It’s that time of year when the days are shorter and our time outside is seemingly all the more precious. To beat the sun setting over the Front Range, we must look to shorter trails.
Trails such as these — easy to reach and offering variety in different parts of Colorado Springs:
Mesa Trail, Palmer Park
Popular among dog walkers, this is the wide path looping the top of the rocky wilds east of the city’s core. From the Yucca Flats parking lot, Mesa Trail roams above the rock, touring meadows with clear views of the mountains and plains. With more time, one ventures off for Templeton Trail. ~2 miles
South Blodgett Loop, Blodgett Open Space
The well-marked South Blodgett Loop starts from the parking lot about a mile south of the open space’s main lot, at 3786 W. Woodmen Road. At last visit, we started uphill on the wide path to views of the open space’s namesake peak. The route descends on a single-track trail through hilly woods, looking out to the city lights that start to twinkle around dusk. ~2 miles
Pulpit Rock Trail
The white, throne-like promontory just east of Interstate 25 has gotten more accessible in recent years. That’s thanks to a well-defined trail that gently rises along its flanks to the summit, where Pikes Peak looms large. The small parking lot is off North Nevada Avenue, behind the BMW dealership. ~2 miles out and back
Scotsman Loop, Garden of the Gods
Here’s a quick way to admire the signature beauty of the Garden on dirt rather than the sidewalk in the center of the park. From the Scotsman Picnic Area — the parking lot numbered 13 along the park road — the trail rises to views of the Gateway rocks and Pikes Peak. ~1 mile
Quail Lake
It’s best enjoyed before the lake freezes, when the water reflects Cheyenne Mountain and the foothills looming over the city’s south side. The sunsets are splendid. A combination of dirt and pavement loops around the lake. ~1 mile
