South Cheyenne Cañon, or South Cheyenne Canyon, is a canyon in

Colorado Springs Colorado Springs is the most populous city in El Paso County, Colorado, United States, and its county seat. The city had a population of 478,961 at the 2020 census, a 15.02% increase since 2010. Colorado Springs is the second-most populous c ...

El Paso County, Colorado El Paso County is the List of counties in Colorado, most populous county in the U.S state of Colorado. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 730,395, surpassing the city and county of Denver. The county seat is ...

. The South Cheyenne Cañon road to Seven Falls is called "The Grandest Mile of Scenery" in Colorado. Seven Falls has been a tourist attraction since it was opened in the early 1880s. Trails from the top of the falls lead to Midnight Falls, near the headwaters of South Cheyenne Creek, and Inspiration Point. The area has been a center for parks, such as the Stratton Park and Colorado College Park. Now, part of South Cheyenne Cañon, including the Starsmore Discovery Center, is in the

North Cheyenne Cañon Park North Cheyenne Cañon Park or North Cheyenne Canyon Park is a regional park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing.Cheyenne Cañon, along Cheyenne Boulevard, splits into the north and south cañons.

Pierre Shale The Pierre Shale is a geologic formation or series in the Upper Cretaceous which occurs east of the Rocky Mountains in the Great Plains, from Pembina Valley in Canada to New Mexico. The Pierre Shale was described by Fielding Bradford Meek, Meek a ...

, the bedrock for Colorado Springs, and Sawatch Sandstone are found at the mouth of North and South Cheyenne Canons. Neighboring landforms clockwise from the Broadmoor neighborhood include the northern spur of the

Cheyenne Mountain Cheyenne Mountain is a triple-peaked mountain in El Paso County, Colorado, southwest of downtown Colorado Springs. The mountain serves as a host for military, communications, recreational, and residential functions. The underground operations c ...

, Twilight Canyon, Daniels Pass, Muscoco Mountain, and Mount Cutler.

History

Nathaniel Colby homesteaded 160 acres in South Cheyenne Cañon, including Seven Falls in December 1872. He sold the land rights within a year for $1,000 () to the Colorado Springs Land Company. In 1874, the Cheyenne Trail Company was formed to build a trail was built up Cheyenne Cañon and North Cheyenne Cañon and a wagon road was built up South Cheyenne Cañons to Seven Falls. In 1882, James Hull, a naturalist bought the 160 acres to preserve it from logging operations. By 1885 he had a total of 400 acres. Hull built stairs up to the top of the falls and a canyon road to the falls, which then became a tourist attraction, which has been owned by private individuals or companies since then. E.P. Tenny, president of the Colorado College Land Company announced on April 14, 1884 that the land on the east side of South Cheyenne Cañon, in North Cheyenne Cañon and at the headwaters of Bear Creek had been purchased to create Colorado College Park. Improvements would be made to trails, such as a trail to Jones Park, and roads to make them more accessible to the public, and a toll would be charged to offset the costs of construction and maintenance. The South Cañon toll was $.25. The land would be offered for public use for camping, hiking, horseback riding, and lodging in cottages. Three months later, '' The Gazette'' published the article "Our Cañons" condemning charging tolls to enter the Cheyenne Cañons, because there would be some people who would be then unable to enjoy the scenery and the cooler temperatures during the summer. Having to pay tolls can also leave a bad impression on visitors to the area. The author ask for county and city officials to purchase the property. By 1898, several people lived and operated photography, burro line, and curio shop businesses in South Cheyenne Cañon. Stratton Park (first called Cheyenne Park) was opened in 1902 at the intersection of North and South Cheyenne Cañon, covering part of both cañons. A burro stand operated in the park. The tall Cañon walls near Seven Falls were more than high and made of multi-colored granite. Pillars of Hercules is a canyon wall more than tall. In 1906, Lilian Whiting, wrote that "the bridle paths, the terraced drives on the mountain walls, and the glades where games may be placed, all make South Cheyenne the most unique pleasure resort" of the country. South Cheyenne Cañon and North Cheyenne Cañons, green with trees, met at a place called Fair View in 1906. Travelers could visit the Cañon by 1902 by taking the Colorado Springs and Interurban Railway electric trolley or via the carriage road. Buses replaced trolleys beginning in 1931 and the last electric trolley ran on April 30, 1932. In September 2013, there was a significant flood which caused significant sediment and debris to result in the closing of South Cheyenne Canon Road. Due to damage it sustained, Seven Falls was closed until Spring 2015.

Seven Falls

Seven Falls was closed in 2013 due to flooding. It was purchased in the Spring of 2014 by

The Broadmoor The Broadmoor (stylized as THE BRODMOOR) is a hotel and resort in the Broadmoor, Colorado, Broadmoor neighborhood of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The Broadmoor is a member of Historic Hotels of America of the National Trust for Historic Preservat ...

resort and it reopened in the Summer of 2015.

Trails

There are two hiking trails that begin at the top of Seven Falls. They are open from May through October until 7 pm. The Inspiration Point trail is a winding trail to Inspiration Point and takes about one hour round trip. There are views of the city of Colorado Springs and the plains. This was a favored spot by

Helen Hunt Jackson Helen Hunt Jackson (pen name, H.H.; born Helen Maria Fiske; October 15, 1830 – August 12, 1885) was an American poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the United States government. She de ...

that inspired her poem writing. As she wished, she was originally buried at the point. A shorter trail to Midnight Falls is about a half-hour hike to Midnight Falls, near the South Cheyenne Creek headwaters. Inspiration Point Colorado Springs

Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center

North Cheyenne Canyon Park Starsmore Discovery Center

The Starsmore Visitor Nature Center is located on South Cheyenne Canyon Road at the entrance to

North Cheyenne Cañon Park North Cheyenne Cañon Park or North Cheyenne Canyon Park is a regional park located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is a National Register of Historic Places listing.

History

Seven Falls

Trails

Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center

See also