Tag: happy trails
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Happy Trails: A wild slice of Garden of the Gods, plus a premier rock formation
Cabin Canyon Trail, Garden of the Gods With the traffic along the road running through the park and the picture-taking tourists scattered throughout, it can be hard to find the wild side of Garden of the Gods. But if you know where to look, you might just find it — some peace and quiet between…
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Happy Trails: Overlooked trail boasts epic views, ends at legendary tunnel in Colorado Springs mountains
Every now and then we’ll glance at North Cheyenne Cañon’s trail map and realize how much more there is to explore at this Colorado Springs park we have long explored. Catching our eye at last glance: Spring Creek Trail, easy to overlook on the map of more renowned destinations, such as mounts Cutler and Muscoco,…
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Happy Trails: A quintessential venture at Colorado Springs’ Palmer Park
Templeton Trail Many say Colorado Springs’ best trails are across the city’s western, mountainous backdrop. But here to the east in the heart of the city is Palmer Park, this mosaic of bluffs and forests providing the kind of natural oasis city founder Gen. William Jackson Palmer envisioned. Surely he’d be proud of Templeton Trail.…
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Happy Trails: This might be our favorite loop in Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Roundup-Red Rock Canyon loop Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a colorful history including a quarry, a bomb shelter and a landfill. Fortunately, preservation and recreation won out. Today, of course, the open space on Colorado Springs’ west side is best known and appreciated for its colorful views. That colorful history has been left to…
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Happy Trails: Exploring creek-fed park on Colorado Springs’ north side
Cottonwood Creek Park loop This time of year, when the snow starts falling and the trails get muddy around Colorado Springs, we get to thinking about urban exploration. We get to thinking about paved trails ー trails resistant to the damage that our feet and bikes pose to muddy trails. Yes, it’s dirt that takes…
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Happy Trails: Catching the best views at Ute Valley Park in Colorado Springs
On a recent hike in Ute Valley Park, we got to thinking about how fortunate we are here in Colorado Springs. About how fortunate we are for this park between north side neighborhoods, this place close to home but seemingly far away, wild. From certain vantage points, it’s easy to imagine homes marching on here…
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Happy Trails: A quintessential summit hike in Colorado Springs
What defines a “quintessential” trail in Colorado Springs? We’d say, for one, the access — a quick escape into nature that feels far from the city. The view factors in, of course. Even better: a view that is earned, a trail that challenges. Mount Cutler checks the boxes. OK, the trail to the summit is…
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Happy Trails: A water escape in wilds north of Colorado Springs
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save To find a lake in Colorado’s mountains, you might expect a long venture. And so the scene between the state’s two biggest cities is a surprise: emerald waters between forested slopes that feel remote but…
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Happy Trails: Appreciating the Paint Mines east of Colorado Springs
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save On the plains east of Colorado Springs, a blank canvas breaks for a colorful wonderland. Tucked between grassy hillsides is an enclave of sandstone-capped spires and hoodoos that turn pink, purple and orange of clays…
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Happy Trails: Section 16 gets a refresh, but the climb and rewarding views remain
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save If you haven’t been to one of Colorado Springs’ great trails in a couple of years, Palmer Red Rock Loop, popularly known as Section 16, then you’ll notice some changes when you return. The changes were part of a 2023 project that, in the city…