Air Force Academy

The top place on my list to go is the Air Force Academy. There are miles of trails there and it is very accessible. You will usually see all kinds of wildlife and the flowers in season are wonderful. To get to the parking area, go in the South Gate and go north to Pine Drive. Take Pine Drive to Pine Loop (there is a blinking light there); go left. Take the first right and go about 3 blocks. You will see a small brown sign that says "stables". Turn left and follow the road to the T intersection; go right. At the bottom of the hill on the left by the hay barn is trailer-in parking. There is an honor box where you pay a $5/day fee. Yearly passes for the bargain price of $50 are available at the office.

The trail from the parking area goes either east or west along the creek and from there there are lots of options. If you go west as far as the fire station road and follow it west you can pick up Forest Service Trail 713 which goes to Rampart Reservoir and all the trails in the national forest.

If you go east toward Ice Lake you will come to the perimeter road and it will take you on a loop around the south boundary of the Academy. There are great views. If you turn left when you hit the perimeter road and continue north through the gate and go right across the railroad tracks, you can pick up the New Santa Fe Trail which you can ride all the way to Palmer Lake if you choose.