Monument Valley Park Loop

Red Rock Canyon Open Space was made public in the early 00's after years of use as a quarry and landfill. Some of the stone quarried from the area have even been used in some of the downtown buildings. Getting there is straightforward, heading West on 24 there is an obvious turn off left between 31st street and Manitou Springs. From the entrance of the park, you can turn right to a small parkin...

The Basics: Garden of the Gods is a free, public park on the Western edge of Colorado Springs. Open year round, the excellent paved roads with wide bike lanes provide road bikers with multiple loop options from 3 to 10+ miles. From casual bike riders to seasoned pros, you choose your distance and difficulty!The Ride: Starting from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center entrance (East side of par...

This short spur trail is right off Perkins Central Garden Trail. Most people walk by it because the walkway changes from paved to dirt, but it is definitely a must-see if you're exploring the park. It climbs just a short amount before reaching the rocks you can climb on. Make sure you take a moment here and look west to admire Pikes Peak off in the distance. The rocks on this loop are availabl...

Scotsman Trail Loop is a loop trail where you may see beautiful wildflowers located near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

If you are new to the area a stop by the visitor center can help to get a map of the trails and roads in the area as well as obtain a climbing permit (one is needed to climb and is free). Once you have entered the area there are multiple trails and pullouts that you can explore. Many of the trails are paved and most of the year easy to follow. During the summer expect crowds during the day but...

The Basics: It might be easy to overlook Palmer Park if you're planning an adventure outing in Colorado Springs, but definitely don't discount this inner-city oasis! It took me many years to memorize Palmer Park's confusing trail system (the trail maps don't help), but whether this will be your first or fiftieth run here, I think that the Yucca Flats area is the best place to start for many re...