Tag: happy trails
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Happy Trails: By Garden of the Gods, a historic bridge between great views
Driving on 30th Street in Colorado Springs, the view to the west demands attention: the red rock sanctuary of Garden of the Gods in the forefront of Pikes Peak. It’s easy to miss an intrigue on the opposite side of the street. Surely you’ve passed it — that short, cobblestone bridge nestled between grassy knolls. A…
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Happy Trails: A scenic hike to the water awaits in the southwest foothills of Colorado Springs
Bodies of water aren’t all that common across Colorado Springs. So one might be surprised by a short hike or bike ride granting two reservoirs. They are tucked in the city’s southwest foothills, between North Cheyenne Cañon Park and Stratton Open Space: Gold Camp and South Suburban reservoirs. South Suburban Reservoir is the popular spot…
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Happy Trails: A hidden, natural oasis on Colorado Springs’ west side
On the edge of Colorado Springs’ west side, nestled behind a cul de sac, is a sudden nature oasis where the neighborhood disappears and the din of Interstate 25 soon fades. The traffic is replaced by bugs buzzing, birds singing and a creek’s trickling melody. This is Sondermann Park. Regulars know it as a hidden…
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Happy Trails: A go-to for hikers, mountain bikers in Crested Butte
One of the Crested Butte area’s most popular trails grants you a modest summit with humbling views. Snodgrass Mountain isn’t among the most dramatic peaks around this destination town. But it is among the most accessible. And it grants you the signature scenery that people travel from afar to admire, including wildflowers and aspen groves…
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Happy Trails: Lesser-known loop through the pines northeast of Colorado Springs
In Colorado Springs, outdoor enthusiasts know Section 16 to refer to a splendid trail in the city’s southwest mountains. Fewer people know Section 16 as a loop through the pines defining Black Forest, the community northeast of the city. And perhaps fewer know Section 16 to refer to a historic land ordinance in America. Dating…
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A lesser-known loop through the pines in Black Forest
In Colorado Springs, outdoor enthusiasts know Section 16 to refer to a splendid trail in the city’s southwest mountains. Fewer people know Section 16 as a loop through the pines defining Black Forest, the community northeast of the city. And perhaps fewer know Section 16 to refer to a historic land ordinance in America. Dating…
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Happy Trails: A celebrated gateway to Clear Creek Canyon west of Denver
In 2021, Jefferson County announced a new recreation destination with a fitting name. The Gateway Trail would serve as a gateway to Clear Creek Canyon, providing a link from downtown Golden to these rugged walls. The Gateway Trail would also add a dramatic segment to the Peaks to Plains Trail. That’s the dream trail taking…
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Happy Trails: A trailhead-to-trailhead tour of Ute Valley Park in Colorado Springs
Ute Valley Regional Trail Amid the forest and rocky bluffs of northern Colorado Springs, mountain bikers have come to crave fast, technical descents on narrow trails. Runners, too, have come to appreciate the flavors. Ute Valley Regional Trail is the antithesis of this. A “stroller trail,” one of those hard-wired bikers might call it. Not…
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Happy Trails: An end-to-end tour of Colorado Springs’ Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Mesa/Greenlee loop, Red Rock Canyon There are seemingly endless ways to appreciate Red Rock Canyon Open Space, one of Colorado Springs’ signature, natural beauties. Out-of-towners might take to the often-recommended Contemplative Trail, finding themselves tucked between the slanting, soaring outcrops on the open space’s west side. On the other side, locals on foot and bike…
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Happy Trails: An alternate, scenic route to waterfall in Colorado Springs
Daniels Pass to Helen Hunt Falls When seven miles of new trail opened in 2021 in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, they opened up greater possibilities for adventure in one of Colorado Springs’ premier outdoor destinations. The Daniels Pass trail system offered a loop of its own, connecting into the scenic, forested Sweetwater Canyon. Long-distance mountain…