Working to Preserve Open Space and Create a Network of Trails, Bikeways and Greenways in the Pikes Peak Region
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Difficult TrailsReturn to the Trails index of topics
13 miles; natural surface. This trail offers the greatest base-to-summit climb in Colorado, (Pikes Peak) with an altitude gain of over 7,000 ft. in 13 miles. On our difficulty scale, the trail is at the top of the list due to the elevation gain and distance. Trail users should be aware of and be prepared for the possibility of sudden weather changes, especially near the summit. Lightning storms are frequent during the afternoon, so don't be caught above treeline. Shelter and water are available at Barr Camp which is located approximately one-half way up. Barr Trail offers the opportunity to pass through pine and juniper forests, sub-alpine, alpine and tundra meadows. Climbing Pikes Peak for the first time? Find out a little more about the Barr Trail and check out the tips and advice from those who have made the climb. Some of the side trails off Barr Trail include: Mountain View Trail which connects Barr Camp with the Cog Railroad, French Creek Trail to Ghost Town Hollow and Elk Park Knoll. Bottomless Pit Trail takes you to Bottomless Pit, a spectacular cirque (pit); continuing up Barr Trail takes you to another cirque. The Barr Trail Trailhead is located off Ruxton, near the Cog Railroad Depot in Manitou Springs. Parking is available only at the trailhead in West Manitou Springs, off Ruxton, near the Cog Railroad Depot or at the summit. Catamount Trail Green Mountain Falls to Pikes Peak North Slope Reservoirs Elevation Gain: 1,640 ft (7,600-9,230) This trail was completed in 2001 by Dick Bratton, the Mayor of Green Mountain Falls and a great gang of volunteers. You will need sturdy hiking boots and rain gear for afternoon showers. Bring plenty of water (there is no potable water supply). Camping is strictly prohibited anywhere along this trail and in the North Slope Recreation Area. Hike 1.0 mile up 22 switchbacks to reach the Garden of Eden Meadow. There are two short side spurs leading to spectacular overlooks of the Town and valley below. Continue another 0.8 miles through the Meadow and along Catamount Creek to reach the gate at the Catamount Flume. From the gate, walk straight ahead (S) up the loop road to the top of the South Catamount Dam for a magnificent view of Pikes Peak across the Reservoir. A few yards farther west is the North Slope Recreation Area Ranger Station with rest rooms but NO DRINKING WATER AVAILABLE. Green Mountain Falls is 16 miles west of Colorado Springs off US 24. The Green Mountain Falls main trailhead is at Lake Street at the west end of Gazebo Lake. Please park at Lake Street. There is no parking available for hikers on Hondo Ave. or Belvidere Ave.. Walk 0.1 miles NW along Ute Pass Ave past the Post Office and Church to Hondo Ave. Hike 0.8 miles up Hondo Ave past the chain gate to the Town water tank. At the west end of the bridge over Catamount Creek, turn left (S) and follow the BLUE trail markers for Catamount Trail. Columbine Trail Columbine Trail starts at Starsmore Discovery Center at the intersection of North and South Cheyenne Canyons and consists of three legs: Lower, Mid and Upper Columbine. The trail follows the creek up the canyon. The trail provides a beautiful view of the canyon, the road below and Silver Cascade and Helen Hunt Falls. The trail is steep and very narrow, ending above Helen Hunt Falls. Note: stay on the trail above the falls. Several people have been killed wandering off the trail onto the slippery rocks. Parking is available at the Starsmore Discovery Center on Cheyenne Blvd., at the trailhead in North Cheyenne Canyon and at Helen Hunt Falls. Devils Playground This trail connects the Crags Campground to Devils Playground below the summit of Pikes Peak. Spectacular views with streams, forests, incredible tundra, wildflowers and wildlife. The trail is steep and rough after you reach tree line. There is NO trail from Devils Playground to the summit. Trail construction on that segment should begin in 2002. Take Hwy. 24 to Divide, then Hwy. 67 towards Cripple Creek. Drive to the Rocky Mountain Campground, on the left just past Mueller State Park. Turn in and drive 1.5 miles to the Crags Campground. Elk Park Trail Green Mountain Falls Trails CLOSED DUE TO FIRE DANGER JUNE 2002 The mayor of Green Mountain Falls, Dick Bratton, has created spectacular trails for you to enjoy. Consisting of three main loops, the trails take you to Crystal and Catamount Falls. The trails range from moderate to very steep. Hike up either Hondo or Belvidere Avenue to Catamount Creek Falls or Park Avenue to Crystal Falls. These two trails start off as moderate and change to difficult. Thomas Trail will take you between the two falls (very steep); it is a double black diamond. Make sure you hike to the Garden of Eden and to the overlook. Take Hwy. 24 west from Colorado Springs to Green Mountain Falls. Park in downtown Green Mountain Falls by the lake and hike past historic homes in this charming and rustic town. Manitou Section 16 This magnificent 640-acre open space contains native vegetation, spectacular geological exposures and wildlife habitat. Topography varies from steep, mountainous terrain to moderate slopes, mesas and canyons. It provides magnificent overlooks of Colorado Springs and Red Rock Canyon. Take Hwy. 24 to 21st St; go south on 21st to Lower Gold Camp Road; west to Upper Gold Camp Road; then south to the trailhead on the west side of the road. Mount Cutler Trail One of the most beautiful trails in town. Great for a short hike to show flatlanders the beauty of Colorado Springs. The trail is moderately difficult but very short. You can even do this trail at night with lights. The trail does have drop offs, so hold onto your children. There are great views overlooking Seven Falls and the Broadmoor. Park at the trailhead in North Cheyenne Canyon. Mount Esther Mt. Esther Trail is a hiking-only trail located off Chipita Park Rd. To find the trail, take Chipita Park Rd, to Picabo Road and turn up. A steep climb intersects uppermost Mountain Road. Look for the trailhead sign just east of the intersection of Picabo and Mountain Road. Stay on the trail; the lower segment is on private property which has been generously provided by the property owners. From here, the Mt. Esther Trail winds steeply up through the forest up to Crow Gulch. Go west on Hwy. 24 to Cascade. Then, take Chipita Park Rd, to Picabo Road and turn uphill. A steep climb intersects uppermost Mountain Road. Look for the trailhead sign just east of the intersection of Picabo and Mountain Road. Mueller State Park/Dome Rock Wildlife Area -
Fee The park is divided between the State Park and Division of Wildlife. It is laced with dozens of trails for hiking, running, cross-country skiing, biking (on designated trails) and horseback riding (designated parking available). This is a beautiful area with a variety of wildlife, incredible rock formations and forests of evergreens and aspens. There are seasonal closures (Dec. 1-Jul. 15) on Dome View, Spring Creek and Dome Rock trails. Take Hwy. 24 from Colorado Springs, through Woodland Park and then to Divide; turn south on Hwy. 67. Mueller is on the right. Fee required. Palmer Park Trails Palmer Park is one of the premiere multi-use parks in the City. The park features two loop trails (3.8 miles total), the .75 mile Edna Mae Bennett Nature Trail and numerous other secondary footpaths. Trails are well marked, but the trailhead signs don’t label the trails so are not of much use. The park offers spectacular views of the City as you ascend and descend through a variety of rock formations. Palmer Park is one of the best locations to ride mountain bikes in the City. With but a few exceptions, the trails are all multi-use, so you need to look out for horses, runners and hikers. There are restrooms, picnic pavilions and playgrounds. Trailheads are at park entrances at Maizeland Road west of Academy Boulevard and on Paseo Road. Parking is also available at numerous locations inside the park. Horse trailer parking is available at the Reyner Stables. Palmer-Red Rocks Loop Trail The Palmer-Red Rocks Loop Trail is a well-maintained trail partly in Section 16 close to the City that runs through scrub oak and conifers and has both steep and flat sections. It starts at High Drive and finishes at the Section 16 trailhead on Gold Camp Road. (It makes a loop if you walk back on the road.) It has super views and rock formations and is used by hikers, runners, mountain bikers and equestrians. The first mile from High Drive is an easy stroll. After that, you have a steep challenge, a 1300 ft. elevation gain through mountain conifers. It's steeper from the Section 16 Trailhead. It ultimately loops around Hunter's Run Valley. Look for Red Rock Hogbacks, Forest Allen Overlook, Hunter's Run Waterfall, and the Old Quartz Quarry. Take Hwy. 24 to 21st St; go south on 21st to Lower Gold Camp Road; west to Upper Gold Camp Road; then south to the trailhead on the west side of the road. A second trailhead is on High Drive about two miles from the intersection of Gold Camp and High Drive above Helen Hunt Falls. Red Mountain Trail This moderately difficult trail goes to the summit of Red Mountain, a piece of open space acquired by the City of Manitou Springs. It is a spur off the Intemann Trail. Views from the summit include a picturesque angle of Pikes Peak, Ute Pass and much of Manitou Springs and Colorado Springs. At the top, you can see the remains of the old Red Mountain Incline Railroad. According to records, bands played there under a pavilion and people danced and partied before catching the train back down. The Intemann Trail Committee has built the entire trail. The recommended access point is the Iron Springs trailhead of the Intemann Trail on Ruxton Avenue. Follow signs from there up Spring Street, continuing past a gate and onto a fire road that doubles as the Intemann Trail. About a half-mile from the trailhead is a sign identifying the Red Mountain spur. Saint. Mary's Falls Trail The trail's destination is the falls - hence St. Mary's Falls Trail. Walk a little over a mile to the closed tunnel to find the trail. The trail itself is another 1.6 miles to the falls up a moderately difficult path (steep towards the top). The trail goes through a forest of pines and spruce and follows the creek. Take Cheyenne Canyon Road through the canyon to the trailhead above Helen Hunt Falls. Take Gold Camp Road from the trailhead by the closed section of the road and go one mile to the trail on the right. Seven Bridges Delightful trail alongside a creek with seven bridges. The trail follows North Cheyenne Creek and goes to Undine Falls. Be careful in the winter as the trail stays icy and snow packed. One slip could take you into the creek. The trail offers access to the Pipeline Trail and to Jones Park Trail. Take Cheyenne Canyon Road through the canyon to the trailhead above Helen Hunt Falls. Take Gold Camp Road from the trailhead by the closed section of the road and go one-half mile to the trail on the right. Stanley Canyon Trail Enter the Air Force Academy from either the north or south entrances, take Stadium Blvd. to Academy Drive. Go west to Pine Drive. Turn on the west side of the Academy Hospital onto a gravel road that ends at the trailhead (0.8m). Photo IDs are required on the Air Force Academy portion. Stratton Open Space Stratton Open Space is a diverse region of five ecosystems including a ponderosa pine forest, scrub oak brush land, a high meadow grassland, a cattail marsh and a riparian area. The area contains a wide variety of wildlife. This open space has seen a great deal of trail work over the past two years. Some trails have been re-vegetated while others have been improved. Ten trails are planned with 7 miles completed out of eight planned. Trails range from easy to difficult. It has one of the region’s most popular mountain biking trails—the Chutes. There are trails for everyone including hiking-only trails for those wishing to avoid bikes. The Chamberlain Trail through Stratton will be the key north-south trail on the west side of the City. Parking is available at the trailheads off Ridgeway, off La Veta and just past the Starsmore Discovery Center (at the entrance to North Cheyenne Canyon.) Take 21st. St south from Hwy. 24. It turns into Cresta. La Veta is immediately south of Cheyenne Mountain High School. Ridgeway is north off Cheyenne Blvd. Waldo Canyon Trail Waldo Canyon is one of the most popular trails in the region; take a look at the parking lot anytime you drive up Ute Pass. Waldo Canyon is a popular loop trail through a scenic wooded canyon. The trail overlooks Williams Canyon. The trail is generally crowded; try early mornings and weekdays to avoid the rush. It's a good trail for mountain bikes and runners. Warning! There have been break-ins at the trailhead. Lock your car and, better yet, don't leave your valuables in your car. There is a surveillance camera. Drive two and one-quarter miles west of Manitou Springs on Hwy. 24. There is a large parking lot on the north side of the highway. 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