Location:2120 S Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Hours: 5:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Amenities: This 1,600-acre park is home to several large animals such as the Black Bear, Mountain Lion and Mule Deer, and little birds that love water, like the Kingfisher, American Dipper and Broad-tailed Hummingbird. North Cheyenne Creek runs along the bottom of the canyon. An extensive 15+ mile trail system is open to hikers, bikers and runners. Dogs are allowed and must be leashed. Visitors also enjoy picnic areas and two visitor centers: Starsmore and Nature Center. Stratton Open Space connects to the park, offering additional recreation opportunities.
North Cheyenne Cañon Trail Map Preview North Cheyenne Cañon – Relive Video
History: General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, donated land to establish the park, along with other Colorado Springs parks. The land donated by Palmer for North Cheyenne Cañon Park included Silver Cascade Falls, Helen Hunt Falls, N. Cheyenne Cañon Road and other land in North Cheyenne. The city purchased 640 acres in North Cheyenne Cañon after citizens of Colorado Springs voted for the measure in 1885. The cañon was considered by the Park Commission to be “by far the grandest and most popular of all the beautiful cañons near the city.”
November 2021, nearly 7 miles of new trail now open in North Cheyenne Cañon Park – known as the Daniels Pass Trail System (view map). The new trails are bidirectional and open to non-motorized, multi-recreational users, with the exception of the two short hiking-only trails noted below.
- Daniels Pass Trail: 2.00 miles
- Sweetwater Canyon Trail: 3.07 miles
- Middle Sweetwater Trail: 0.42 miles
- Bruin Trail: 0.62 miles
- Mt. Muscoco Trail (Hiking Only): 0.33 miles
- Greenwood Path (Hiking Only): 0.18 miles
The new trails will take some time to wear-in, and with the unseasonably warm and dry weather, some sections are loose. Please go easy as you get to know the new routes, and use caution. A few finishing touches are also being made through the end of the year, including the addition of onsite trail maps.
Please note, North Cheyenne Canyon Road is closed through May 2022 due to the removal and replacement of three bridges. To access the new trails during this road closure, users either have to hike or bike into the park along the Columbine Trail which starts at the Starsmore Discovery Center, or use Gold Camp Road to access the Upper Parking Lot, located above Helen Hunt Falls where Gold Camp and North Cheyenne Canyon roads intersect.
Volunteer: Connect with the Friends of Cheyenne Canon to learn about volunteer opportunities.
This park is managed by City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services (719) 385-5940.
