UPDATE, OCTOBER 3, 2014: Reservations are SOLD OUT for the South Slope opening this weekend and next; wait lists are also full. Reservations may open later in the year for next season. City staff has advised us that there will be an announcement when the system is updated to include future dates. We will let you know.
It’s official! The long-awaited public opening of the South Slope of Pikes Peak takes place this Saturday at 8am.
It is accessible by permit only, and a limited number of admissions will be available at www.springsgov.com/ssreserve. The permits are $15 per vehicle. Dogs are not allowed. Horses will eventually be allowed in South Slope when parking for horse trailers is completed.
Open Dates: October 4th and 5th (this next weekend) and Oct 9-12th (next Thursday – Sunday.)
Hours of operation 8am – 2:30pm
The recreation area will close for the season Oct 13th and reopen next spring. For more information about fishing, hiking and bicycling, see www.springsgov.com/ssreserve.
The South Slope of Pikes Peak has been closed to the public 100+ years. The Trails and Open Space Coalition has been a leading advocate of opening the watershed for limited public recreation. For the past 4 years, we’ve partnered with City Parks Staff and offered guided public hikes to the area. We also promoted trail construction days led by Friends of the Peak. TOSC has waited for this announcement for a very long time, and we congratulate City Parks and Colorado Springs Utilities for their work which led to this very welcome opening.