Miles: We did 2.3 miles
Elevation Gain/Highest: 366ft/6660ft
Map: City Park Map
Favorite Eats After Hike: We packed a cooler after shopping at Trader Joe’s.
Find out current conditions and as always, practice Leave No Trace. Pretty please.
If you find yourself in Colorado Springs and want to take a wander out on the trail but not venture too far from town, Ute Valley Park is perfect!
We had a chance to venture into Ute Valley Park on our last visit and enjoyed exploring just a few miles of its trails. The park website claims there are trails for a variety of abilities and it is open to mountain bikes and dogs. A sign at the entrance warned of wildlife (with a picture of rattlesnake) so we were careful where we stepped and put our hands.
Most of the paths in Ute Valley Park were wide and perfect for bike riding and trail running, but we were able to find a few smaller tracks that climbed up onto the hogback or ridge that the park is known for.
Looking out from our perch, we could see down into the valley and out towards the peaks that surround this beautiful area. My husband remembers playing here as a kid when there weren’t houses built up on the surrounding hills but I thought the expansive view was the perfect reward.
Leaving the ridge, we meandered down onto some rock outcroppings that reminded me of our time in Mesa Verde. Large white rock for bouldering, nestled with Pinon Pine, Juniper, Ponderosa, and Gamble Oak (my hubby’s fave).
As you can see, we had a lot of fun! With outdoor spaces like this, it is easy to see why Colorado Springs is known to be the 2nd best place to live!
Directions: There are three entrances for this city park in Colorado Springs, we accessed it via Pinon Park Drive (check out the map for the others). We parked on the residential street in front of the closed gate. Parks hours are 5am-11pm May 1-Oct 31st and 5am-9pm the rest of the year.
Thank you so much for stopping by Must Hike Must Eat!
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