Outdoor Remote & Self-Guided Activities

Rated the #1 U.S. park by TripAdvisor, you’ll find both paved and natural trails that wind through magnificent red rock formations and offer stunning views of Pikes Peak. The Garden of the Gods trail map offers a good overview of your options. There is an off-leash dog area between Rock Ledge Ranch & 30th St but dogs in the park must be leashed. Easy

A variety of trails wind along the canyons and ridges of red rock and provide great views of Garden of the Gods. These trails connect to many other hiking trails in the area. There are two off-leash dog loops and a free-ride bike park. Easy to Moderate

Just south of Colorado Springs you can explore nature’s diversity on 2,700 acres with prairie-to-peak ecosystems on 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. Entrance fee. Easy to Moderate

737-acre park offering hiking and biking on a mesa overlooking the city. Enclosed off-leash dog park as well as a separate off-leash area with incredible views. Dogs must be leashed in all other areas. Easy to Moderate

This area is known for its unique rock formations created by the most recent geological uplift. The 585 acres can be accessed via two trailheads. Easy to Moderate

Located near the foothills, this 25-acre off-leash park provides dogs and their owners with a variety of hiking options; great amenities such as shade, creek, small-dog area, agility course and restrooms. Named a top-10 US dog park and considered to be among the region's finest. Easy

View wildlife, marshes, streams and ponds as you hike these gentle and shaded trails. Easy

This 5-mile trail runs from the town of Manitou Springs to America the Beautiful Park in Colorado Springs; some parts of the trail are on streets. Easy

12-mile (one-way) hike gaining 7,800 vertical feet from Manitou Springs to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak - America's Mountain. Hike to the summit and book a ride back down the mountain with Rocky Mountain Ride. Moderate to Difficult

(Also known as Red Rock Palmer Loop Trail) A 6-mile loop hike of moderate difficulty among the pine forest with spectacular views, shade and a small waterfall. Moderate

This new 3-mile trail (round-trip) is part of the Intemann Trail and provides access to a summit that was only recently open to the public. Moderate

For the ultimate workout tackle the 1-mile, 2,000-ft. vertical rise trail made from the track of a historic rail car line. Descend on lower 4 miles of Barr Trail. Difficult

Stare 1,000 feet into the famed Royal Gorge. Outdoor enthusiasts of all abilities will find plenty of options for overlooks, winding trails, and mountain biking. Easy to Moderate

(Officially known as Silver Cascade Trail) This short trail offers a pleasant hike through the forest alongside a cascading stream and waterfall. Moderate

This is an easy to moderate trail as there is a constant gain in elevation as you cross 7 bridges after hiking a portion of the old Midland Railroad line. Moderate

6-mile round trip hike of moderate difficulty that starts in Green Mountain Falls and ends at South Catamount Reservoir. Moderate to Difficult

This historic section of the Arkansas Riverwalk Trail enters three separate tunnels and offers stunning views of the Arkansas River Gorge. Easy

A 4-mile out-and-back trail rated as moderate with great views of Monument, Colorado Springs and the mountains. Moderate

Rich in both animal and plant life, the park’s gentle trails take you by overhangs, spires, hoodoos, carved walls and chasms that are in beautiful colors such as golden yellow, rose pink, snowy white and mauve. No dogs. Easy

This one-way trail parallels N. Cheyenne Canon Road and heads up to the summit. Along the way, you'll see great views of Stratton Open Space, Seven Falls, and Will Rogers Shrine. Easy

Beginner/Intermediate/Advanced | 20 Trails | 26 Total Miles | 300' Vertical
Palmer Park is a very cool mountain bike trail system made even cooler by its location, smack dab in the middle of Colorado Springs. Easy access may mean the trails get crowded, but it’s hard to beat riding to singletrack without getting in the car, or getting some miles in before or after work. Palmer Park has mountain bike trails for riders of all ability levels, too, making the area great for families and kids. There are a ton of shorter trails that weave throughout the park, which can make navigating a bit tricky. Overall the park is pretty small, so getting lost isn’t a big deal, and can be a great way to find new trails. Trail Link

Intermediate | 1.7 Miles | 262' Climb | 42' Descent
Grandview is one of the more popular trails at Palmer Park, with amazing views from the top. Mountain bikers are treated to vistas of Pike’s Peak, Garden of the Gods, and Colorado Springs. The trail itself is pretty easy with some more difficult slickrock and technical sections thrown in. Trail Link

Advanced | 3.8 Miles | 488' Climb/Descent
Templeton is definitely the most difficult technical mountain bike trail in the Palmer Park. Even the best riders will be challenged by the techy sections. Ride them clean, and you’ll be stoked. The trail forms a loop in the northern portion of the park. Trail Link

Intermediate | 2.1 Miles | 129' Climb | 166' Descent (CCW)
Palmer Point Trail is one of the longer trails at the park, and has some of the best flow, too. It makes its way around the northwestern perimeter of the park and descends in the counterclockwise direction. Trail Link

All Abilities | 15 trails | 18 Miles | 1,711' Vertical
Located in the foothills just outside of Colorado Springs, Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a great selection of mountain bike trails that are perfect for after work or school rides. This reclaimed open space was once referred to as “America's most beautiful landfill.” It now hosts some fun singletrack through sandstone hogbacks. The trails criss-cross throughout the park in a web of riding suited for any ability level. In general, the trails are smooth, with some roads mixed in. Trail Link

Chamberlain to Gold Camp Rd. to Buckhorn to Captain Jacks
Intermediate/Advanced | 13.5 Miles | 2,047' Climb/Descent
This is one of many loops possible in the Stratton Open Space, including some of Colorado Springs’ best mountain bike trails. The route climbs up from the Ridgeway parking lot using the Chamberlain Trail to access the dirt Gold Camp Road, then Buckhorn. The climb is a bit of a grind, with the last grunt up Buckhorn throwing in some technical challenges, but it's totally worth the ripping fun descent. From the top of Buckhorn there are great views to take in while catching your breath and getting ready to drop into Captain Jack’s. This descent is smooth, fast and fun. From the bottom of Captain Jack’s, riders can drop into the short, steep, and gnarly Captain Morgan’s, or swing back out to Gold Camp Road to access the last fun downhill down Chutes trail to the car. The Chutes is a super fun trail to descend, with great flow, berms, and some rolling jumps. It can get a bit sandy, however. There are lots of options for longer or shorter mountain bike riders in the Stratton Open. Trail Link

11 Trails | 16 Miles | 866' Vertical
South of Colorado Springs, there are some nice mountain bike trails at Cheyenne Mountain State Park. These trails are mostly well groomed and smooth, making for great beginner and intermediate riding. There are some more difficult trails, too. Cougar’s Shadow trail in the northwest of the park is the most technical and difficult trail in the park. The trails can be looped in a number of different ways to make longer rides. A 14 mile loop covers most of the trails in the park. Trail Link

Right in our own back yard of UCCS, the Austin Bluffs Open Space offers a wide variety of mountain bike and hiking trails to keep all experience levels happy. Trail Link

Buckhorn Loop in North Cheyenne Cañon offers brilliant views on this four-mile long trek. The loop starts out with a hearty 1.5-mile climb where you will be rewarded with gorgeous vistas of the area. If you descend too fast you will miss out on a glimpse of Silver Cascade Falls (Shosky, Daniel. Trail Link

The 26-mile roundtrip Barr Trail up to the top of Pikes Peak is only for expert riders. During your climb and descent you will have some of the most inspiring views of the Colorado Springs area. Trail Link

One of the few places you can mountain bike in Garden of the Gods is along the six-mile Ute Trail. On this ride, you will view incredible Morrison Formation as well as stunning sage brush. The Ute Trail is ideal for beginners or someone looking for a clean ride. Trail Link

One of the best trails within Red Rock Canyon Open Space is the 1.5-mile Hogback Ridge Trail. After a steep climb on loose gravel you will be treated to vistas of Colorado Springs as you ride leisurely along the peak ridge. Trail Link

The 14-mile ride at Rampart Reservoir is perfect for all types of riders looking for big vistas of the surrounding area. The trail is best ridden clockwise and you will find tons of turn outs to catch a heart-stopping glance of the scenery. Riders will find something for all skill levels, from flat sections to highly technical areas for more expert riders. Trail Link