Best Day Hikes in Colorado Springs

With 160 miles of park hiking trails offering a variety of scenery and landscapes, Colorado Springs is an outdoor enthusiast's dream. In fact, so many hiking options are available that trying to decide where to begin can be overwhelming. Based upon my own experiences as a Colorado Springs local, I'd recommend starting with one of the following hiking trails. All are relatively short and easy and offer enough beautiful vistas to satisfy even the most discerning amateur photographer. They are also dog-friendly. Make sure to bring enough water - including water for your dog, if you bring him or her along - and dress in layers, as the weather can change rapidly here in Colorado Springs.

1. Garden of the Gods -- Rated by TripAdvisor as the number two free unheralded attraction in the United States and located only minutes from the heart of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods boasts 23 miles of trails spread across over 1300 acres. The city-owned park, a National Natural Landmark, is filled with stunning red sandstone formations; views of Pikes Peak; plenty of wildlife, including deer, squirrels, and blue jays; and diverse plant life such as wildflowers and cacti. Plus, the park is dog-friendly; dogs on six-foot leashes are permitted as long as their owners clean up after them. (My dog Max has a blast at Garden of the Gods!) Start by parking at the main parking lot for an easy, 1.5-mile stroll on a paved path - the Central Garden Trail - which loops around the base of the area's highest rock formations. While this trail is arguably the most crowded with visitors, it is friendly for all ages and offers the opportunity to see some technical rock climbers braving incredible heights. For a bit longer of an excursion, the Chambers/Bretag/Palmer Trail is a moderate, 3-mile dirt trail, and it connects with the Siamese Twins Trail, which leads to the must-see Siamese Twins rock formation. Garden of the Gods is located at 3130 N. 30^th Street.

2. Palmer Park - Located in the middle of the city at Academy Blvd. and Maizeland Rd., Palmer Park boasts over 25 miles of dirt trails with incredible views of both Pikes Peak and the city below as well as rich vegetation and varying terrains. Trails are well-marked, with the difficulty level indicated by ski-slope symbols - green for easy, blue for intermediate, and black diamond for advanced. Be aware of mountain bikers, as Palmer Park is very popular among them. Like Garden of the Gods, Palmer Park is free and also allows dogs as long as they are kept on-leash and cleaned up after. I have hiked the Palmer Park Trail, Edna Mae Bennet Nature Trail, and Templeton Trail and enjoyed all of them. The City of Colorado Springs recommends the Grandview Trail, Greencrest Trail, or Mesa Trail for beginners.

3. Ute Valley Park - This free park is located on the northwest side of Colorado Springs at Centennial Blvd. and Vindicator Dr. A mix of grassy meadows and vegetated hills, Ute Valley Park is popular with hikers and mountain bikers alike. Dogs are permitted on-leash. I have seen deer and a variety of other wildlife here. Rattlesnakes do inhabit the park, so stay on the trails and use caution.

4. Seven Falls Trail - This trail is accessed through the Seven Falls attraction, so admission fees are involved. See http://www.sevenfalls.com for details. That being said, this is a beautiful trail. It is 1.38 miles round-trip, with a 477-foot elevation gain. We saw deer and appreciated the thick vegetation and beautiful views of the city below. I'd recommend hiking the trail on a weekday, as it can be pretty crowded with tourists on weekends. Dogs are permitted on-leash. However, you have to climb a great deal of stairs, or use the elevators, to reach the trailhead, so you may wish to leave your canine companion at home.

For a fabulous and growing listing of trails in the Colorado Springs area, including GPS topographic maps, check out e-Trailmaps.com. Occasionally, I post photos of my local hikes on my blog, White Noise, as well.