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Red Rock Canyon Tour

 24 votes
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Colorado Springs
  5. Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Google Map

Length

7.5 Miles 12.1 Kilometers


65%

Singletrack

Elevation

921' 281 m

Ascent

-920' -280 m

Descent

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

6,618' 2,017 m

High

6,193' 1,888 m

Low

Conditions

All Clear 26 days ago
Dry History
Getting forecast...

“Better than Garden Of the Gods!”

— Jon Zanone
GPX File — Driving Directions

Overview

Varied terrain with great views. There is also a terrain and skill area east of the Ridge Road parking area.
Features: -none-

Need to Know

This is a heavily used park. You'll encounter day hikers and small children, off leash dogs and horses. Douchbaggery is not encouraged.

Description

There are three access points - From I-25 take the Cimarron Street exit west. Cimarron Street will turn into Highway 24. After the 31st street light, turn left onto Ridge Road. Red Rock Canyon will be on the south side of the street. The parking lot is located at the end of Ridge Road. Another parking area is located just south of Hwy. 24 on 31st street. The third is a small area in the Crystal Hills subdivision.


The ride itself encompasses just about every type of riding - steep, rocky climbs, beautiful purpose-built singletrack and screaming fire road descents. The park is susceptible to damage after rains, and the soil is clay based - give it a rest after storms. After leaving the parking lot, you'll head up a steep but doable climb.

A gentle climb on lower Hogback Trail will lead to, in my opinion, the highlight of the climb - a run on the ridge of the easternmost hogback in the park. You'll continue to climb to Lion Trail. Your reward will be a fun, fast descent to what was once called the 'most beautiful landfill in America'. Bear left at the bottom, and climb Roundup Trail - a purpose-built singletrack that is a great workout.

At the first trail junction, bear right to Sand Canyon Trail, then left on Meadowlark. You'll then take Quarry Pass Trail to the top of the quarry that built a lot of Colorado Springs. A fast descent on Red Rock Rim Trail will take you back to Lower Hogback and the parking lot.

History & Background

For more info on the park visit springsgov.com/Page.aspx?Na…

Contacts

Local Club: Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates

Jan 10, 2018: Missing Link Video – Final Cut

Oct 1, 2017: End of Trail Season Hootenanny!

Mar 21, 2017: Spring 2017 Newsletter

Land Manager: City of Colorado Springs, CO- Parks, Trails & Open Space

You & this Featured Ride


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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

May 22, 2018
Chris W
May 13, 2018
Jacob Gipson
May 13, 2018
Jake Oswald
Really great trail system!
Apr 30, 2018
Allen Tanner
Mar 25, 2018
Mark Endres
Feb 19, 2018
TylerChrista Allison
First time to this spot will be back for sure 7.2mi
Dec 10, 2017
Rachel Powers
Oct 23, 2017
Chris Miller

Stewarded By

Stewarded by Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 24 votes

#1

in Red Rock Canyon Open Space

#423

Overall
  4.0 from 24 votes
5 Star
25%
4 Star
54%
3 Star
21%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Rankings

#1

in Red Rock Canyon Open S…

#101

in Colorado

#423

Overall
479 Views Last Month
13,674 Since Jan 2, 2014
Intermediate Intermediate
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6%
82%
12%
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Photos

Upper Codell trailhead.
Upper Codell trailhead.
 3
Front Rangers Youth Cycling at Red Rocks.
Front Rangers Youth Cycling at Red Rocks.
 4
3 Jul 2011 - Garden of the Gods in the heat of a Colorado summer.
3 Jul 2011 - Garden of the Gods in the heat of…
 4
Hogback Ridge is a fun climb with loose white stone.
Hogback Ridge is a fun climb with loose white s…
 3
Dusk panorama of Colorado Springs to the NE. L-R you can see Pulpit Rock, Palmer Park, Bear Creek and Cheyenne Mountain.
Dusk panorama of Colorado Springs to the NE. L-…
 3
Running to the switch backs
Running to the switch backs
 5
Sunrise over Red Rock Canyon.
Sunrise over Red Rock Canyon.
 3
About to hit the first jump. First time ever bike jumping.
About to hit the first jump. First time ever bi…
 3

3 Comments

Sort by: Oldest
Newest Oldest Popular
Patrick Yarbrough
Colorado Springs, CO
Patrick Yarbrough   Colorado Springs, CO
Super fun, leisurely sort of ride that is great after a hard day at work. A good one for advanced beginners and intermediates too, in my opinion. May 13, 2015
Sebastian Olariu
Sebastian Olariu  
June 11, this park was closed due to water damage. FYI Jun 18, 2015
Amy White
Amy White  
This is one of those trails where you feel like you spend a lot more time going uphill than downhill. Nevertheless, it goes through beautiful terrain and it is totally ridable. Most of it is on a doubletrack road/trail, including ALL of the downhill sections. The downhill roads have built up mounds to help siphon water off of the trail which are great for getting some air. However, if you are looking for some fun twisty singletrack (uphill or downhill), or any technical riding, this is NOT the ride for you. There are far more spur trails than shown on the MTB map or on the maps posted at some of the trail junctions. This makes route finding frustrating as you have to constantly refer to the MTB map to ensure you are on the correct trail. If you have a handlebar-mounted GPS then you'll have no problem but stopping and pulling out my phone every quarter of a mile wasn't too enjoyable. Jun 10, 2016

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