The Best Hikes in Colorado Springs
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Loading... - Adeline Walker
- 14 Apr 2022
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Boulder may get all the attention, but when it comes to hiking Colorado’s Front Range, there are riches in the hills near Colorado Springs. This entrance point into the state’s mountains offers dozens of options for hiking, whether your sights are set on a short but memorable trek, a challenging day-long excursion, or a multi-day escape.
For many travelers this town is synonymous with Pikes Peak. But there’s much more to Colorado Springs hiking, from partially paved but spectacular hikes through the Garden of the Gods to the challenging endurance test of the Manitou Incline.
Best Dayhikes Near Colorado Springs
Best Hikes Near Colorado Springs: Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon
West Cimarron Street separates the landscapes of the Garden of the Gods and Red Rock Canyon, but the two public parks share an ancient history: an inland sea, acres of dunes, and sandy beaches that left behind the brilliant red spires that enchant hikers today.
Palmer Trail Loop
- Length: 4 miles
- Elevation Gain: 597 feet
- Trail Type: Loop
- Difficulty: Moderate
There’s a reason the Garden of the Gods is so popular. Copper-colored rock formations jut from the landscape in otherworldly formations with nicknames like Siamese Twins, Three Graces and Kissing Camels. The Palmer Trail Loop (find the trailhead near the main parking lot) avoids all but a tiny bit of the paved walkway and dodges the worst of the crowds. And the loop’s elevation allows hikers to look out over a wide panorama of the park’s most impressive rock formations.
Red Rock Rim Trail and Red Rock Canyon Trail
- Length: 2.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 335 feet
- Trail Type: Loop
- Difficulty: Easy
Think of Red Rock Canyon as a mini-Garden of the Gods. Home to similar russet-colored rock hoodoos, slabs and ridges, the canyon was once the site of a quarry that mined building sand, sandstone and gypsum. In the heart of the canyon, rock cuts and retention ponds remain from a century ago, and have become part of the landscape. The entire loop is a memorable and diverse natural experience, with colorful rock walls, exposed grasslands, honey-colored ridgelines and wildlife that frequents the ponds’ shores..
Best Hikes near Colorado Springs: Manitou Springs
The bubbling mineral springs of Manitou Springs have drawn attention since prehistoric times. Today, the town’s location between downtown Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak makes it a good base for exploring the area’s outdoor attractions.
The Incline Trail
- Length: 2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 1978 feet
- Trail Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Hard
Built on the site of a cog railway that once led to the top of Manitou Mountain, the Incline Trail follows the route of the old tracks with 2,744 rough, uneven stairs that lead one mile straight up. Hiking the route has become a local endurance test, but beyond the bragging rights, the views from the Incline are heavenly. Manitou Springs, Colorado Springs and the plains beyond are nothing short of magnificent, especially in the early morning hours. To accommodate the large number of people who climb The Incline, the City of Colorado Springs has instituted a mandatory free reservation system.
Ute Indian Trail
- Length: 7.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 2,000 feet
- Trail Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Ute Indian Trail begins near Manitou Springs’ Incline Trail and, according to local park staff, ranks as one of the oldest migratory routes in the US, dating back approximately 10,000 years. The trail follows a route used to access Ute hunting grounds, trading partners and the sacred waters of Manitou Springs. In the 1860s, the Ute Trail transformed into a wagon road, linking Colorado Springs with the mining camps at Leadville. After a brief but steep incline, the Ute Trail climbs more gradually, passing through ponderosa pine and Douglas fir with spectacular views of Colorado Springs and the plains at points along the way. Interpretive signs point out sites associated with the trail’s long history.
Red Mountain Trail
- Length: 2 miles
- Elevation Gain: 826 feet
- Trail Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Moderate
A perfect option for those seeking solitude, shade, and scenery with only a short window to hike, the Red Mountain Trail leads up above the town of Manitou Springs, just a short distance from the more popular Incline Trail. After a gradual ascent through scrub oak and grasses, the trail snakes upward through ponderosa pine and Douglas fir before breaking out onto the peak’s exposed rocky summit, with lovely views of the Front Range and Manitou Springs.
Best Hikes near Colorado Springs: North Cheyenne Cañon Park
Located southwest of Colorado Springs, this park is dominated by its 1,000-foot-deep canyon and the creek that carved it, the North Cheyenne. Explore the region’s winding trails and pretty waterfalls just a short drive from downtown.
Seven Bridges Trail
- Length: 3.5 miles
- Elevation Gain: 912 feet
- Trail Type: Out and back
- Difficulty: Moderate
The Seven Bridges Trail follows North Cheyenne Creek, a pretty spring that tumbles through a boulder-strewn cut near the foot of Kineo Mountain. Up and over rocky footpaths, twisted tree roots, and the gurgling creek, the trail offers just enough challenge to be interesting. An added attraction is the path’s seven wooden bridges, which cross over the water and give the route its name. Continue onward to join up with other area trails Forest Service Trail 622A, 668 or 720, or head back after the seventh bridge. Read More...
