Despite the heat that lays thick on the unshaded prairie and rock east of Colorado Springs, and despite the gate that keeps the 700-plus acres closed to the general public, people continue to seek Corral Bluffs Open Space.

“The first hike of June, I actually had to spread out over two weekends, because I ended up with 50 people,” said Paula Watkins, who coordinates regular guided tours with nonprofit Corral Bluffs Alliance.

Volunteers well-versed on the city-owned open space’s rugged terrain and internationally acclaimed, prehistoric significance lead tours the first Saturday of every month — depending on weather and interest by hikers who sign up at corralbluffs.org.

With enough interest — at least four or six people, Watkins said — volunteers will lead hikes any day of the week.

“Some weeks we’ll have four (hikes) in one week and some weeks none,” Watkins said. “It really varies on the temperatures, the weather and how interested people are.”

Interest picks up with reported discoveries, such as one Denver Museum of Nature and Science reported ahead of the summer.

In the land famed for illustrating the rise of mammals some 65 million years ago after the dinosaurs’ extinction, fossils yielded another previously unknown animal: a chinchilla-sized creature named Militocodon lydae. The name was in honor of a local volunteer and retired teacher, Sharon Milito, and Colorado Springs philanthropist Lyda Hill.

They have been among advocates who have rallied around Corral Bluffs over the years, going back to the city’s acquisition in 2008. In a vicinity long-eyed for development, the city has steadily added open space in ongoing hopes to connect with Jimmy Camp Creek Park.

The properties have remained gated while research and discoveries continue — closed to all but scientists, rangers and volunteer guides and their guests.

“We have a tremendous amount of repeat customers that want to see Jimmy Camp,” Watkins said.

Hikes there are also scheduled upon request, offering a much different experience with running water, trees and green, waving grasses.

Like Corral Bluffs, hikers should be prepared for tours without trails. Depending on the group, Corral Bluffs hikes can last three to five hours.

Long pants are required, along with sturdy boots, two liters of water and snacks. A per-person $5 donation is suggested to help cover Corral Bluffs Alliance’s insurance costs.

More information at corralbluffs.org/take-a-hike.

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed forward Parker Kelly to a two-year contract through the 2025-26 season.

Kelly, 25, registered 18 points (8g/10a) in 80 games with the Ottawa Senators in 2023-24, setting career-highs in games played, goals, assists, points and time on ice per game (11:42). The forward tied the team-lead with two shorthanded goals and recorded his first career tally while shorthanded in Ottawa’s season-opener at Carolina on Oct. 11.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound forward enters 2024-25 with 35 career points (17g/18a) in 177 regular-season games from 2020-24, all with the Senators. Kelly made his NHL debut and tallied his first career goal in the Senators’ final regular-season contest vs. Toronto on May 12, 2021.

Kelly originally signed with Ottawa as a free agent on September 19, 2017 and suited up in 128 AHL games with the Senators minor league affiliate, the Belleville Senators from 2017-2022, collecting 49 points (26g/23a) over that span. He also appeared in two Calder Cup Playoff games in 2021-22.

Prior to turning pro, Kelly competed in 273 career WHL games with the Prince Albert Raiders from 2015-19, where he notched 188 points (93g/95a) and served as alternate captain during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons. He recorded 21 points (11g/10a) over 35 WHL postseason contests and helped the Raiders capture the 2019 WHL Championship.