Happy Trails: Getting to know the growing sides of Blodgett Open Space in Colorado Springs
Amid Colorado Springs’ mountain backdrop, Blodgett Peak is a regal standout. People have long gotten to know the open space near the pointy peak’s foot. In more recent years, they’ve gotten to know the open space that has expanded south. And this summer, they could get to know a whole new side.
Trails are expected to debut near Blodgett Open Space’s southernmost boundary, beneath Pikeview Quarry. In the meantime, we still find ourselves getting to know the open space from the trailhead just south of the main trailhead along Woodmen Road.
We recently charted a course exploring the terrain between the trailheads. Red Squirrel Trail spans the length.
From the South Blodgett Trailhead, we started on South Blodgett Loop behind the parking lot’s posted map. The wide path steeply rises uphill past a utility station to greater views of the foothills, the neighboring quarry turning green from reclamation and land and sky far east.
From the upper meadow, South Blodgett Loop narrows and flows through knolls burned by the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire. The loop continues right at a marker, which points straight for Red Squirrel Trail. Markers kept us on Red Squirrel, which continues to wind up and over the hills.
Blodgett Peak looms closer, majestically in view as the trail makes its way north to a charming, green forest spared by the fire. Our tracker was close to 1 1/2 miles at a marker where we stayed straight for Red Squirrel, which swoops down between tall pines. The trail drops to a T”; we went right to the North Blodgett Trailhead and Woodmen Road.
A sidewalk parallels the road running south. We took it back to the parking lot.
Trip log: 2.6 miles round trip (loop), 608 feet elevation gain
Getting there: South Blodgett Trailhead is about a mile south of the main parking lot at 3786 W. Woodmen Road. Off Woodmen Road, see trailhead sign at turn for Blodgett Ranch Trail and follow up to the parking lot.
FYI: Open 5 a.m.-9 p.m. November-April; 5 a.m.-10 p.m. May-October. Multi-use trails. Dogs on leash.
SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE