About This Site:
'The intent of this site is to assist those seeking a great place to walk along Colorado's beautiful Front Range. If you hike El Paso and Douglas Counties regularly, I suspect this site will mostly be a confirmation of things already known, as most the day-hikes described here are located between Colorado Springs and Denver.
The information provided by this site I believe to be reliable, but don't trust me, please verify intel you read here with another source. Links to further information are located below each trail description, as well as on the Additional Resources page.
There are many excellent websites on the area's trails, but for hikes based out of Colorado Springs, I highly recommend Colorado Springs Trails and Hiking. Additionally, Out There Colorado and the Examiner.com are also great resources in finding a nearby walk.
Many of the Open Spaces, Parks, and State Parks described by this site are pockets of wilderness surrounded by nearby civilization. These places often have detailed maps in PDF format readily downloaded from their websites. However, I definitely recommend having a good guide book and trail map on hand when in the back-country.
On the Additional Resources page is a brief list of trail guides and maps. This list is far from comprehensive. Personally, I like the Best Hikes Near Colorado Springs by Stewart M. Green. It has a good map for each of its 40 hikes, as well as excellent descriptions.
The most comprehensive book on the region is Trails Guide: Denver to Pikes Peak by Zoltan Malocsay. I think it is currently out of print with the most recent edition being the seventh., reprinted in 2011. Below are some tips specific to the region that may or may not be helpful for the visiting rambler.
The information provided by this site I believe to be reliable, but don't trust me, please verify intel you read here with another source. Links to further information are located below each trail description, as well as on the Additional Resources page.
There are many excellent websites on the area's trails, but for hikes based out of Colorado Springs, I highly recommend Colorado Springs Trails and Hiking. Additionally, Out There Colorado and the Examiner.com are also great resources in finding a nearby walk.
Many of the Open Spaces, Parks, and State Parks described by this site are pockets of wilderness surrounded by nearby civilization. These places often have detailed maps in PDF format readily downloaded from their websites. However, I definitely recommend having a good guide book and trail map on hand when in the back-country.
On the Additional Resources page is a brief list of trail guides and maps. This list is far from comprehensive. Personally, I like the Best Hikes Near Colorado Springs by Stewart M. Green. It has a good map for each of its 40 hikes, as well as excellent descriptions.
The most comprehensive book on the region is Trails Guide: Denver to Pikes Peak by Zoltan Malocsay. I think it is currently out of print with the most recent edition being the seventh., reprinted in 2011. Below are some tips specific to the region that may or may not be helpful for the visiting rambler.
Some Possibly Helpful Trail Advice from One Stranger to Another:
A. Elevation
Most of the hikes along the Front Range are at an elevation of at least a mile (1.6 km) above sea level. The altitude and lack of oxygen can have adverse effects for those visiting from lower elevations. Most common aversions include headache and fatigue, but for some the elevation can be far more serious. Many of the tour companies in Cuzco, Peru who are licensed to guide on the restricted Inca Trail leading to Machu Pichu ask those visitors seeking their services to arrive a couple of days prior to the beginning of the trek in order to acclimatize to elevations very similar to the trails hiked on the Front Range and throughout the Rockies. Like in the Appalachians, but more so, differences in elevation along the same hike can factor into dramatic temperature changes. Many local trail guides advice wearing, or bringing multiple layers of clothing. B. The Dry Heat For those from a humid climate, the Colorado heat will feel much different. The climate is arid and in some ways can feel a lot more pleasant than the saturated heat of the deep south. .The pleasantness can disguise a sun quick to burn. The threat of a bad burn is even greater when there is snow on the ground. The West is so thirsty, you can just about feel the water being sucked from your flesh on a sunny day, like it was a Gefling's essence being drained by a Skeksi, Be sure to drink plenty of water, esp on the trails. Staying hydrated will also help stave off the headaches and other symptoms while adjusting to the elevation. C. Natural Calamities Before 2012, Waldo Canyon was best known as one of the most popular trails in the region and is mentioned in many trail books. In 2012, Waldo Canyon became the origin point and name for one of Colorado's most devastating wildfires, having swept through the canyons of Rampart Range into Northwest Colorado Springs. The trail has been closed since. May of 2015 was a record amount of rain for the area, causing serious damage to nearby trails, including the closing down of Red Rock Canyon Open Space for a couple of months. North Cheyenne Canyon Park reopened in late 2014 after a long closure from severe damage caused by flooding. Be sure to check conditions, often found on the park's official website. D. The Afternoon Storm Like all places, the weather on the Front Range can be unpredictable, except in spring and summer when an afternoon thunderstorm, with or without rain, is a frequent enough occurrence to be expected. Usually the afternoon storm is more serious the further up the mountain and why most guides on alpine hikes advice early morning starts, esp when attempting one of Colorado's 14ers. |
About the Scribe:
'Year by year, the monkey's mask reveals the monkey' -Basho
What is there to say, very little really, except I am mostly a stranger, a visiting Northeast Tennessean. I have off and on for many years called the Colorado Springs area a home. Despite having lived in the Colorado Springs area for many years, I am not an expert of the region, just an admirer. I hope this site proves to be useful to you. Getting Lost on the Front Range is a part of The Monkey's Mask Presents. |