The Trails and Open Space Coalition (TOSC) has selected 20 amazing parks we think everyone should visit. Each month TOSC will feature a different park, tag us in a photo from your trip on Facebook and/or Instagram to get entered to win prizes from our fantastic sponsors! Visit all 20 parks in 2020 to earn bragging rights because you are going to experience some really cool places AND an I
Parks sticker. Also, stop by the Visitor Center at Cheyenne Mountain State Park and mention that you are participating in the TOSC 20|20 Challenge to get a free Pocket Pals Trail Map, courtesy of Friends of Cheyenne Mountain State Park. To add to the fun, we have hidden TOSC rocks in each of the parks!
Garden of the Gods Park is the December park of the month! Discover the beauty and history of all 21 miles of trails and 1,367 acres of this park. This National Natural Landmark is popular for hiking, technical rock climbing, road/mountain biking and horseback riding. Share a picture of your visit on Facebook or Instagram using #tosc2020challenge for a chance to win prizes!
Please follow physical distancing guidelines and wear a mask if you are not able to maintain 6ft of distance from others. It is important to spread out and not crowd our parks and trials, please consider going to visit parks during off hours and if you reach an area that has a full parking lot, please find somewhere else to recreate. Get Out Spread Out
Please contact sharie@trailsandopenspaces.org when you have completed the challenge to get your sticker mailed to you and get entered into the grand prize giveaway! – Osprey hydration packs, TOSC t-shirts & dog bandanas, gift cards…
Challenge Accepted
The List
- Acacia
- Alamo Square
- Antlers
- Bear Creek
- Cheyenne Mountain
- Cottonwood
- Fountain Creek
- Fox Run
- Garden of the Gods
- Homestead Ranch
- Memorial
- Monument Valley
- Nancy Lewis
- Paint Mines
- Palmer
- Pulpit Rock
- Thorndale
- Ute Valley
- Venezia
- Wildflower
Preview some Parks
Park Info
This map shows where all of the parks are located, it does not indicate where the rocks are hidden.
Acacia Park
115 E Platte Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (Tejon & Bijou St)Alamo Square Park
Antlers Park
31 W Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (W Pikes Peak Ave & Sierra Madre St)
Antlers Park is a small 3.4-acre park in the heart of the downtown Colorado Springs, across the street from the old Denver and Rio Grande Railroad Terminal area. It is named after The Antlers Hotel, originally built in 1883. The park was established in the early 1900’s. The park has restrooms and is handicapped accessible, it features a historical locomotive and large picnic area.
Bear Creek
Regional Park
Bear Creek East: 21st Street & West Rio Grande Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80905 (21st Street & West Rio Grande Ave), Bear Creek Terrace 21st Street & Argus Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 Bear Creek Nature Center: 245 Bear Creek Road, Colorado Springs
This 545-acre regional park features a nature center, dog park, community garden, exercise course, 24 acres of irrigated turf, three multi-use playing fields, three playgrounds, picnic pavilions, barbecue grills, benches, restrooms, sports courts, playgrounds, archery range, and horseshoe pits. Additionally, 12 miles of multi-purpose, non-motorized trails wind through the park. Bear Creek Regional Park is a unique park in that it is owned and operated by El Paso County, yet it is entirely surrounded by the urbanized area of the City of Colorado Springs.
Cottonwood Creek Park
7040 Rangewood Dr Colorado Springs, CO 80923 (Dublin Blvd. & Rangewood Dr)
Featuring Cottonwood Creek Recreation Center (indoor pool), picnic tables, playground, restrooms, sledding hills, four soccer fields, three softball/baseball fields, tennis courts, in-line hockey court, disc golf course and sidewalk paths (wheelchair accessible) and access to Cottonwood Creek Trail.
Cheyenne Mountain State Park
410 JL Ranch Heights Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80926 (Hwy 115 & JL Ranch Heights Rd)
Huge, scenic state park with 28 miles of trails for hiking and biking (designated trails for equestrian and dog users), picnic area, campground, visitor center, and archery range. Please note: state parks pass is required (day pass $9, annual vehicle pass $80) and dogs are not allowed on most of the trails in this park.
Stop by the Visitor Center and mention that you are participating in the TOSC 20|20 Challenge to get a free Pocket Pals Trail Map, courtesy of Friends of Cheyenne Mountain State Park!
Fountain Creek Regional Park
2010 Duckwood Rd, Fountain, CO 80817
Fountain Creek Regional Park is a 460-acre linear park situated along Fountain Creek between the cities of Colorado Springs and Fountain. The park includes a creek-side trail, Willow Springs Ponds, Hanson Nature Park and the Fountain Creek Nature Center (open Tuesday through Saturday). The park’s ponds and springs are a sanctuary to plentiful wildlife and birds. The ponds are stocked on a regular basis, and fishing is allowed in Willow Springs Ponds. Downstream of the ponds, the Fountain Creek Nature Center serves as the focal point for learning about Fountain Creek, the watershed, and riparian ecology. Farther south, the Duckwood active play area consists of a 12-acre site with a dog park, multi-purpose fields, picnic shelters, and a playground.
Fox Run
Regional Park
2110 Stella Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80921 (Roller Coaster Rd & Stella Dr)
Wooded park offering lake & mountain views. Trail users will enjoy 4 miles of multi-use trails that wind through the thick forest, pavilions, playgrounds and gazebo on the lake. This park also includes playing fields, climbing rock, restrooms, dog park and picnic areas.
Garden of the Gods Park
1805 N 30th St. Colorado Springs, Colorado (30th St & Gateway Rd)
Discover the beauty and history of the 1,367-acre Garden of the Gods Park, which has been designated as a National Natural Landmark. Archaeological evidence shows that prehistoric people visited Garden of the Gods about 1330 BC. At about 250 BC, Native American people camped in the park; they are believed to have been attracted to wildlife and plant life in the area and used overhangs created by the rocks for shelter. The Garden of the Gods Park is popular for hiking, technical rock climbing, road and mountain biking and horseback riding. There are 21 miles of trails. This park also includes a visitor center and restroom.
Homestead Ranch Regional Park
16444 Gollihar Road Peyton, CO 80831 (Sweet Rd & Gollihar Rd)
Located at the edge of Black Forest this 450 acre regional park has diverse topography ranging from rolling, open meadows to tree-covered bluffs running the length of the park. A natural spring-fed pond and creek in the central valley of the park attracts deer, coyotes, foxes, fishing and over 35 types of waterfowl and birds. The park includes a playground, a playing field and picnic pavilions. Equestrian riders can water their horses at the trough while enjoying the three miles of trails throughout the park.
Memorial Park
1605 E Pikes Peak Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80910 (Pikes Peak Ave & Hancock Ave)
Memorial Park is a 196-acre community park with a wide range of facilities, including: indoor and outdoor pool, a recreation center, Prospect Lake which allows fishing and boating, bicycle velodrome, ice skating center, large-group picnic area, horseshoe courts, multi-play courts, three playgrounds, restrooms, and 4+ miles of trails. Memorial Park Skate Park is Colorado’s second largest skate park at 40,000 square feet. It’s competition-size skate area has features for inline skaters, skateboarders and BMX bikers and it’s completely FREE to the public.
Monument
Valley Park
170 W Cache La Poudre St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 (Park access at various locations from Monroe St. and Wood Ave. on the north end of the park to W. Bijou St. and Sierra Madre St. at the south end of the park)
Monument Valley Park is a National Register of Historic Places listing and is on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. The 153.4-acre park is based around Monument Creek. Northern portion of the park includes: baseball/softball field, soccer field, playground, Horticultural Art Society Demonstration Gardens and City Greenhouse, walking and biking paths, geologic column, and access to the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail. The Southern Portion has: outdoor pool, baseball/softball field, tennis courts, pickleball courts, basketball courts, sand volleyball area, fishing (two ponds), picnic areas, playground, restrooms, hiking and biking trails, access to Pikes Peak Greenway Trail.
Nancy Lewis Park
2615 Logan Ave. (Templeton Gap Road & Logan Ave.)
Nancy Lewis was a former director of the city’s parks department, an author and tireless community leader and volunteer and earned the honor of having this beautiful 8.9-acre park named after her. She was the first to receive the Lifetime Spirit of the Springs Award from Mayor John Suthers. Nancy Lewis Park is handicap accessible, offers: croquet/putting green, sand volleyball court, pond/waterfall/fountain, playground with fitness equipment, picnic shelter, seasonal restrooms, hospice tree dedication legacy wall, sidewalk paths. It has lots of space to run and play; the pond is lovely and is a great place to walk the dog.
Paint Mines Interpretive Park
29950 Paint Mine Rd, Calhan, CO 80808
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is approximately 750 acres of unique open spaces. The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clay that were collected by American Indians to make paint; with evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. Brightly colored bands, caused by oxidized iron compounds, are found in varying amounts throughout the many different layers of clay. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that form through erosive action that creates incised gullies and exposed layers of clay and jasper. The park includes a restroom facility, four miles of trails, interpretive signage, and many natural wonders. Please note that dogs and bikes are not allowed at this park. This area gets very hot, we advise you to visit early in the morning or in the evening.
Palmer Park
3650 Maizeland Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80909 (Maizeland Rd & N Academy Blvd).
This park was donated to the city by General Palmer in 1899. At 730.7 acres in size, the park contains over 25 miles of trails for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Trails are generally single track, but there are also double track trails and dirt road trails. The terrain is rocky and hard-packed dirt. The park features two baseball/softball fields, playground, football/soccer field, horse stables, restrooms, scenic overlook and drive, picnic area, botanical reserve, Seven Castles geological point of interest, three volleyball courts, dog park and off leash dog area. View Map.
Pulpit Rock Park
6411 N Nevada Ave, Colorado Springs, CO 80918 (N Nevada Ave & Dublin Blvd).
Pulpit Rock offers a panoramic view of the city with Pikes Peak in the background. The area features distinctive rock formations dating to the Eocene period and is home to abundant wildlife including deer, bear, rabbits and snakes. It is part of Austin Bluffs Open Space which encompasses 584 acres. Pulpit Rock Loop is about 4.2 mile.
Thorndale Park
2310 W. Uintah St. (W. Uintah and N. 24th Streets.)
Thorndale is small neighborhood park with baseball/softball field, multi-play court, picnic area, playground, seasonal restrooms and sidewalk path. It is a community hub for music, bocceball and basketball.
Ute Valley Park
1645 Vindicator Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 (Centennial Blvd & Vindicator Dr).
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. Ute Valley Park consists of 330 acers and is home to diverse wildlife, vegetation and rich archaeological features. The rocky-forested hogback formations are an integral part of the Colorado Springs backdrop, a place of important historical, environmental, scenic and recreational value.
Ute Valley Park Downhill Mountain Bike Trails are located on the east side of the park. The two downhill trails are rated black — difficult based on trail width, grades, types of obstacles, including a 150-foot vertical drop. – These trails were created per the Ute Valley Park Master Plan and fulfill of an element within the Colorado Springs Master Plan to construct the first purpose-built downhill mountain bike course in an open space within the city’s parks system.
John Venezia Community Park
3555 Briargate Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80920 – intersection of Briargate Parkway and Union Blvd. on the north side of Colorado Springs.
Venezia boast 110 acres of land, 30 of which are developed and open to the public; the rest remain in its natural state. This park features a large pavilion and picnic area, universally accessible playground, spray ground, small artificial turf field, three soccer fields, in-line hockey rink/basketball court, four pickleball courts, plaza overlooking multi-use fields, restrooms, gravel walking loops, about 2 miles of sidewalks and access to Briargate trail (along Briargate Parkway). It is the envy of community parks.
Wildflower Park
980 Nolte Dr, Colorado Springs, CO 80916 (Nolte Dr & Jet Wing Dr)
Wildflower is an open 21.9-acre park with baseball field, soccer field, basketball/in-line skate court, picnic shelter, playground and sidewalk path. With a connection to the Sand Creek Trail.
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