I really enjoyed this peaceful hike and would definitely recommend doing this in the spring,…read moresummer, or fall. It was around 2-3 miles round trip and very flat for most of it so it would quite easy for the beginner/intermediate hiker. On the way there we passed by several beautiful flower fields and even saw some wild deer! The monument rock itself was a nice sight to see and I guess you could say stuck out like a sore thumb!

Landmark in Monument, Colorado…read more.. My sister had never heard of this hiking trail and had never been in the area. Since it was nearby to our dinner place, I suggested that we take a look. When you get closer to Monument Rock, the road isn't paved anymore. There are signs, but my sister was able to see Monument Rock before the line of trees blocked the view. We went a bit past the trail entrance and turned the car around in the parking lot. It was 8pm and getting dark, so we left after we got a few photos. I'd get pictures of the pond if I returned!

The brunch is upscale, especially the mimosas. They were the best around. They have a nice variety…read moreand even though we were there on a busy Mother's Day, we got right in.

I wanted some vibes like Garden of the gods but did not want the crowds so I checked out Red Rock…read moreCanyon Open Space! I was really impressed with this open space. Parking was easy, they had plenty of spots while I was visiting. They've got something for everyone! Hiking trails, bike park/paths, rock climbing (permit needed), an off leash dog park. I specifically went for the hiking trails. They were great for my 4 year old. When I go with him I try to look for trails under 3 miles. My only complaint is I wish they had real bathrooms by the parking lot. The porta potty was pretty gross. P.s. you can see garden of the gods from this park! They are pretty close to each other!

Hiking Blodgett Peak is an ideal early-season outing. Perfect to shake off winter, a steady ascent…read morehelps you find rhythm quickly, making it a great warm-up. It is not gentle. The grade is no joke. Sections hit a 20 to 30% incline, with sustained pitches requiring sharp focus. As you climb, the trail steepens further, offering a solid test of fitness right out of the gate. The summit over Colorado Springs is well-earned.

Trail Series, Part 15 Ex*hil*a*ra*tion: uncontrolled…read morefeelings of euphoria or elation. I'm sure there's many ways to arrive at this destination. One of them is running, and running in the snow just takes things to a whole new level for me. With that in mind, imagine my exhilaration when a Review Team Member suggested we seize the opportunity to run in a snow storm today! Blodgett Open Space can be found on West Woodmen Road (just North of Orchard Valley Road) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When we arrived it was snowing, 11 degrees, and it would have taken an legion to wipe the smile off my face! Rejoining our Review Team for this adventure was Jasper "The Mountain Dog", so our confidence for survival was high. On several portions of our adventure we enjoyed making "first tracks" in the snow and we basically felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. We reached a peak elevation of 7,500 feet and discovered that your phone will actually turn itself off as a defense mechanism when it gets too cold. While our experience was euphoric, we are sadden to report that not all of our Review Team Members returned safely to Base Camp with us (not true, and yes Jasper is fine. Check the pics and you'll understand. ). There are multiple trails to explore, so you can tailor your adventure to just how much glee you are prepared for. While not required for this journey, I found the use of snow micro spikes quite useful (they can be a fitted over your running shoes). And that's...Henry's Take. #snowrunning #blogettopenspace #coloradosprings Trail Series, Part 15 Ex*hil*a*ra*tion: uncontrolled feelings of euphoria or elation. I'm sure there's many ways to arrive at this destination. One of them is running, and running in the snow just takes things to a whole new level for me. With that in mind, imagine my exhilaration when a Review Team Member suggested we seize the opportunity to run in a snow storm today! Blodgett Open Space can be found on West Woodmen Road (just North of Orchard Valley Road) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. When we arrived it was snowing, 11 degrees, and it would have taken an legion to wipe the smile off my face! Rejoining our Review Team for this adventure was Jasper "The Mountain Dog", so our confidence for survival was high. On several portions of our adventure we enjoyed making "first tracks" in the snow and we basically felt like we had the mountain to ourselves. We reached a peak elevation of 7,500 feet and discovered that your phone will actually turn itself off as a defense mechanism when it gets too cold. While our experience was euphoric, we are sadden to report that not all of our Review Team Members returned safely to Base Camp with us (not true, and yes Jasper is fine. Check the pics and you'll understand. ). There are multiple trails to explore, so you can tailor your adventure to just how much glee you are prepared for. While not required for this journey, I found the use of snow micro spikes quite useful (they can be a fitted over your running shoes). And that's...Henry's Take. #snowrunning #blogettopenspace #coloradosprings

Wonderful place to take my dog to the dog park or just go for a walk in the tall pine trees. Very…read morepeaceful place. Never too crowded but also enough people around so you know civilization is close-by. Very pretty ponds with turtles. Nicely groomed walking trails all over. Clean restrooms too.

This is a very large urban park with tons of space for picnics, games, playgrounds, and hiking. It…read morelooked like it was pretty accessible for folks who have limited mobility

The trail was shaded for the most part and very beautiful. Average time for us was 2h 30 minutes…read morewith a baby in our hiking backpack. Saw a few cool caves!

This is my favorite go to trail for an off leash experience that is just a half hour outside of…read moreColorado Springs. Everyone in the trailers friendly, personable, and they're like me to enjoy the spectacular views and landscape. A must see for well behaved off leash dogs and their owners. It's just outside of Woodland Park.

I liked this hike! It took me about 30-40 minutes to get up, with some stops along the way for…read morepictures. The road was paved nicely. There are cool white structures you can climb on as you approach the main pulpit rock.

I've passed by this spot for ages and always thought about hiking to the summit. I finally made it…read morehappen! Parking is a breeze and right at the trailhead. There are tons of signs to guide you all the way up. This hike is really easy, making it perfect for families. The views from the top are amazing! You can see the entire west side of Colorado Springs, Garden of the Gods, USAFA, and Pikes Peak. It took me around 45 minutes to reach the top from the parking area.

An absolutely must do if you're in the Canon City / Royal Gorge region of Colorado....not only is…read moreit FREE but it has a little bit of something for everyone. Amazing views? Check Affordable activity? Check Hiking? Check ...and most importantly - Dinosaur footprints? Check Plan for up to an hour to complete the one-way narrow drive if you're really taking your time and soaking up the views. Fun fact - pay attention to the arch you drive through as you begin the drive...there's a brick from every state used to build it making Skyline Drive America's road.

Beautiful breathtaking drive! Recommend if height and sheer drop off in both sides is not a…read moreproblem, take your time and enjoy the epic view

Rampart is one of my go-to destinations...all-season…read more Summer/Fall I'll hike from USAFA and back w/the dog. In the winter, it's a great destination for snowshoeing and sunshiney Colorado. Farish is accesssible from Rampart. Or you can venture to Rampart via Rainbow Gulch. No matter how you choose to cruise the trail (single track via bike - clockwise or hike - counterclockwise) - you won't be disappointed in your trip :)

Beautiful walk on a well-groomed trail. A few people with off-leash dogs and the really gross…read moreportapotty at the trailhead were the only negatives. Everything else was fantastic!

We loved our hike to st marys falls. St Marys is a moderate hike around 6.5 miles and 1394 feet of…read moreelevation gain. The main road to the falls parking lot is closed and you have to take gold camp road over. This is around 3 miles of dirt. Its narrow with some pot holes and also 2 tunnels you will need to go through. A lot of the road is very narrow and really only wide enough for just one car. So be prepared for a little bit of a hairy ride. it will be the 2nd parking lot on your right. There is a fairly large parking lot, however it fills up quickly especially on a weekend. If you want to do this you will want to arrive sooner rather than later. Dogs are allowed but are supposed to be on a leash. The parking lot for saint marys is the same as for some other trails over there, seven bridges and silver cascades being 2 of them. You will have to walk around 1 1/4 miles up a dirt road until you get to the trailhead. The trail follows a creek most of the trail. It is rocky and at times a little slick with the loose rock. It is beautiful, surrounded by forest. It was very magical and lovely. it felt so nice to be out in the woods. Mountain bikes and motorcycles are also allowed to use this trail. We did not see any motorcycles but there were a few mountain bikers. And they dont necessarily signal so well beware. There is a trash can at the trail head. Be sure to PACK out what you pack in! My friend and i were picking up garbage that people had left along the trail :( There is no reason to leave your garbage. Please take it with you.

Inadvertently found this trail while looking for a different place to hike with the pup, who is…read moreyoung and just learning how to be a good off leash hiking dog. I'm not 100% certain, but I think that you are allowed to take your dogs off leash on this trail. I certainly never saw any signs stating otherwise and out of maybe 10 dogs we saw, half were on leash and a half off. It was a beautiful hike however we were not prepared and did not have water or maybe a hiking stick for me, at least. The beginning part of the trail is a wide open fire lane, but once you get back there it's a trail with a gradual uphill climb the entire way that turns even steeper towards the end. I was definitely asking "how much longer" for the last half-hour and really regretting that I didn't have water with me as my sensitive back started to ache. On our way down as we passed other hikers, they were asking the same question about "how much longer". The gradual uphill climb the entire way can be a little much if you're not prepared for it and the journey back down to the car is much quicker since it's basically downhill the whole way. Took half the time to get down than it did to get up. The waterfall and stream were beautiful and soothing. Walking with shady tree cover much of the way and a stream next to us was a plus for the pup to get his first experience of playing in a stream. The pup definitely enjoyed himself most of all. We took this hike in early June and on our way back we got hit with a rainstorm that dropped the temperature about 20° and we were freezing and poured on by the time we got back to the car, so be prepared when coming here in the summertime!