New Ring the Peak site is live! Member Hike and Volunteer Opportunities
Please be mindful of our parks and trails after all the rain!
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all who have minded the call to Leave No Trace and minimize your personal impact on our local natural surface trails over the past month. We know it’s not always easy to say no to the hike or bike activity you had planned. However, with the unprecedented amount of rain our region has received over the past month, widespread damage has occurred in many of our parks, open spaces, and along some of our favorite trails – caused by too much water.
Now that the temps are up and the moisture level is down, we’ll all be returning to our favorite spots and this is a note to please exercise caution as we recreate. Many local trails have become partially washed-out, leading to rough, uneven surfaces and there have been a few that were severely damaged. We will provide updates as they come in, but please also follow the Facebook pages for the City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation, & Cultural Services and El Paso County Parks for timely condition reports and updates on the recovery efforts for the many spaces we love. Additionally, please be respectful of the needed closures and detours. Staff will be working as hard as they can to complete the repairs.
Now here’s how you can help. As you are out on foot or bike, if you encounter a new section of damaged trail or other significant issues in a park or open space, please use these two convenient apps to report the condition in real-time, they appreciate it!
For issues in Colorado Springs Parks properties: https://coloradosprings.gov/gocos
For issues in El Paso County Parks properties: https://citizenconnect.elpasoco.com/
PARK AND TRAIL News
Almost to the Finish Line….
Saturday, June 24, 2023, is going to be the FINAL DIG (72* and mostly sunny) to finish the trail down to Bristol Park. This is new construction of a short but valuable connector from Bristol Park/Mesa avenue up to Mesa Open Space. Wear long pants, gloves, closed-toe shoes, bring sunscreen and water.
The DIG will take place starting at 9:00 and will be celebrated with Burgers and Dogs around 12 noon at the Medicine Wheel Office on Monument St.
PLEASE use the link below to sign up and let us know how many hungry workers to plan on feeding.
Make a Difference, Volunteer!
Have you gotten out to a trail workday yet this season? Now is your chance to get your hands dirty and make some new friends while supporting our local trail network! Here are several upcoming workdays that will provide some much needed maintenance to some of our favorite local trails.
- Friends of Ute Valley Park – June 21st , 5:30-7:30pm – Wednesday Evening workdays focus on maintenance projects in the park. More information
- COSMBA: June 24th , 8:00-2:00pm – Maintenance work in Stratton Open Space on the Arroyo Grande trail. More Information
- Friends of Peregrine Parks and Open Spaces – June 28th , 8:00-11:00am – This workday will focus on restoration of social trails and trail maintenance in Blodgett Open Space. More information
Last week, TOSC updated the Open Space Volunteer Calendar with over 20 workdays between today and the end of summer! Find your next workday here
*Photo Courtesy: Guardians of Palmer Park, photo from their June 3rd Work Day.
Family Exercise Tips for Feeling Great Together
“Exercise truly is the best medicine for so many things. It helps improve sleep, stress, mood and concentration, and it can treat and prevent many medical problems. It also provides an opportunity for families to bond in healthy, memorable ways.”
Learn more about the 7 ways you can get your family more exercise this summer
Children’s Hospital-Colorado is a sponsor of TOSC’s “Get Out Get Healthy” program which inspires everyone to find 20, 40 or 60 minute outdoor adventures near their neighborhood.
More Information: https://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/get-outdoors/get-out-get-healthy/
July is Park and Recreation Month
It’s time to celebrate! Consider all that was accomplished over the past few years…trail improvements, Panorama Park, Acacia Park Playground – it’s a good list.
COS Parks Staff is hosting celebrations throughout the month.
July 6th Zumba in Panorama Park (5pm-8pm)
July 15th Fun Walk in Memorial Park (9am-12pm)
July 28th Music in Pinon Valley Park (5pm-8pm)
There will also be online contests plus a Kid’s Activity book
More Information to Come! Keep checking their website for more information.
TOSC
Love, Lotus, & Leaves ~ A Trails and Open Space Coalition Benefit
Save the date of October 6th-8th for this truly unique and engaging benefit crafted by Urban Veggie. We thank Christy for selecting TOSC as the beneficiary of this very special Yoga & Hiking retreat being held at the Soul Community Planet Hotel.
The hikes will be guided by TOSC staff, the yoga a magical and illuminating experience each day, and two opportunities to tap into your creative self throughout the weekend. Thank you to all of the ah-mazing vendors that have joined in to make this new event possible!
To find out more and register, please visit here: Love, Lotus, & Leaves
Hiking Bob Podcast with TOSC
Hiking Bob and TOSC Executive Director Susan Davies discuss “what’s next?” Now that the TOPS extension is guaranteed for 20 more years, what are some of the other opportunities for TOSC to tackle?
Tune in and Enjoy!
https://hikingbob.libsyn.com/politics-and-outdoor-recreation
First Member Hike of 2023 with Hiking Bob
Members of TOSC joined Hiking Bob on a beautiful hike along the new Sweetwater Canyon Trail and up Daniel’s Pass Trail this past weekend.
Not only was the scenery stunning with incredible views of Cheyenne Canyon, but the birds and wildflowers were putting on quite the show. Wild primrose, clematis, blackberries, and kinnikinnick decorated the forest floor while Western Tanagers, Warbling Vireo, and woodpeckers flew overhead.
Hiking Bob’s knowledge of local trail history, wildflowers, and this new trail made it particularly memorable.
Not a member of TOSC yet? Join now.
Wondering if your membership is current so you get information on future Member hikes? Email sheridan@trailsandopenspaces.org
Starlight Spectacular welcomes Aravaipa Running
Aravaipa Running held their Ring the Springs trail run this past weekend (part of which intersected our Member Hike) and Owner and CEO Jamil lent his support for our annual night time event.
Working with other organizations and local businesses is what makes Starlight Spectacular possible. Huge thanks to Aravaipa for their participation and congratulations to all the runners who participated in Ring the Springs!
Registration is open and you can take advantage of early bird pricing now. The first 500 participants get a free t-shirt!
Check out the new Ring the Peak Trail website
Thanks to the amazing work by web designer Sean Craig of Sean Craig Creative, the Ring the Peak Trail website has a much needed new look and added functionality. Perhaps the most notable change is the interactive 3-D trail map with a link on the loading page. Sean worked in the very flexible MapBox environment. We have much more interactivity planned in the near future.
He has also developed a photo gallery where users can upload their own photos of their experiences on the Ring. Just make sure you have location services enabled on your cell phone when you take the picture. As we become aware of trail issues we will make sure to post those on the new “Trail Alert” page.
We will have a new section on efforts to complete the trail, negotiations with land managers and public input from the Cripple Creek and Victor communities. TOSC and our leadership team are working diligently to make progress on completing the trail.
Community Events
Summer Tree Walk
Saturday, June 24 at 10:00 am
Led by Becky Wegner, Certified Arborist with SavATree
Walk begins at 10:00 am and will last 1 1/2 to 2 hours
Meet at the Pickleball Parking lot of Monument Valley Park
(Just west of the Mesa Road Bridge, near 222 Mesa Road)
Learn about the variety of trees in the southern half of the park, including the rare lacebark pine in
MVP’s Pinetum!
Free and Open to Everyone!
Please RSVP at info@fmvp.net
Bring: Water, sturdy shoes, sunscreen, pen & paper, and camera, if you like.
NO PETS please!