Best Hiking Trails in Colorado Springs

Colorado Springs has 284 mapped trails within city limits and the surrounding area. That’s not a typo. For a city of 500,000 people, the trail access here is genuinely extraordinary, and it’s one of the main reasons people choose to buy a home here.

I’ve lived in the Springs most of my life and I still find new trails to explore. Whether you’re brand new to hiking or you’ve been doing it for years, here is my honest, local breakdown of the best hikes in Colorado Springs, organized by difficulty so you can find exactly what fits you.

 "Already thinking about making Colorado Springs home? The trail access alone is worth the move. Scroll to the bottom for my contact info."

Easy Hikes, Great for Beginners, Families & Dogs

You don’t need to be an athlete to enjoy Colorado Springs trails. These easy hikes deliver stunning scenery with minimal effort.

Garden of the Gods Loop Trail

Difficulty: Easy Distance: 3.8 miles Elevation gain: 300 ft

The must-do hike in Colorado Springs, and one of the best free hikes in the entire country. Walk among 300-million-year-old red sandstone formations including Balanced Rock, Kissing Camels, and Cathedral Spires. Connects the Perkins Central Garden Trail and Palmer Trail. Paved sections make it stroller and wheelchair accessible. Go early on weekdays, summer weekend parking is a nightmare.

Monument Valley Park Trail

Difficulty: Easy Distance: 3 miles Elevation gain: Minimal

A paved greenway running through the heart of downtown along Fountain Creek. Perfect for a morning walk, jog with the dog, or a casual stroll. Most visitors have no idea a 145-acre park runs right through the city, this is one of the best-kept local secrets.

Ute Valley Park, Main Loop

Difficulty: Easy–Moderate Distance: 2–4 miles (various) Elevation gain: 200–400 ft

My personal go-to after-work trail. Ute Valley sits in northwest Colorado Springs with a network of trails through sandstone formations and open meadows. Far less crowded than Garden of the Gods, with comparable scenery. Dog-friendly and free to access.

Palmer Park Loop

Difficulty: Easy–Moderate Distance: 3–5 miles (various) Elevation gain: 300–500 ft

A hidden gem on the east side of the city. Mesa-top trails with canyon views and ponderosa pine forest. Very few tourists find this one, mostly local runners and dog walkers. Great for a relaxed weekend morning.

Moderate Hikes, A Real Workout With Big Rewards

Ready to break a sweat? These are the hikes locals return to again and again, challenging enough to feel earned, beautiful enough to be worth every step.

Seven Bridges Trail

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 3.7 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 800 ft

A local favorite in North Cheyenne Cañon. Seven wooden bridges cross a bubbling stream through a lush canyon, it feels completely different from the dry, rocky landscape most people associate with Colorado Springs. The kind of trail that surprises visitors who expected desert scrub. Perfect in spring when the snowmelt is running.

Red Rock Canyon Open Space, Canyon Loop

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 4–6 miles (various) Elevation gain: 500–800 ft

Thirty-plus miles of trail through sandstone formations that rival Garden of the Gods, but with a fraction of the visitors. Mountain bikers, climbers, and trail runners all share this park. The Canyon Loop gives you the full experience. Free parking lot off 31st Street.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park, Talon Trail

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 5.4 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 1,678 ft

Colorado’s most-visited state park sits right inside the city. The Talon Trail is the best long loop, sweeping views over Colorado Springs and the plains, ponderosa pine forest, and good wildlife sightings (deer, wild turkey, occasional black bear). Worth the small state park entrance fee.

Pulpit Rock Open Space

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2–3 miles (various) Elevation gain: 400 ft

A dramatic rock outcropping with 360-degree views of the city and Pikes Peak. One of the best sunrise spots in Colorado Springs and almost never crowded. This is a true local secret, most visitors never find it.

Mount Cutler Trail

Difficulty: Moderate Distance: 2.3 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 449 ft

A short but rewarding hike in North Cheyenne Cañon that ends at a summit overlooking Seven Falls. Shade through most of the climb, with stunning canyon views at the top. Only a handful of parking spots at the trailhead, arrive early.

"Local tip: Colorado Springs trails are best in spring and fall. Summer afternoons bring fast-moving thunderstorms, always start hikes early and be off exposed summits by noon."

Challenging Hikes, For Serious Adventurers

If you want to really test yourself, Colorado Springs delivers. These hikes are not for beginners, but they’re some of the most rewarding experiences in the entire state.

Manitou Incline

Difficulty: Strenuous Distance: ~1 mile up + 3.5 miles down (Barr Trail) Elevation gain: 2,000 ft in 1 mile

Legendary among Colorado hikers. A former cable car railway bed that climbs 2,000 vertical feet in under a mile, some sections hit a 68% grade. It’s brutal. It’s beautiful. And finishing it earns serious Colorado bragging rights. Reservations are required; book at inclinetrailreservations.com. Descend via the Barr Trail, going down the Incline is hard on knees and not recommended. Pro tip: the false summit will fool you. Keep pushing.

Barr Trail to Pikes Peak Summit

Difficulty: Very Strenuous Distance: 13 miles one-way Elevation gain: 7,540 ft

The full Barr Trail ascent of Pikes Peak is one of Colorado’s great hikes. Starting in Manitou Springs, it climbs through multiple ecosystems all the way to the 14,115-foot summit. Most hikers do this as a two-day backpacking trip with an overnight at Barr Camp (reserve well in advance). Not for the faint of heart, but the summit views are unlike anything else in the region.

Mount Muscoco, North Cheyenne Cañon

Difficulty: Challenging Distance: 5.7 miles Elevation gain: 1,597 ft

A stunning trail up through the cañon past streams and seasonal waterfalls. Less famous than the Incline but equally rewarding and significantly less crowded. Connects to the broader North Cheyenne Cañon trail network for longer adventures.

Raspberry Mountain Trail (via Rampart Range)

Difficulty: Challenging Distance: 6 miles round-trip Elevation gain: 1,800 ft

A 6-mile round-trip hike of moderate-to-challenging difficulty starting in Green Mountain Falls and climbing to panoramic views. Crosses 7 bridges along the old Midland Railroad line through beautiful pine forest.

Hiking Tips From a Local

•Water, Carry more than you think you need. The altitude and dry air dehydrate you faster than at sea level.

•Afternoon storms, Summer thunderstorms build fast on the mountains. Be off exposed ridges and summits by noon or 1 PM.

•Altitude, Colorado Springs sits at 6,000 feet. If you’re visiting from sea level, give yourself a day to acclimate before tackling big elevation gains.

•Dogs, Most trails are dog-friendly but require a leash. Carry water and a collapsible bowl for your pup.

•AllTrails app, The best tool for navigating Colorado Springs trails. Download the maps offline before you go.

•Reservations, The Manitou Incline requires advance reservations. Garden of the Gods does not, but parking fills by 8 AM on busy weekends.

Thinking About Living Here?

People don’t just visit Colorado Springs, they fall in love with it. If having all of this in your backyard sounds like the life you want, I’d love to help you find your place in the Springs.

Reach out at livingthesprings.com/contact or call/text (719) 496-0331. Let’s talk.