12 Best Hiking Trails in Colorado Springs (Ranked Easy to Hard, 2026)

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Updated April 2026 | Ranked by difficulty with insider tips for each trail

Colorado Springs has some of the best hiking in the country, and unlike Denver or Boulder, most of the trailheads are 15 minutes from downtown. Whether you want an easy morning walk or a lung-busting summit attempt, there is a trail for you.

Here are the 12 best hiking trails in Colorado Springs, ranked from easiest to hardest, with honest descriptions of what to expect.

Easy Trails (Great for Families and Beginners)

1. Garden of the Gods, Perkins Central Garden Trail

Distance: 1.5 miles | Elevation gain: Minimal | Time: 45 min

The classic Colorado Springs experience. Paved trail through gorgeous red rock formations. Wheelchair and stroller accessible. Full Garden of the Gods guide.

Tip: Go at sunrise for empty trails and incredible light on the rocks. If you would rather have someone else drive and do the talking, GetYourGuide runs guided Garden of the Gods tours too.

2. Red Rock Canyon Open Space

Distance: 2-4 miles (multiple loops) | Elevation gain: 200-400 ft | Time: 1-2 hours

The locals’ alternative to Garden of the Gods. Same beautiful red rock formations, 10% of the crowds. Free parking lot rarely fills up. Dogs welcome off-leash in designated areas.

Tip: Take the Contemplative Trail loop for the best views with the least effort.

3. Palmer Park Loop

Distance: 3 miles | Elevation gain: 300 ft | Time: 1.5 hours

A hidden gem in the middle of the city. Mesa-top views of downtown, Pikes Peak, and the plains. Mostly shaded, multiple trail options. Mountain bikers share the trails so stay aware.

Moderate Trails (Some Elevation, Big Rewards)

4. North Cheyenne Canyon, Columbine Trail

Distance: 4 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 800 ft | Time: 2-3 hours

Beautiful canyon hike through pine forest. Passes Helen Hunt Falls (worth a 5-minute stop). Trail gets progressively steeper but never technical. One of the most peaceful hikes near the city.

5. Section 16 / Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Distance: 4-8 miles (multiple trails) | Elevation gain: 500-1,200 ft | Time: 2-4 hours

Excellent trail system with views of Fort Carson and the city. Talon Trail is the best bang for your buck, 5.7 miles with panoramic summit views. $10 day pass required (state park).

6. Ute Valley Park

Distance: 3-5 miles (multiple loops) | Elevation gain: 400 ft | Time: 1.5-2.5 hours

West side gem with interesting rock formations and surprisingly good views. Popular with trail runners and mountain bikers. Never feels crowded.

🎒 Pack for the Altitude, Not Just the Distance

Colorado Springs sits above 6,000 feet and every trail on this list climbs from there. A daypack with room for water and layers, plus a hydration reservoir so you are not stopping to dig out a bottle, makes a bigger difference here than it would at sea level.

Shop daypacks on Amazon → Shop hydration reservoirs →

Challenging Trails (Earn Your Views)

7. Manitou Incline

Distance: 1 mile up (2,768 steps) | Elevation gain: 2,000 ft | Time: 1-2 hours up, 1 hour down (Barr Trail)

The most famous (and infamous) hike in Colorado Springs. 2,768 railroad tie steps straight up the mountain. Average grade of 41%, with sections hitting 68%. Not a hike, a stairmaster from hell with views.

Tips: Start before 8 AM. Bring more water than you think. You MUST descend via Barr Trail (no going down the Incline). Free parking fills up early, consider the shuttle from the Iron Springs Chateau lot.

🥾 The Descent Is Where Knees Give Out

Coming down Barr Trail after the Incline puts a different kind of strain on your legs than the climb did. Trekking poles take real weight off your knees on the way down, and they are worth the space in your pack for this one.

Shop trekking poles on Amazon →

🛏️ Starting Before Sunrise?

The Incline and Barr Trail both push people out the door before dawn to beat the parking and the afternoon thunderstorms. If you are coming from out of town, staying in Manitou Springs beats a 4 AM drive across the city.

Check Manitou Springs hotels →

8. Mount Cutler Trail

Distance: 2 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 700 ft | Time: 1-1.5 hours

Short but steep trail in North Cheyenne Canyon with a spectacular viewpoint at the summit. You can see Seven Falls, the Broadmoor, and the city below. One of the best effort-to-reward ratios in the Springs.

9. Barr Trail to Barr Camp

Distance: 12 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 3,400 ft | Time: 5-7 hours

The Pikes Peak trail, but you do not have to summit. Barr Camp at 10,200 feet is a backcountry cabin with snacks, drinks, and the best porch in Colorado. The trail is well-maintained and beautiful through aspen and pine forest.

Extreme (Full-Day Commitments)

10. Pikes Peak via Barr Trail

Distance: 26 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 7,400 ft | Time: 10-14 hours

The ultimate Colorado Springs hike. Summit at 14,115 feet with views of four states. Start at 3-4 AM, bring layers for every season (it can snow on top in July), and be below treeline before afternoon thunderstorms hit. Not for beginners.

11. Seven Bridges Trail

Distance: 7 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 1,800 ft | Time: 4-6 hours

A rugged, unmaintained trail that crosses seven wooden bridges over a creek in North Cheyenne Canyon. Scrambling required in sections. One of the most adventurous hikes near the city. Not marked on most maps.

12. The Crags

Distance: 4 miles round trip | Elevation gain: 800 ft | Time: 2-3 hours

West of Pikes Peak near Divide, CO (30 min from COS). Granite rock formations with scrambling opportunities and 360-degree views. Less crowded than anything in the city.

A Few More Trails Worth Knowing About

The 12 above cover most of what you need, but a few more come up enough that they deserve a mention.

Rampart Ridge Loop

Distance: 9.5 miles | Elevation gain: 1,800 ft | Time: 5-6 hours

Starts at Rampart Reservoir, north of the city. Long day with real elevation. Good if you are training for Pikes Peak but not ready for the full Barr Trail.

Pikes Peak Greenway Trail

Distance: 16 miles, paved | Elevation gain: Minimal | Time: Varies

Flat, paved, and runs through the city. Good for a stroller, a wheelchair, or a bike if you are not up for climbing anything. Not scenic the way Garden of the Gods is, but locals use it hard for a reason.

Fountain Creek Nature Trail

Distance: 0.5 miles, loop | Elevation gain: None | Time: 20-30 minutes

Short boardwalk loop over wetlands at Fountain Creek Regional Park. Good with little kids, or if you just want fifteen minutes outside without committing to a real hike.

St. Mary's Falls Trail

Distance: 6 miles round trip | Elevation gain: Moderate | Time: 3-4 hours

A three-tiered waterfall at the end of the trail. Best right after spring snowmelt, when the falls actually have water running. Less of a sure thing by late summer.

Bear Creek Canyon Loop (about 4 miles, gentle grade, a creek the kids can splash in) and the Palmer Park Plateau Trail (2 miles, flat, with boulders and interpretive signs) are both worth knowing too, especially on a day when the main Palmer Park Loop above is more than you want.

Leave It Better Than You Found It

Garden of the Gods Trading Post and the Starsmore Visitor Center at the mouth of North Cheyenne Cañon both make good stops after a hike, and both have restrooms and water. If you end up on the west side, Old Colorado City has a few ice cream places that hit right after a hot trail. Groups like Rocky Mountain Field Institute, Friends of the Peak, and the Colorado Springs Parks Department handle the trail maintenance on most of what is listed above. Worth supporting if you hike here a lot.

Best Colorado Springs trail for… (quick picks)

Know what you want out of the hike but not which trail? Start here, then read its full write-up above:

If you want…	Go to…
A first hike / families / an easy paved loop	Garden of the Gods, Perkins Central Garden
A big view for little effort	Red Rock Canyon Open Space
A dog-friendly ramble	Palmer Park or Red Rock Canyon (leashed)
A serious workout	The Manitou Incline
A short, quiet trail away from tourists	Ute Valley Park
Waterfalls	Seven Bridges in North Cheyenne Cañon
Fall aspen color	The Crags
A true all-day summit	Pikes Peak via Barr Trail

All of these are covered in detail above, with distance, difficulty, and parking notes.

What to Bring

Water: More than you think. Colorado is dry and you are at 6,000+ feet altitude.
Sunscreen: UV is 25% stronger at altitude than sea level.
Layers: Morning temps can be 30 degrees cooler than afternoon.
Snacks: Trail mix, bars, fruit. You burn more calories at altitude.

A few more things worth having in the pack, especially on the longer or steeper trails above: sturdy trail shoes for the loose gravel on the Incline descent and the rock at Red Rock Canyon, electrolyte mix since altitude dehydrates you faster than the temperature suggests, and a wide-brim sun hat for that stronger UV.

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Plan Your Hiking Trip

Use our AI trip planner to build a full Colorado Springs itinerary around your favorite trails. It is free and considers your fitness level and interests.

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