We celebrated our son's birthday at Fountain Creek Nature Center this past weekend, and we had such…read morean amazing time! I wanted to leave a review specifically for birthday parties since I didn't see much about them, and this place deserves the recognition! The party was perfect for both kids and adults, with children ranging from ages 4-9. It started with a 15-minute puppet show about local wildlife that was adorable and honestly hilarious, the staff made sure to keep the parents entertained too! The staff were so funny, informative, and great with the kids. You also get a large party room for two hours with at least six large tables, seating for around 40-50 people, plenty of counter space for food and decorations, plus a refrigerator and microwave, which was super convenient. Another highlight was the guided 0.7-mile walk around the wetlands to explore the area and learn about local wildlife. Our tour guide, I believe her name was Marissa, was absolutely wonderful with the kids! We let everyone explore the nature center as they arrived, then did the puppet show, wetlands walk, food and cake, and finished with more exploring. Everything flowed perfectly! Overall, it was such a fun, unique, and educational birthday experience. The staff were amazing, the price was great, and both the kids and adults that attended all loved it. I highly recommend Fountain Creek Nature Center for birthday parties and just for a day of exploring it's beautiful there! We absolutely love this place!

My son and I started in on the Fountain Creek trail at the El Pomar Youth Sports Complex and hit an…read moreout and back 13+ mile jog on a freezing Saturday afternoon. I will admit I was quite spoiled from a river trail we use to run in Georgia along the Chattahoochee. This certainly is not that. While I was able to spot several beautiful birds (a blue heron and snowy egret) the trail itself felt desolate which I typically enjoy but was rather bored of out here. A few points felt a wee bit sketch. Graffiti, abandoned shopping carts, homeless encampments, lots of trash in the river (which was flowing more along the lines of a creek than a river) but all in all the trail is in good condition. For a flat out and back this trail serves its purpose but I'm certain there are more picturesque trails for us to find.

The family has a great time at the volleyball pits and playground. Watching the horses at the arena…read moreis always a sight to see. Labor Day the place is full of amazing vendors. Thunder in the valley is also a fun time. So many wonderful memories of my kids playing baseball there as well.

Has all the park amenities a small town could need. Except a rec center, unfortunately. Weekly…read morefarmer's market here is largely disappointing, though with some recent improvements. Skate park and horse ring are nice. Trails lead off to nearby parks. Lots of biting insects. Good dog park.

Well, considering the weather was still cool, the park was clean and the other patrons (pet and…read moreotherwise) were friendly. Walking around was nice and the water feature was inviting to look at.

We saw some really cool stuff here including a duck that had made a next by the small waterfall…read more The pond is fun to walk around and there were baby geese that my kids enjoyed watching. The playground is pretty good and had an interesting merry-go-round of sorts. There is also a cool rock bridge you can cross as you walk around the pond. The ice-cream truck came by while we were there as well.

Views of mountains, the amazing design of the art, the lawn to fly a kite, the unique free flowing…read moredesign of the bridge, all of these things should capture your attention and draw you in for a relaxing visit at the park! Paid parking but it's super cheap so show up and have a good time. You can thank me later because whenever you have friends or family visit Colorado, this will be a spot you start shuttling everyone to tour! There is also a museum which does have a fee so if you have extra time and a few bucks pop in!

Really beautiful park! Situated with Mountain View's in the back! You can walk from the Olympics…read moremuseum over the bridge to it or park alongside the park! It's free to explore. There are bathrooms available as well. The big circle is a fountain in the summer!

Trail Series, Part 20 In an effort to explore as many trails…read morein Colorado as possible, our next stop was "Stratton Open Space Park" located in Colorado Springs. Their multitude of trails welcome hikers, runners, mountain bikers, leased dogs, and equestrians. Although access isn't provided to the "Gold Camp Reservoir," your dog is welcome to enjoy a refreshing dip in the waters of the "Mesa Reservoir" (fishing and human swimming is prohibited). There are numerous great views of the surrounding mountains, the valley below, and the iconic Broadmoor Hotel, so be prepared to snap a few pics. Convenient parking is provided and all hiking and running abilities are able to enjoy these trails (including those with strollers/baby joggers when accessing the wide and well maintained fire access road). This trail is easily accessible from The Springs and offers something for nearly everyone. And that's...Henry's Take. #coloradotrails #hikingcoloradosprings #runningcoloradosprings

This is such a beautiful trail. Easy access, not a lot of people, wide trail space, and the most…read moreamazing views. Only downside is the construction on the 2 ponds next to each other. Both are currently gated & 1 is entirely dried up. Other than that, this is my favorite trail in Colorado Springs.

We planned a camping weekend specifically so we could get an early start at Paint Mines. Hindsight,…read moreI would want to start a bit earlier even next time. We were on the trail at 8. Use sunscreen, wear a hat and bring water. The trails are well marked as are the areas that they are protecting from humans. My husband and I had a great time seeing all the formations. We started from the southernmost parking lot. Either lot works as a start point. The southern lot does not have bathroom or port-a-pot. We saw antelope on the drive there. Deer while on the trail as well as many types of birds. The wildflowers were blooming here and there and some cactus had flowers. Once we got back to our vehicle, we drove around to the overlook parking lot and did that vantage point as well. Highly recommend doing this as you get such a different perspective from being down amongst the formations and then seeing more of a composite from above. It is a worthy visit and hike. Be prepared for it to get hot, quick. Hence wanting an earlier start next time. Would do again!

This park is a hidden find off the beaten path. The longer walk leading to the Paint Mines is…read moreabsolutely worth it; you're greeted with gorgeous, colorful rock formations and white wide-open views that feel almost like a little local Utah right here in our backyard. I especially enjoyed how refreshing and inspiring the walk was. It is perfect for simple wanderers, sightseeing folks, early-morning strollers getting ready for the big day, and light-hiking enthusiasts from beginner to simple-intermediate levels. It even makes a wonderful two-hour weekend getaway to clear your mind with family or friends. This area is not as ultra-spectacular such as visiting the grand Bryce Canyon National Park, but a bucket-list type miniature destination alike if you live out here in Colorado. It really is a beautiful natural space to get some exercise, enjoy the outdoors, doing picture photography sessions, and exploring the unique landscapes we're lucky to have around. Highly recommended for anyone who loves peaceful nature, scenic views, and a gentle little adventure. In my experience, I went there in fall where the weather was just about right. Parking and access is/was free and I've discovered outdoor bathrooms stationed on the left countryside. On the trails, you'll encounter 2 green benches to sit down and relax a little. Picnic tables are also provided close by and you'll see signs with geographical information (Park Maps) to not get lost. :) Enjoy!

August 2-7, 2026 - Colorado Springs, CO…read more We spent five nights here and really enjoyed our stay. From the moment we arrived, we were impressed with how clean and well-maintained the campground was. Our site was spacious and had full hookups, and the campground offers a nice variety of amenities, including hiking trails, a visitor center, showers, laundry facilities, and even a game room. The setting is one of the best things about this campground. We were tucked right at the foot of Cheyenne Mountain and had a beautiful view of the city from our site. We also had several visits from mule deer during our stay, which was a fun bonus. And then there was my first-ever sighting of a scorpion! I wasn't necessarily hoping for that particular wildlife encounter, but it certainly made for a memorable camping experience. We enjoyed exploring the hiking trails, and I appreciated that the campground clearly identifies which trails are dog-friendly. Some trails allow dogs and others don't, but the information is clearly shown on the trail map and on the trail signage, so there was no guesswork involved. There is one thing I wish we had known before arriving. If you're visiting from out of state, there is an additional Colorado State Parks pass fee on top of your camping fee, ranging from $10-$17 per day. We weren't expecting that extra charge, so a little more communication about the pass requirement during the reservation process would have been helpful. We made our reservations many months ago, and from what I understand the park pass fee took effect in May of this year, so that might have been the issue. A "heads-up" email from the Parks system would have been appreciated. We also didn't realize that an annual Colorado State Parks pass was an option. Since we had another six-night reservation at a different Colorado State Park during our trip, purchasing the annual pass would have saved us money. That's definitely something I would recommend checking into if you're planning to visit multiple state parks. Overall, we had a wonderful five-night stay. The clean campground, spacious sites, great amenities, beautiful mountain setting, wildlife, and convenient hiking trails made this a favorite stop on our Colorado trip. We would definitely stay here again!

My experience is a little different. We just had a wedding and rented the pavilion and the…read moreamphitheater. The price was exceptionally good and the areas were incredibly maintained. The facilities were so clean and well maintained. Since we had these spots all day, we had a hike in the morning for people attending the wedding as well as the actual wedding in the evening. Most of our guests explored the facilities and hiked most of the morning. I know many of them will return soon because it was great. The amphitheater had electrical connection on the center circle. We didn't need it because the acoustics of the amphitheater were amazing. We had a harpist and the music carried beautifully. Their voices were clearly heard throughout the amphitheater. Our rainy day plan was the pavillion, which is lovely and amazingly well planned. This is a gorgeous place for a wedding. I can't believe I didn't mention the staff. They were so communicative and helpful. They were such a joy.

mineral palace park is such a beautiful place. the lake, the band shell, the bridge, the flowers…read more nice municipal pool, great place to picnic or toss a frisbee. excellent coffee shop across the street.

This park has always been my favorite. I love the "duck" pond. It is a nice little walk around…read more The "bridge" overlooking the north side of the pond is so fun! Then it's on to the little "art" studio. Local artists show there. The pieces of art are reasonably priced! Keep walking, there's a play area for kids and the flowers during summer are blooming all through the center. Walk thru and have a seat, see the bronze statue of the founder.This is a nice place for a "selfie"! Leave the center and continue the walk - in the summer on Friday's at the far North end is the Farmer's Market. Continue the circular walk around the park and at the far South end on Friday's are the "Food" trucks. Plenty of picnic tables with lots of beautiful shade trees. Great place for a picnic! Love, love, this park. It is such a landmark for the City of Pueblo. Easy to see just off I-25, exit on 13th Street & turn right onto Santa Fe. Straight into the park! Enjoy!

Beautiful park with a tiny lake and mountain views. Easy parking in two parking lots, a…read morewalking/running loop around the lake, a playground, and public bathrooms. This was an excellent place to go for a run alone while feeling safe and still being immersed in nature. On a Friday morning there were plenty of people walking around which made me feel safe but not over crowded. I saw ducks, turtles, and lots of birds. People were paddle boarding and kayaking. It is close to neighborhoods where you could potentially extend your run for mileage as the lake loop is about one mile around. I saw people reading and relaxing on a blanket in the grass and having professional photos taken, a great park for many activities!

Always love a space that is filled with tranquility. This is a perfect little lake loop for a short…read moreand serene walk. My son and his gf discovered it this past weekend and brought me for some fresh air after our morning coffee, before it was time for a full day of travel to make it back to LA. We love long walks and if you want to loop this several times you can get in a little bit of mileage but it's only about 1 mile around. I can definitely see us running the neighborhood and tossing in a bunch of laps here. We jokingly said we'd train for our April ultra here, hahaha - totally not running over 30 loops, no matter how many times we changed the direction. Also fairly certain we could run a short ultra tomorrow morning if we had a decent dinner before bed. It is however, a great option for training since there's a restroom and parking lot - if you're training for a shorter distance. The weather was stunning (as it had snowed over night and into the early morning) and only a couple of joggers were out. If you appreciate peaceful and calm spaces beside bodies of water, this is the neighborhood gem of a park that you'll be grateful to spend time at.