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Red Rock Canyon Tour

 3.9 (34)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Colorado Springs
  5. Red Rock Canyon Open Space
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Map Key

7.5 Miles 12.1 Kilometers


65%

Singletrack

861' 262 m

Ascent

-859' -262 m

Descent

4%

Avg Grade (2°)

14%

Max Grade (8°)

6,611' 2,015 m

High

6,195' 1,888 m

Low

Conditions

Minor Issues 2 days ago
Some Mud - Mostly packed. A couple spots on steeper north slopes have soft enough patches to leave a small rut. History
Getting forecast...

“Better than Garden Of the Gods!”

— Jon Zanone
Driving DirectionsGPX File

Dogs Unknown

Features -none-

Overview

Varied terrain with great views. There is also a terrain and skill area east of the Ridge Road parking area.

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

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Your Check-Ins

Check-Ins

Feb 17, 2019
Yasmine Al-Assi
8mi
Nov 16, 2018
Matt Zalaiskalns
Oct 5, 2018
Jarell
Sep 25, 2018
Alexander Jonathan
7mi
Aug 10, 2018
Cory Smith
Best trail yet! 5.2mi
Jul 11, 2018
Word ( Pollard
Came in from up top and rode down to the table top jumps and obstacle course. Fun ride!
Jun 25, 2018
Rob Ups
play place for wes 11.3mi
Jun 19, 2018
Jay Elmore
Steep climbs and descents 8mi

Stewarded By

Stewarded by Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.9 from 34 votes

#1

in Red Rock Canyon Open Space

#390

Overall
  3.9 from 34 votes
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4 Star
47%
3 Star
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2 Star
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1 Star
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Rankings

#1

in Red Rock Canyon Open S…

#101

in Colorado

#390

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Photos

Upper Codell trailhead.
Upper Codell trailhead.
 3
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
Sand Canyon at Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Sand Canyon at Red Rock Canyon Open Space
 4
Hogback Ridge is a fun climb with loose white stone.
Hogback Ridge is a fun climb with loose white s…
 3
On the last tabletop
On the last tabletop
 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

3 Comments

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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
Seattle, WA
Amy White   Seattle, WA
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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