Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space:
Distance: Approximately 5 miles total
Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space is located in Douglas County, west of I-25, situated amongst picturesque sloping grasslands interrupted by distant and towering buttes. Gambel oak shrubland and mixed coniferous forest intersperse the grasslands, growing in particular on mountain slopes and along washes. Not surprising the area is home to many appealing horse ranches and the open space is popular among horseback-riders, as well as hikers and bicyclists. The Dawson Butte Trail is an approximate five mile long loop trail winding mostly through forest, occasionally crossing through pastures with vantages of nearby Dawson Butte and the more distant Rampart Range. As spring turns to summer, an awesome array of wildflowers bloom along the route, esp in the meadows. Several paths cut away from and back to Dawson Butte's main trail. Horse jumps have been placed along these paths, 60 in total.. Neither the main trail or paths lead to Dawson Butte's top. Despite not climbing to the Butte's top, there are some very reasonable inclines and declines to this mostly-level hike through forest and the occasional meadow. Dawson Butte Trail is a loop, so either way chosen leads back to the parking lot and the hike's starting point. As a vassal to the Unseelie Court, I usually choose widdershins, saving the portion of Dawson Butte Trail paralleling Tomah Rd for a little under two miles for the end of the hike. Going clockwise begins with paralleling Tomah Road, heading mostly through gambel oak schrubland. Intersections are marked by signs with trail names and often beforehand by yellow signs alerting of a nearby intersection. Other trail signs notate the miles traveled along Dawson Butte Trail. Log benches have also been placed at many of the path intersections and at other points along the trail. The Open Space has a picnic site known as Picnic Tree located under the shade of ponderosa pine, two or three miles from the loop's trailhead. Given the approximate 5 mile total distance, straightforward navigation, and lack of uphill, Dawson Butte Trail is rated as moderately-easy. Further information on Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space is linked below. Further Online Resources: Douglas County: Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space Trail Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space Map pdf Colorado Springs Hiking: Dawson Butte Ranch Open space Trail |
Driving Directions:
From UCCS, turn right onto Austin Bluffs Pkwy. From Austin Bluffs Pkwy, turn right onto Nevada Ave, merging onto I-25 headed north. Stay on I-25 for approximately 25.7 miles, taking Exit 174 toward Tomah Rd. Turn left from the exit ramp onto Sky View Ln. Almost immiedately after turning left onto Sky View Ln, turn right onto Frontage Rd. Stay on Frontage Rd for 2.1 miles, then turn left onto Tomah Rd, headed up and over the railroad tracks. Stay on Tomah Rd for 1.6 miles and then turn right into the parking area for Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space. Signs notate the turn. The parking area is divided into two sections, one for trailers and one for without. Space is more than adequate but I can imagine it getting packed on a nice weekend, like most places in Colorado. A portajohn and picnic area are located near the parking area. Driving directions using Google Maps is linked here. |