new to the sport it is always a good idea to educate yourself before heading out on your trip. Check out all you need to know about hunting in Colorado here.

On the Water