A Bark In The Park
A Guide To
Walking Your Dog
Around Colorado
Springs
BARBARA YASCHIK
illustrations by
ANDREW CHESWORTH
Cruden Bay Books
1
Thanks to Carolyn Dickerson and Sandy Williams
for their hours on the trail with Jesse and me.
Big thanks to Kim Roy for her encouragement
and canine-like loyalty and attention.
A BARK IN THE PARK: A GUIDE TO WALKING
YOUR DOG AROUND COLORADO SPRINGS
Copyright 2003 by Barbara Yaschik
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced
or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any
information storage and retrieval system without permission
in writing from the Publisher.
Cruden Bay Books
PO Box 467
Montchanin, DE 19710
www.hikewithyourdog.com
International Standard Book Number 0-9744083-3-6
Manufactured in the United States of America
2
Contents
BARR TRAIL - PIKES PEAK
20
BEAR CREEK REGIONAL PARK
22
BLACK FOREST REGIONAL PARK
24
BLODGETT PEAK OPEN SPACE
26
CATAMOUNT TRAIL
28
FOUNTAIN CREEK REGIONAL PARK
30
FOX RUN REGIONAL PARK
32
GARDEN
34
OF THE
GODS
HOMESTEAD RANCH
36
LOVELL GULCH TRAIL
38
MONUMENT VALLEY PARK
40
MOUNT HERMAN TRAIL
42
NEW SANTA FE TRAIL
44
NORTH CHEYENNE CANON PARK
46
PALMER PEAK
48
PIKES PEAK HIGHWAY
50
RAMPART RESERVOIR RECREATION AREA
52
ROCK ISLAND REGIONAL TRAIL
54
UNIVERSITY PARK OPEN SPACE
56
UTE VALLEY PARK
58
WALDO CANYON
60
Also...
HIKING WITH YOUR DOG
6
OUTFITTING YOUR DOG FOR A HIKE
8
10
HAZARDS ON THE TRAIL
LOW IMPACT HIKING WITH YOUR
DOG
13
14
CAMPING WITH YOUR DOG
10 COOL THINGS TO SEE ON COLORADO
16
SPRINGS TRAILS
3
About This Guide
Jessie, a 2-year-old black lab, is the latest in a lucky
procession of dogs to join Barbara Yaschik on the mountain
trails in El Paso County around Colorado Springs, Colorado.
A native of South Carolina, Barbara traded in the Low Country
for the Colorado mountains where she has been hiking with
her dogs for over 20 years. She teaches English for the Falcon
School District and is a foster parent for the El Paso County
Humane Society, where she happily found Jesse.
Each park described in this book is rated on its desirability
for dog-walking on a scale of one to four smiling dogs (
).
Colorado Springs has an extremely dry climate. Consequently,
watering holes are incredibly significant when choosing a
canine hike. For many of the hikes included in this guidebook,
the discrimating difference is often flowing water that is
consistently available year-round.
Many of the mile-high, open trails around Colorado
Springs can be treacherous for unprotected paws on hot summer days but ideal for a long winter hike. All the hikes included
here are recommended year-round without need for for snow
shoes or skis.
So grab that leash and hit the trail!
4
Before Heading Out...
5
Hiking With Your Dog
So you want to start hiking with your dog. Hiking with
your dog can be a fascinating way to explore the Colorado
Springs region from a canine perspective. Some things to
consider:
Dog’s Health
Hiking can be a wonderful preventative for any number
of physical and behavioral disorders. One in every three
dogs is overweight and running up trails and leaping through
boulders is great exercise to help keep pounds off. Hiking
can also relieve boredom in a dog’s routine and calm dogs
prone to destructive habits. And hiking with your dog
strengthens the overall owner/dog bond.
Breed of Dog
All dogs enjoy the new scents and sights of a trail. But some
dogs are better suited to hiking than others. If you don’t as
yet have a hiking companion, select a breed that matches
your interests. Do you look forward to an entire afternoon’s
hiking? You’ll need a dog bred to keep up with such a pace a retriever or a spaniel perhaps. Is a half-hour enough
walking for you? It may not be for an energetic dog like a
border collie. If you already have a hiking friend, tailor your
plans to his abilities.
Conditioning
Just like humans, dogs need to be acclimated to the task
at hand. An inactive dog cannot be expected to bounce from
the easy chair in the den to complete a 3-hour hike. You must
also be physically able to restrain your dog if confronted
with distractions on the trail (like a scampering squirrel or
a pack of joggers). Have your dog checked by a veterinarian
before significantly increasing her activity level.
Weather
Heat and sun do dogs no favors. With no sweat glands
and only panting available to disperse body heat, dogs are
much more susceptible to heat stroke than we are. Unusually
6
rapid panting and/or a bright red tongue are signs of
heat exhaustion in your pet. Always carry enough water
for your hike. Even the days that don’t seem too warm can
cause discomfort in dark-coated dogs if the sun is shining
brightly. In cold weather, short-coated breeds may require
additional attention.
Water
Surface water, including fast-flowing streams, is likely to
be infested with a microscopic protozoa called Giardia,
waiting to wreak havoc on a dog’s intestinal system.
The most common symptom is crippling diarrhea. Algae,
pollutants and contaminants can all be in streams, ponds
and puddles. If possible, carry fresh water for your dog
on the trail - your dog can even learn to drink happily
from a squirt bottle.
“He is very imprudent, a dog is. He never makes it
his business to inquire whether you are in the
right or in the wrong, never bothers
as to whether you are going up or down
upon’s life ladder, never asks whether you are
rich or poor, silly or wise, sinner or saint.”
- Jerome K. Jerome
7
Outfitting Your Dog For A Hike
These are the basics for taking your dog on a hike:
4 Collar. It should not be so loose as to come off but you
should be able to slide your flat hand under collar.
4 Identification Tags.
4 Bandanna. Can help distinguish your dog from game in
hunting season.
4 Leash. Leather lasts forever but if there’s water in your
dog’s future, consider quick-drying nylon.
I want my dog to help carry water, snacks and other
supplies on the trail. How do I choose a dog pack?
To select an appropriate dog pack, measure your dog’s girth
around the rib cage to determine the best pack size. A dog
pack should fit securely without hindering the dog’s ability to
walk normally.
How does a dog wear a pack?
The pack, typically with cargo pouches on either side, should
ride as close to the shoulders as possible without limiting
movement. The straps that hold the dog pack in place should
be situated where they will not cause chafing.
Will my dog wear a pack?
Wearing a dog pack is no more obtrusive than wearing a collar,
although some dogs will take to a pack easier than others.
Introduce the pack by draping a towel over your dog’s back
in the house and then having him wear an empty pack
on short walks. Progressively add some crumpled newspaper
and then bits of clothing. Fill the pack with treats and reward
your dog from the stash. Soon he will associate the dog
pack with an outdoor adventure and will eagerly look
forward to wearing it.
8
How much weight can I put into a dog pack?
Many dog packs are sold by weight recommendations.
A healthy, well-conditioned dog can comfortably carry 25% to
33% of its body weight. Breeds prone to back problems or
hip dysplasia should not wear dog packs. Consult your
veterinarian before stuffing the pouches with gear.
What are good things to put in a dog pack?
Low density items such as food and poop bags are good
choices. Ice cold bottles of water can cool your dog down on
hot days. Don’t put anything in a dog pack that can break. Dogs
will bang the pack on rocks and trees when they wiggle
through tight spots in the trail. Dogs also like to lie down
in creeks and other wet spots so seal items in plastic bags.
A good use for dog packs on day hikes around Colorado
Springs is trail maintenance - your dog can pack out trash left
by inconsiderate visitors before you.
Are dog booties a good idea?
Dog booties can be an asset, especially for the occasional
canine hiker whose paw pads have not become toughened.
Many trails, especially hillside routes, involve rocky terrain.
In some places, broken glass abounds. Hiking boots for
dogs are designed to prevent pads from cracking while
trotting across rough surfaces. Used in winter, dog booties
provide warmth and keep ice balls from forming between
toe pads when hiking through snow. Using a dab of petroleum
jelly on the dog pads will also prevent ice balls between the toes.
“Dogs’ lives are too short. Their only fault, really”
- Agnes Sligh Turnbull
9
Hazards On The Trail
There are a few things you should know to keep your
journeys safe and enjoyable...
Black Bears
Black bears are shy creatures and hikers can spend a lifetime
in the woods and never see one. Even so, always check a
ranger station, if available, for reported bear activity before
starting a wilderness hike. To avoid an encounter make
noise, stomp and hum if you have reason to believe a bear
might be nearby. If you see a black bear, stop and stay calm
while keeping your dog close - bears do not like dogs.
Do not shout and quiet your dog from barking. Do not run,
you cannot outrun a bear and you don’t want to look like
prey. The bear will likely leave the area, but if not, talk in
a low tone of voice and slowly back away keeping your
dog by your side. If you decide to camp someplace, make
sure to hang anything edible in a tree away from your
tent at least 10 feet above the ground and 5 feet away from
the tree trunk.
Rattlesnakes
Rattlesnakes are found in every state in America; the vipers
in these parts are most likely to be the Western Rattlesnake.
It is not a particularly aggressive animal but you should treat
any rattlesnake with respect and keep your distance.
A rattler’s colors may vary but they are recognized by the
namesake rattle on the tail and a diamond-shaped head.
Unless cornered or teased by humans, a rattlesnake will
crawl away and avoid striking. Avoid rocky areas, crevasses,
caves, and areas where the ground cover (weed or grass)
prevents you from seeing the ground. These are all places
where snakes are likely to hang out. if you hear a nearby rattle,
stop immediately and hold your dog back. Identify where
the snake is and slowly back away. If you or your dog is
bitten, do not panic but get to a hospital or veterinarian with
as little physical movement as possible. In many cases the
rattlesnake might give “dry bites” where no poison is injected,
10
but you should always check with a doctor after a bite even
if you feel fine. Keep in mind that snakes fill an important
function in the ecosystem; without them we would drown in
mice and other rodents, so there is no reason to harm them.
Mountain Lions
These elusive big cats are extremely shy and are rarely
seen. Cougars are fearful of humans but dogs don’t
frighten them. Still, they might view smaller dogs as prey one more reason to always keep your dog close on the
trail. They are nocturnal animals but if you see one, maintain
eye contact, try to make loud noises and attempt to make
yourself appear as large as possible.
11
Poison Oak
While not dangerous, this toxic plant can be an annoyance
that ruins an otherwise great hiking trip. Poison Oak is easily
identified by its typical three-leaf grouping, shining green
from the oil covering the leaves. It turns a redder shade
as fall approaches. If you get some on your skin, wash the
area with naptha, alkaline soap or rubbing alcohol, but make
sure not to smear the oil out on other unaffected areas (scrub
from the outside inwards towards the middle). If you get a
large affected area, or if the rash becomes severe you might
want to seek medical attention. Dogs won’t get poison oak
or poison ivy but they can transfer it to you.
Other Trail Hazards
Some trails are littered with small pieces of broken glass
that can slice a dog’s paws. Nasty thorns can also blanket
trails that we in shoes never notice.
12
Low Impact Hiking With Your Dog
Everytime you hike with your dog on the trail, you are an
ambassador for all dog owners. Some people you meet won’t
believe in your right to take a dog on the trail. Be friendly
to all and make the best impression you can by practicing low
impact hiking with your dog:
Pack out everything you pack in.
Do not leave dog scat on the trail; if you haven’t brought
plastic bags for poop removal, bury it away from the
trail and topical water sources.
Hike only where dogs are allowed.
Stay on the trail.
Do not allow your dog to chase wildlife.
Step off the trail and wait with your dog while horses
and other hikers pass.
Do not allow your dog to bark - people are enjoying
the trail for serenity.
Have as much fun on your hike as your dog does.
Happiness is dog-shaped.
-Chapman Pincher
13
Camping With Your Dog
Many of the parks in Colorado have campsites right there,
along with miles of hiking trails, so it is natural you might
want to spend the night after a long day on the trails. If you
decide to camp with your dog, here are some tips:believe in
your right to take a dog on the trail. Be friendly
to all
and make the best impression you can by
Camp only in areas that are approved by the U. S. Forest
Service, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the
local government administering the campground/park.
Be sure your dog is wearing I.D. tags and has all current
shots.
Take along plenty of food and water.
Have private sleeping arrangements, and camp in a
shady area.
Don’t let your dog run loose in the campsite.
If your dog swims, make sure he has a way out of the
water. Dogs can drown because they try to climb out a
bank or ledge that is too steep for them.
Rinse off your dog with fresh water when you are done
hiking and/or camping, and look for ticks and fleas.
14
The Other End Of The Leash
Leash laws are like speed limits - everyone seems to have a
private interpretation of their validity. Some dog owners
never go outside with an unleashed dog; others treat the laws
as suggestions or disregard them completely. It is not the
purpose of this book to tell dog owners where to go to evade
the leash laws or reveal the parks where rangers will look
the other way at an unleashed dog. Nor is it the business of
this book to preach vigilant adherence to the leash laws.
Nothing written in a book is going to change people’s behavior with regard to leash laws. So this will be the last time
leash laws are mentioned, save occasionally when we point out
the parks where dogs are welcomed off leash.
“No one appreciates the very special genius of your
conversation as a dog does.”
-Christopher Morley
15
10 Cool Things To See On Colorado Springs Trails
With Your Dog
“If your dog is fat,” the old saying goes, “you aren’t getting
enough exercise.” But walking the dog need not be just
about a little exercise. Here are 10 cool things you can see
in greater Colorado Springs while out walking the dog.
AERIAL MANEUVERS
The New Santa Fe Trail runs more than five miles through
the United States Air Force Academy and with your eyes
skyward you can see parachutists and gliders practicing
from the trail. From the Thunderbird Overlook you can
observe cadets maneuvering all sorts of aircraft from sail
planes to military jets.
ATTRACTIVE RODENTS
Abert’s squirrel is easily recognized by its tufted ears and
dapper white paws. Abert’s squirrels rely almost totally on
the Ponderosa pine for its existence. They nibble the inner
bark and gobble buds, seeds and flowers from the tree.
Up in the branches they build nests of twigs. Active during
the day, a good place to spot the Abert’s squirrel is along
the Black Forest trails where two of every three squirrels in
the woods is an Abert’s.
BALD EAGLES AND PEREGRINE FALCONS
Scan the tops of dead trees as you make your way along
the multi-use trail north from Fountain Creek Regional
Park. Here, along the creek two bald eagles make their
home, feasting on the rich variety of wildlife that are attracted
to this rich diversity of this park.
BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS
A dozen species of orchids grow naturally in Colorado and
the largest, the yellow lady’s slipper, is found in this area.
Also known as the moccasin flower, the plant is recognized
by pointed emerald green leaves and shoe-shaped yellow
flowers. Look for it growing alone in aspen glades in moist
conditions. Go find one on the Lovell Gulch Trail out of
Woodland Park.
16
COLORADO’S STATE ANIMAL
There are more Bighorn Sheep in Colorado than anywhere
in America and it is the state animal. Grayish-brown in color
with a white rump patch, the showy coiled horns can make
up 10% of the sheep’s 200-250 pounds of body weight.
A herd on Pikes Peak numbers around 300 animals and
look for them when hiking near the timberline feeding in
meadows, woodlands and alpine tundra. Bighorns are not
fussy eaters - any of 100 different species of plant will make
a fine meal.
COOL WATERFALLS
Catamount Falls on the Catamount Trail is a delight in
every season and is near the start of the trail making it
accessible for any level of canine hiker. In winter the frozen
surface hides the racing water under a thick coat of ice.
True aficionados of plunging water will want to visit Helen
Hunt Falls and make the hike to St. Marys Falls in North
Cheyenne Canon Park. No survey of El Paso County waterfalls would be complete without an easy ramble to the
Waterfall Spur on the Paul Intemann Trail in Bear Creek
Regional Park.
GREAT ROCKS
When hiking around Colorado Springs often you are
hiking on the floor of an ancient ocean. Left behind when
the waters receded are rock formations carved by water
and wind that often defy description. The Garden of Gods
are the trails everyone goes to for its famous red rocks;
for white sandstone formations try hiking the Mount Herman
Trail.
INGENIOUS PLANTS
Many plants rely solely on the whims of feeding birds to
spread their seeds and expand their range. Not so the
popping mistletoe. A slight jostle to this parasitic plant
while hiking the trail detonates a silent botanical explosion
that propells a seed as far as 40 feet. The mistletoe is part
of the rich understory of groundcover in Fox Run Regional
Park.
17
SPORTS HALL OF FAME
After working your way up Pikes Peak on the Barr Trail the longest trail to a fourteener summit in Colorado - you
can study the names of the members of the United States
Olympic Hall of Fame, engraved on a plaque overlooking
America. After many decades of international sporting
success the United States began lagging behind other
countries in the 1970s. To that point athletes trained on
their own with no government support. Colorado Springs
was selected as the site for the new Olympic Training Center
in 1977 in part for the opportunity to have athletes train at
high altitude in the foothills.
UNUSUAL BUILDINGS
The Starsmore Discovery Center in North Cheyenne
Canon Park is a 1920s stone house originally on Nevada
and Cheyenne roads. The 250-ton rock building was moved
to the mouth of Cheyenne Canyon to serve as an education
center. Your dog can’t visit but you can see the historic
Rock Ledge Ranch when hiking in the Garden of the Gods.
18
A Bark In The Park...
19
Barr Trail Pikes Peak
The Trail
Phone Number
- (719) 636-1602
Pikes Peak, with its height
Website
and position in the Front
- None
Range, was the first landmark
Admission Fee
seen by settlers heading west.
- None, unless you go to the dam
Directions
Explore Lieutenant Zebulon
- Take Colorado Blvd into
Pike, on assignment by ThoManitou Springs and turn left
mas Jefferson, first saw the
onto Ruxton at the west end of
town. Follow Ruxton past the cog
mountain in 1806. He was
railway and turn right up a short
thwarted by a blizzard in his
hill to the Barr Trail parking lot.
attempt to scale the “Great
Peak.” The first recorded successful ascent was made by a scientist named Edwin James in
1820. In 1858 Julia Archibald - wearing bloomers - became the
first woman to tag the summit and spent two days on top.
The footpath up the eastern face was re-worked and built
by Fred Barr between 1914 and 1918. It was pick-and-shovel
duty, with an occasional dash of black powder for moving rocks
and trees.
The Walks
The 13-mile pull to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak
begins in Manitou Springs at an elevation of 6,300 feet. It is
the biggest elevation gain of any trail in Colorado, with an average grade of 11%. Serious canine hiking indeed. Barr Camp,
where Fred ran a burro concession, is at the halfway point and
makes a handy turn-around point for those not prepared to make
the assault on the summit. There are three miles of hiking above
the treeline and the peak gets afternoon storms nearly daily
so come prepared.
Trail Sense: The Barr Trail is well-trod and well-marked.
This trail gets extremely hot in the mid-summer.
20
Bonus
The Barr Trail is host to several unique events.
In 1923, a group called AdAmAn, of which Fred Barr
was a charter member, began a tradition of hiking to the
summit each New Year’s Eve to present a fireworks
show at midnight. Barr Trail is also the home of the
Pikes Peak Marathon. The best runners take more than
7 hours to get to the top and back down again
- an average of more than 16 minutes a mile.
Dog Friendliness
Dogs are welcome to tackle the Barr Trail all the way to
the summit. Near the top there are rock steps that most dogs
can negotiate.
Traffic
You will meet hikers only on the Barr Trail.
Canine Swimming
There is no natural water for your dog on Pikes Peak.
Trail Time
More than one hour.
21
Bear Creek
Regional Park
The Park
Bear Creek Regional Park
is a segmented 1,235-acre recreation center with an extensive trail system. In the 1980s
it was the ambition of Manitou
Springs city planner Paul
Intemann to connect the many
rogue trails along the contours
of Red Mountain and Iron
Mountain into a coherent,
groomed route. Intemann
died tragically in a car crash
in New Mexico at the age of
30 in 1986 and friends and
volunteers started work on
making his vision a reality in
Section 16 of the park.
Phone Number
- None
Website
- adm.elpasoco.com/Parks/
r_parks/bcrp/Bcrp.asp
Admission Fee
- None
Directions
- Use Cimarron Street/US
Highway 24 to 26th Street
(between Manitou and Colorado
Springs). Turn south on 26th
Street following signs to the
Bear Creek Nature Center.
To reach Section 16, take a right
at the 3-way stop onto Gold Camp
Road. On the left is a small
parking area. To reach the Dog
Loop, take Highway 24 to 21st
Street and turn south. The dog
park is located just past Rio
Grande Avenue. The ButterflyLeaf trails are across the street
from the main entrance behind
the community gardens.
The Walks
Canine hikers of any ability can find an outing at Bear
Creek Regional Park. For social dogs there is an off-leash
exercise loop - about 3/4 of a mile - that includes a lively creek
that holds water throughout the year. In the eastern section of
the park is a spider web of short trails ideal for a quick jaunt.
Taking the Butterfly-Leaf-Butterfly trails will give your dog
the chance to soak in a running stream about halfway through
the walk. The trails wind through open ground and are mostly
sandy gravel. Section 16 is for more serious canine hikes.
The Paul Intemann Memorial Nature Trail starts out steeply but
quickly levels off into a mild rollercoaster trek through scrub
oak and geological curiosities. The city below is almost in
22
Bonus
On the Intemann Trail, be certain to take the Waterfall
Spur, a .3-mile detour to a lovely, small waterfall buried
in some heavy forest.
constant view. The hardpacked red clay trail holds moisture
but can be hot on paw pads. More challenging is the PalmerRed Rock Loop that features a 1,300 foot elevation gain through
scrub oaks and conifers. The scenery is breathtaking but there
is almost no natural water at all on this loop so take plenty
of water for your dog on this hike of sveral hours.
Trail Sense: Signpost and mapboards help distinguish the
maintained trails from the informal trails.
Dog Friendliness
Dogs are welcome in Bear Creek Regional Park except for
the trails around the Nature Center.
Traffic
The trails in Section 16 offer more solitude; expect
competition from bikes and horses on most trails at Bear Creek.
Canine Swimming
The occasional creek pops up for some dog splashing on
the various trails.
Trail Time
More than one hour.
“Dogs are our link to paradise...to sit with a dog on a hillside
on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing
was not boring - it was peace.”
- Milan Kundera
23
Black Forest
Regional Park
The Park
This dark 200-square mile
island of trees in the sea of
arid, light brown prairie naturally became known as the
Black Forest. The land for the
240-acre Black Forest Regional
Park was conveyed to El Paso
County by the U.S. Forest
Service in 1999.
Phone Number
- (719) 520-6375
Website
- adm.elpasoco.com/Parks/
r_parks/bfrp/Bfrp.asp
Admission Fee
- None
Directions
- Take the South Academy exit
#150 and go east shortly to the
stoplight at Colorado Hwy 83.
Turn left and continue for about
5 miles to Shoup Road. Head east
on Shoup for a little over 2 miles
and you will see the sign and
parking lot on the corner of
Shoup and Milam.
The Walks
The trail system through
the park is a series of stacked
loop trails that provide about
three miles of canine hiking. At 7,500 feet, shade and cool breezes
are common while exploring the Black Forest. The park rests
on an incline so you hike moderately uphill on your way out
and stroll comfortably downhill on your way back. This is an
easy trot for your dog. Keep your head up for stunning views of
Pikes Peak and the Front Range.
Trail Sense: There are all sorts of trail crossings but it is easy
to keep your bearings if you remember: “out” is up and east;
“back” is down and west. Some of the trail is marked with cross
country skier signs.
Dog Friendliness
Dogs are welcome on the trails in Black Forest Regional
Park.
24
Bonus
One of the denizens of this forest is Abert’s squirrel about two of every three squirrels, in fact.
The distinctive tuft-eared rodent with dapper white
paws is active during the daytime. Look for nests of
twigs in the branches of Ponderosa pine trees, upon
which the Albert’s squirrel relies. It eats bark, buds,
seeds and flowers provided by the tree.
Traffic
The trails here receive much less use than their sister trails
in Fox Run Regional Park.
Canine Swimming
None - no natural water at all in the park.
Trail Time
About one hour.
25
Blodgett Peak
Open Space
The Park
The Blodgetts were early
settlers in this area and the
newly purchased open space
by El Paso County was once
part of the Blodgett Ranch.
Early settlers called the 9,423foot peak Cedar Mountain but
it began appearing on 1880s
maps as Blodgett Peak. The
Blodgett Peak Open Space is
167 acres.
Phone Number
- None
Website
- None
Admission Fee
- None
Directions
- Take Garden of the Gods Road
west to Centennial Blvd. Shortly
after the road name changes to
Woodmen Road, there will be a pull
off in front of a gate with a
trailhead sign about rules. No other
sign identifies this as Blodgett
Peak.
The Walks
Be aware that Blodgett Peak is laced with rogue trails as
you start down the open access road on this canine hike.
Stay on the wide, obvious trail until you reach the narrow final
climb to tag the summit. Be on the lookout for a pile of rocks
formed into an arrow pointing to the trail that darts to the
left. Once on the trail, the hike twists under Douglas fir and
Ponderosa pine trees. There are occasional overlooks of the city
that demand a detour as you climb.
Trail Sense: The trails are not formally managed so venture
onto side trails only with a sense of adventure.
Dog Friendliness
This is a very dog-friendly area; there are no restrictions
in the young park.
Traffic
The trail is lightly used and there is extremely little traffic
of any kind.
26
Bonus
Blodgett Peak Open Space is a good spot for amateur
rock study. Obvious here is Manitou limestone,
deposited some 450 million years ago; Fountain
Formation, the coarse sandstone that appears pink
from its abundance of feldspar; and the impervious
Pierre Shale that remains from the second and last time
the ocean inundated the Front Range.
Canine Swimming
A small creek taps the trail every so often but it does not
have water every year.
Trail Time
More than one hour.
27
Catamount Trail
The Trail
Phone Number
- (719) 684-9414
Wealthy Kansans swelterWebsite
ing on the Great Plains began
- None
coming to Ute Pass during
Admission Fee
summers in the late 1800s.
- None
Directions
Three small resort towns - Take US 24 west to Green
Cascade, Green Mountain
Mountain Falls. Using the first
Falls and Chipita Park - develexit, turn right onto Ute Pass
Avenue and left onto Hondo
oped to service the tourist
Avenue. The trail begins at the
trade brought to Ute Pass on
end of this dirt road but there is
the Colorado Midland Railno parking at the trailhead, so
park it and walk about half a mile
road. Getting out to embrace
from here. Easiest parking is at
the scented air, trails were
the pond you went by in town just
blazed by the vacationers
before Hondo Drive.
through the pass. The Catamount Trail is maintained by
the town of Green Mountain Falls and leads to South Catamount Reservoir. The new portion of the trail was completed
by volunteers in 2001, spearheaded by Green Mountain Falls
mayor, Dick Bratton.
The Walks
This is a challenging canine hike - an out-and-back,
switchbacking affair with an elevation gain of more than
1500 feet in two miles of climbing. The initial leg of the route
is a rocky climb and best suited for athletic, fit dogs.
The trail is shaded most of the way and visits the Garden of
Eden, a wildflower meadow. Although slippery in the snow,
the Catamount Trail is still doable in winter. This is also a
good time to look for traces of the namesake mountain lions
that prowl the area.
Trail Sense: The yellow-blazed trail is your best bet to reach
the reservoir at 9,200 feet; the orange trail can be hard to follow.
28
Bonus
Catamount Falls is a treat in every season.
Your dog will delight in paddling through the plunge
basin and the trail starts at the waterfall so it is
accessible to any level of canine hiker.
Dog Friendliness
There are no restrictions on dogs on the Catamount Trail.
Traffic
This is not a trail for the casual stroller and foot traffic
is light here; mountain bikes and horses are not a concern.
Canine Swimming
There are plenty of doggie swimming holes waiting in the
Catamount Creek for canine aquatics.
Trail Time
More than one hour.
I can’t think of anything that brings me closer to tears
than when my old dog - completely exhausted afters a hard
day in the field - limps away from her nice spot in front of the fire
and comes over to where I’m sitting and puts her head in my lap,
a paw over my knee, and closes her eyes, and goes back to sleep.
I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve that kind of friend.”
-Gene Hill
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Fountain Creek
Regional Park
The Park
Phone Number
- (719) 520-6745
The legacy of Fountain is
Website
that of a trail town. Sitting at
- adm.elpasoco.com/Parks/
the confluence of Jimmy
r_parks/fcrp/Fcrp.asp
Camp Creek and Fountain
Admission Fee
- None
Creek and at the crossroads of
Directions
the Cherokee Trail and the
- South of State Highway 16,
Old Santa Fe Trail, the town
this 2.5 mile linear park runs
adjacent to Fountain Creek. From
was so favorably located it
Interstate 25 take exit 132, then
was founded with an eye
east on Highway 16 for one-half
towards being the capital of
mile, turn right on 85/87 and go
south.
the new state of Colorado.
Today the town is the southern anchor for the 40-mile
north-south trail system through El Paso County to Palmer Lake.
The Walks
The multi-use trail is flat, wide and well-shaded in the park
during its 2.5-mile stretch here. The trail winds back and forth
to Fountain Creek so your dog can enjoy a frequent splash.
The trails surface is sandy and fairly soft on the paw. As you
head further north, watch
the tops of dead trees for the
two bald eagles that live
along this leg of the trail.
Trail Sense: Unless using
a car shuttle, it will be up to
you when to turn back on
this linear trail.
30
Bonus
The park supports more than 250 species of birds,
many - like the great blue heron - drawn by the great
water resources available. Fifty million years ago,
ancestral herons plied the shores of ancient salt water
oceans here for food. In more recent times their
descendents weren’t seen until 1983 when three
pioneering pairs appeared around Fountain Creek,
near the southern boundary of the blue heron’s range.
Now the area supports more than three dozen active
nests. Treasured today by bird watchers and nature
lovers, the birds have been pursued by more avaricious
admirers in the past. At the turn of the 20th century
heron plumes sold for $32 an ounce
- twice the going rate for gold.
Dog Friendliness
Dogs are welcome to trot on the Fountain Creek Regional
Trail. Dogs are not allowed on any side trip to the Cattail
Marsh Loop.
Traffic
On this multi-use trail you will be dodging hikers,
joggers, horses and just about any non-motorized wheeled
conveyance out there.
Canine Swimming
Most of the dog-paddling is at the southern end of the
hike.
Trail Time
More than one hour.
“The best thing about a man is his dog.”
-French Proverb
31
Fox Run
Regional Park
The Park
Phone Number
- (719) 520-6375
This distinctive 100-mile
Website
oasis of Ponderosa pine in the
- adm.elpasoco.com/Parks/
middle of desert prairie has
r_parks/frrp/Frrp.asp
long attracted settlement.
Admission Fee
- None
In the 1860s, escapees of the
Directions
Civil War came west and used
- Take I-25 north to the
“Piney,” as the forest was
Gleneagle Exit at the Air Force
Academys North Gate Drive.
known, for a saw mill. The
Proceed east for almost 3 miles and
wood provided lumber for
turn left onto Roller Coaster Road.
the Kansas and Pacific RailThe park entrance is on Stella
Drive or continue further down
roads. In the 1920s bootleggers
Roller Coaster and there is a
hid out in thick pines. Piney
trailhead parking lot. Turn into the
was descriptively renamed
main entrance and then go left at
the T stop. Follow the signs to
Black Forest in the 1940s in
Spruce and Aspen Lakes.
recognition of the paucity of
Main trail heads can be accessed
light that filtered down to
in that area.
the forest floor. In 1986 El
Paso County designated 410
acres in the western area of the Black Forest as a park and
named it Fox Run after a fox farm that operated here during
the Depression to provide pelts for fur wraps. More than 90%
of the Fox Run Regional Park is left in its natural state.
The Walks
Numerous wide trails with loose dirt surfaces criss-cross
each other and lead canine hikers throughout the park.
The trees are cut back from the footpath so the trail is airy
and open. There are more than four miles of these multi-use
trails penetrating the Fallen Timbers Wilderness. Two selfguiding interpretive trails introduce newcomers to the Black
Forest. This is one of the few urban parks in El Paso County
that keeps snow for a day or two in the winter, so snow-loving
32