Dick Bratton, a tireless advocate for trails, parks and open spaces in the Pikes Peak region, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Green Mountain Falls last Thursday. He was 84 years old.
With eight avalanche-related deaths so far this winter season, including three in a single incident near Silverton on Feb. 1, Colorado may be on pace for one of its deadliest avalanche seasons in recent memory. And, the startling number of avalanche deaths is not limited to just Colorado. As…
Under a proposal being considered by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife commission, a Colorado State Wildlife Area pass would replace the need for recreational users of State Wildlife Areas to purchase a fishing or hunting license.
On Wednesday, Jan. 27, Colorado Parks and Wildlife returned five orphaned black bear cubs to the wild, by "denning" them on Pikes Peak. Of the five cubs, two were orphaned after a homeowner in Colorado Springs shot and killed their mother, in an incident that remains under investigation. Two…
A couple of new, short trails in Colorado Springs' North Cheyenne Cañon Park provide connectivity between existing and future trail systems and fulfill goals in the parks master plan.
As I covered in my column last week, it's still possible to enjoy outdoor recreation in the winter, with some adjustments to clothing, gear and planning. Winter also brings snow, of course, and if we're lucky, snow too deep to just walk in.
Winter in Colorado doesn't mean it's time to put away your hiking (or cycling!) gear, it just means you have to adapt a little.
On Wednesday, Dec. 16th, the TOPS (Trails Open spaces and ParkS) Working Committee, an offshoot of the Colorado Springs Parks Advisory Board, made formal recommendations towards a possible April ballot measure that will determine the future of the city's TOPS program.
Christmas and the start of Kwanzaa are still a week away, and while that seems like it's a long ways off in terms of gift buying, it will actually fly by. You may have lollygagged around or just realized you have forgotten someone on your gift-giving list, or you have someone on your list wh…
The popular "Jones Park" area, at the top of North Cheyenne Cañon, has been the subject of a long-running master plan process by El Paso County Parks. A popular destination for hikers, cyclists and motorcyclists, Jones Park is known for it's stands of aspens — a must-visit in the fall — remn…
Friday, Dec. 4, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a proclamation designating the week of Dec. 7-13, 2020 “Colorado Backcountry Winter Safety Awareness Week”.
Barring any new COVID-19 restrictions that would prevent it, a new incline will open in Douglas County this week.
The National Park Service (NPS) announced that beginning this past Veterans Day, Veterans and military Gold Star families will enjoy free admission year-round to NPS sites, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wildlife refuges and U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamati…
In a report issued Nov. 10, the U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Economic Analysis released a report on the effect outdoor recreation has on the economy. According to the report, outdoor recreation made up 2.1 percent — $459.8 billion — of the national Gross Domestic Product in 2019.…
E-bikes have been revolutionary in expanding travel options. People who may not be able to pedal a bike completely under their own power have found that "pedal assist" bikes have helped them go longer or go further than they could without assistance. Organizations such as PikeRide make e-bik…
For the first time in its history, Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has achieved national accreditation from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). Only 10 parks and recreation agencies in Colorado are accredited and only 186, out of…
As a first-of-its-kind initiative in a Colorado state park, Cheyenne Mountain State Park (CMSP) has created a volunteer Trail and Bike Ambassador Program. With the goal of increasing visitor safety, education and enjoyment of the park, the members of the program serve as additional "eyes and…
Eleven Mile State Park, one of the more remote in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife system, is known mostly for its boating and fishing opportunities on the Eleven Mile Canyon Reservoir that makes up most of the park. You can get a feel for what life is like at the park in this podcast with p…
One of the most contentious issues in Colorado Springs in recent years has been the issue of trading city-owned parkland for privately owned land. Brought on by the controversial "Strawberry Fields" land swap with the Broadmoor Hotel, the effort to change the city charter to make it more dif…
If you want to enjoy the Garden of the Gods without having to dodge cars or without the sound of the internal combustion engine disturbing your reverie, you'll get to do that next Wednesday, Oct. 7 for an "Early Bird Hike & Bike" morning. The Colorado Springs Parks Department will close …
Hiking Bob: Intro to Sandstone Ranch; Fall colors update; National Public Lands Day; Pikes Peak APEX
It is always exciting to hear about a new park or trail opening for use. There is the anticipation of a new challenge, new vistas or, well, just someplace new. Such was the case this past Monday when Douglas County announced the opening of Sandstone Ranch Open Space, a 2,038-acre parcel of l…
The inaugural running of the Pikes Peak APEX bike race, a four-day, one-of-a-kind event, will kick off next Thursday, Sept. 24. The event will take place in all or parts of several local parks and also on popular trails on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, and may affect the plans of the ou…
In a previous column, I featured a hike in a place called "Booger Red," an obscure place with an unusual name and great views. This week's hike is to the summit of Booger Red Hill, which starts at the same trailhead, but goes in a different direction and offers a different experience.
I find trails to hike a number of ways: I might see a social media reference, or a mention on some website or other, or someone tells me about a trail they've been on, or asks me about a trail.
Fishers Peak will open sooner rather than later, but hikers will want to wait until next summer before visiting.
Browns Creek Falls, in the San Isabel National Forest south of Buena Vista and across the Arkansas River from Browns Canyon National Monument, is a fun little hike. Prior to doing this hike earlier this week, I last did it about 6 years ago. Other than maybe the parking lot being a little mo…
Colorado Highway 165 starts in the town of Colorado City and winds its way through the Wet Mountains and the San Isabel National Forest, before ending at Colorado Highway 96, about 20 miles from the town of Westcliffe. A Colorado Scenic Byway, the road lives up to its designation, with stan…
This hike combines a couple of trails to put together a nice little loop. Located south west of the town of Fairplay in Park County, the trailhead is about 88 miles from the west end of Colorado Springs, an easy drive. Well, except for the last 8 miles, which frankly, suck. Ok, it's not a h…
Rocky Mountain National Park, just outside of the small town of Estes Park, is one of the most popular national parks in the country, in a typical year drawing millions of visitors to experience its breathtaking vistas, wildlife sightings and, of course, hiking and mountain climbing opportunities.
In a move that is sure to make hikers happy, the Green Mountain Falls Board of Trustees voted during a special board meeting on Tuesday July 21 to kill a resolution that would have closed all of the town's trails to all users.
Next time you drive through Loveland on U.S. Highway 34 on your way to Rocky Mountain National
One of the things I aim to do with this column is to highlight places to go that you might not be aware of. While most of us who engage in outdoor recreation are familiar with the Colorado State Parks in the Pikes Peak Region (Cheyenne Mountain, Mueller, Castlewood Canyon and Lake Pueblo, fo…
For me, the area around Grand Junction was for years my equivalent to what politicians refer to as "fly-over" states. It was one of those places I would try to pass by as quickly as possible while on my way to places further west, such as Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, near Moab, Ut…
El Paso County's newest park, the Pineries Open Space, is likely to become a prime attraction for hikers, runners, cyclists and equestrians when it opens on June 27. Located in Black Forest on Vollmer Road just north of Shoup Road, the tract of land started out in 2010 as a proposed 389-lot…
In last week's column, I featured a hike that is rather difficult and definitely not for everyone. This week, I'll turn that around 180 degrees and feature a few fairly easy hikes that almost any hiker can do. As a bonus, these are all pretty close to Colorado Springs, not very well known, …
Eighteen years ago this coming Monday, June 8, the Hayman Fire, the largest wildfire in Colorado's recorded history, started near Lake George. For 10 days, the fire burned its way north and east through the Pike National Forest, destroying more than 138,000 acres of forest land. The fire was…
There is no doubt that no matter what your personal feelings are about the COVID-19 restrictions that have been in place for several months, they have really been a downer as far a outdoor recreation goes. But, restrictions are loosening up, so it's time to start featuring places to hike again.
