Best Hikes Colorado Springs: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls

by Stewart M. Green

Overview

Discover the most epic hikes close to town. With Best Hikes Colorado Springs, readers have everything they need for the adventure they seek, from an easy nature walk to a multi-day backpack. Complete with maps and full-color photos, hike descriptions provide everything you need to know before hitting the trail: location, length, hiking time, level of difficulty, canine compatability.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493047406
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	11/01/2020
Series:	Best Hikes Near Series
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	272
Sales rank:	998,592
Product dimensions:	6.09(w) x 9.05(h) x 0.55(d)

About the Author

Stewart M. Green has hiked, climbed, photographed, and traveled across the American West and written and photographed more than forty-five travel and climbing outdoor adventure books. Stewart is a professional rock climbing guide with Front Range Climbing Company and the Climbing Expert at climbing.about.com. Visit him at green1109.wix​.com/stewartmgreenphoto for images and information.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii

Introduction ix

How to Use This Guide xix

Trail Finder xxi

Map Legend xxiii

The Hikes

The Prairie 1

1 Homestead Ranch Regional Park Trail 2

2 Calhan Paint Mines Trail 7

3 Big Bluestem Trail and Meadowlark Loop 12

The Foothills 18

4 Palmer Trail to Susan G. Bretag Trail Loop 19

5 Ute Trail and Chambers Trail Loop 24

6 Perkins Central Garden Trail 31

7 Red Rock Canyon Trail 37

8 Contemplative, Roundup, and Red Rock Canyon Trails Loop 43

9 Coyote Run Trail 49

10 Blackmer Loop Trail 53

11 Aiken Canyon Trail 58

12 Ute Valley Park Loop 64

13 Templeton Trail 70

14 Edna Mae Bennett Nature Trail 76

15 Pulpit Rock Trail 82

16 Spruce Mountain Trail 88

17 Inner Canyon-Lake Gulch Loop Trail 94

18 Canyon View Nature Trail 100

The Mountains 104

19 Mount Cutler Trail 105

20 The Columbine Trail 110

21 St. Mary's Falls Trail 117

22 Gray Back Peak Trail 122

23 Emerald Valley Pipeline Trail 126

24 Beaver Creek Loop Trail 131

25 Red Mountain Trail 138

26 Mount Manitou Incline Trail 143

27 Heizer Trail 150

28 Catamount Trail 154

29 Raspberry Mountain Trail 160

30 Crags Trail 164

31 Devils Playground Trail 168

32 Pancake Rocks and Horsethief Falls Trails 179

33 Mueller State Park Loop 185

34 Vindicator Valley Trail 191

35 Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument Trails 197

36 Twin Rocks Trail 202

37 Goose Creek Trail 207

38 Blodgett Peak Trail 215

39 Mount Herman Trail 223

40 Palmer Reservoirs Loop with Cap Rock Option 228

Appendix A Further Reading 238

Appendix B Restaurants, Brewpubs, and Accommodations 239

About the Author 246