![Pikes Peak Greenway Trail - North of Austin Bluffs - Pikes Peak in the background](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Pikes_Peak_Greenway_Trail_-_North_of_Austin_Bluffs_-_Pikes_Peak_in_the_background.jpg)
![Pikes Peak Greenway Trail - North of Austin Bluffs - Criterium Bike Shop mural 3](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/50/Pikes_Peak_Greenway_Trail_-_North_of_Austin_Bluffs_-_Criterium_Bike_Shop_mural_3.jpg)
![Pikes Peak Greenway Trail - North of Austin Bluffs - Monument Creek](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2e/Pikes_Peak_Greenway_Trail_-_North_of_Austin_Bluffs_-_Monument_Creek.jpg)
![Pikes Peak Greenway Trail - North of Austin Bluffs 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Pikes_Peak_Greenway_Trail_-_North_of_Austin_Bluffs_2.jpg)
Pikes Peak Greenway is a 16 mile trail in
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since ...
that parallels
Monument
A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...
and
Fountain Creeks and winds through and alongside parks, like
Monument Valley Park
Monument Valley Park is a historic, recreational park in Colorado Springs, Colorado through which Monument Creek flows. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing and is on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.
Geograph ...
, and sports complexes. It connects with other trails, such as the Midland Trail,
Bear Creek Trail and
Templeton Gap
Templeton Gap is a gap between hills and bluffs located in northeastern Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado. It was used by Native Americans to reach Ute Pass and was an area that oxen trains traveled to reach Colorado Springs. Templeton R ...
Trail.
Overview
The greenway is a 16 mile that runs north to south. Pine Creek Reach, north of Woodman Road, is the north-most point on the trail. Sand Creek Reach at the El Pomar Youth Sports Complex, south of Circle Drive, is the south-most point on the trail.
It is classified as an easy trail that parallels Monument Creek, Fountain Creek and
I-25
Interstate 25 (I-25) is a major Interstate Highway in the western United States. It is primarily a north–south highway, serving as the main route through New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming. I-25 stretches from I-10 at Las Cruces, New Mexic ...
. The estimated cycling time is 1.25 hours, without stops. Criterium Bike shop is located along the trail at 6150 Corporate Drive for any needed bike repairs.
History
In the 1980s the concept of a greenway was developed, but it wasn't until 1997 that a Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) Legacy Grant was able to provide sufficient funds to get the project started. Trails, Open Space and Parks taxes matched the grant funds. The Palmer Foundation and the City of Colorado Springs also provided funding for the Pikes Peak Greenway. Then, private land that was needed to complete the trail was purchased.
In 2000 the Greenway trail was connected to the New Santa Fe Regional Trail, which allows joggers, bikers, cyclists and skaters to travel past the
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is a United States service academy in El Paso County, Colorado, immediately north of Colorado Springs. It educates cadets for service in the officer corps of the United States Air Force and Uni ...
and up to
Palmer Lake
Palmer Lake is a Statutory Town in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,420 at the 2010 census. Palmer Lake was founded by General William Jackson Palmer in 1871 and was incorporated in 1889.
Palmer Lake is one of thre ...
. A golden spike was ceremoniously driven into the ground to signify "the opening of a long-sought stretch of trail."
Trail reaches
The points along the trail, from north to south, are:
* Pine Creek Reach — The Woodman Trail is to the west of the Greenway Trail. The northernmost point of the Pine Creek Reach meets up with the New Santa Fe Trail, which goes north to
Palmer Lake
Palmer Lake is a Statutory Town in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,420 at the 2010 census. Palmer Lake was founded by General William Jackson Palmer in 1871 and was incorporated in 1889.
Palmer Lake is one of thre ...
.
* High Plains Reach
* Northridge Reach (north)
* Northridge Reach (south) — The Austin Bluffs Trail is not directly accessed from the Greenway Trail, but it is a short distance east of the trail on Garden of the Gardens Road and off of Nevada Avenue.
* Reservoir Reach — travels along Skateboard Park and Pikeview Reservoir
* Templeton Gap Reach — passes by the Gossage Youth Sports Complex. The Sinton trail leads to the nearby Sinton Pond Open Space. The Templeton Gap Trail can also be accessed from this portion of the trail.
* Roswell Reach — travels along Roswell Park
* Monument Valley Reach (north) — winds through
Monument Valley Park
Monument Valley Park is a historic, recreational park in Colorado Springs, Colorado through which Monument Creek flows. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing and is on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.
Geograph ...
, with trails on both sides of Monument Creek — From the trail on the western side of Mountain Creek, one can travel to the Mesa Springs Greenway or the Mesa Valley Trail at Sonderman Park
* Monument Valley Reach (south) — winds through
Monument Valley Park
Monument Valley Park is a historic, recreational park in Colorado Springs, Colorado through which Monument Creek flows. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing and is on the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties.
Geograph ...
, with trails on both sides of Monument Creek. The Mesa Springs Greenway is accessed from the trail on the western side of Mountain Creek.
* Downtown Reach — travels through America the Beautiful Park (Confluence Park) where the Midland Trail begins
* Power Plant Reach — which mid-trail connects to the
Bear Creek Trail that leads to the Bear Creek Nature Center
* Tejon Marsh Reach — passes through Dorchester Park
* Spring Creek Reach (north)
* Spring Creek Reach (south)
* Sand Creek Reach — where the El Pomar Sports Center is located and where the trail connects to the Sand Creek Trail
See also
*
Parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado
There are a wide range of recreational areas and facilities in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
History
The first city park in Colorado Springs, included in the initial town plans in 1871, is Acacia Park. It was initially called Acacia Square or Nort ...
*
List of parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality in, and the county seat of, El Paso County, Colorado, United States. It is the largest city in El Paso County, with a population of 478,961 at the 2020 United States Census, a 15.02% increase since 2 ...
References
External links
Pikes Peak Greenway mapUrban Trails map (pdf)
{{coord, 38, 51, 34.56, N, 104, 49, 56.14, W, region:US, display=title
Parks in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Hiking trails in Colorado