Meadows Trail

Stratton Open Space is a poster child of Colorado Springs’ Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) initiative, which voters approved in 1997. That set aside a portion of sales tax revenues to preserve natural areas 一 an early example being this hilly mosaic of meadows and woods between the neighborhood and North Cheyenne Canon. 

TOPS would be responsible for many more local outdoor destinations known today, Red Rock Canyon and Blodgett open spaces and Ute Valley Park among them. But Stratton has been far from forgotten, clear from the main trailhead parking lot that is quick to fill. 

That’s the trailhead off Ridgeway Avenue, where we were greeted by birdsong and the chimes of the Will Rogers Shrine perched along Cheyenne Mountain. We were bound for one of our favorite loops here at Stratton. 

So named for the open space’s grassy entrance here, Meadows Trail is marked in the middle of posts. The path rises up to big-sky views of downtown and the plains sprawling east, Cheyenne Mountain and The Broadmoor towers and the canyon’s craggy promontories in the other directions. 

Meadows Trail continues straight through the pines ahead. At the next clearing we continued the trail by going left, starting the loop that remains well-marked through the charming, tranquil environs. 

Our tracker read 1.2 miles at a marker pointing left to the Ridgeway trailhead; Meadows Trail continues right for another mile, where a marker points left for Chamberlain Trail. At 2.4 miles, a marker points left for Ridge Trail, which runs a mile past the drained reservoir and back to the trailhead. 

Trip log: 3.5 miles, 417 feet elevation gain

Getting there: Trailhead at 1504 Ridgeway Ave. Going south on Interstate 25, take exit 140, turning right on Tejon Street and continuing to the traffic circle. Go right on Cheyenne Boulevard and continue about 2 miles, turning right on Ridgeway Avenue to the trailhead. 

FYI: 5 a.m.-10 p.m. April-October, until 9 p.m. November-March. Hikers, bikers, equestrians. Dogs on leash. More information and trail map at coloradosprings.gov/stratton

SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE