Skyline Trail – Colorado Springs, CO
Skyline Trail is a neighborhood focused urban trail in northern Colorado Springs that provides an important north south connection through the Briargate area. Often referred to locally as the Powerline Trail due to its alignment with overhead powerlines, Skyline Trail is well used by nearby residents for walking, running, and biking.
Location: Briargate area, northern Colorado Springs
Trail Experience
Skyline Trail is approximately 2 miles long and features a mix of wide concrete and dirt trail surfaces. South of Research Parkway, the trail is smooth concrete, while the segment north of Research Parkway transitions to a dirt surface. Rolling terrain creates noticeable elevation gain and loss, giving the trail a moderate difficulty rating.
The trail includes several distinctive switchbacks near Mirage Drive that offer views across the surrounding neighborhoods and open spaces. Despite its urban setting, the corridor provides a sense of separation from nearby roads and is popular for short neighborhood outings as well as longer connected trips.
Road Crossings and Navigation
Skyline Trail includes several street crossings and users should proceed with caution at all crosswalks. Major crossings occur at Briargate Boulevard and Research Parkway. When crossing Research Parkway, users should use the signalized intersection at Chapel Hills Drive for improved safety. Trail signage varies by segment, and awareness is recommended when navigating transitions between surfaces.
Connections
Skyline Trail transitions into Woodmen Trail at Briargate Boulevard, allowing users to continue east west through northern Colorado Springs. A spur trail provides access to Rampart Community Park, which includes a disc golf course, sports courts and fields, and a dog park. The trail passes near High Plains Elementary School and offers views of Reflection Pond, which can be accessed via sidewalks on Parliament Drive.
Sidewalk connections along Briargate Parkway allow access to John Venezia Community Park and the Briargate Trail. Multiple neighborhood access points along the route make Skyline Trail easy to reach from surrounding residential areas.
Skyline Trail plays an important role in connecting neighborhoods, parks, and trails across northern Colorado Springs while offering a moderately challenging route with varied terrain and strong local use.
Homestead Trail – Colorado Springs, CO
The Homestead Trail is a long, neighborhood-spanning urban trail that weaves through eastern Colorado Springs, connecting parks, open spaces, and residential areas. Stretching approximately 7 miles in total, the trail offers a challenging and varied experience for cyclists, runners, and walkers looking for a route that blends recreation with everyday city connectivity.
With rolling terrain, multiple park connections, and future expansion planned, the Homestead Trail plays an important role in the city’s growing trail network.
Trails and Recreation
The Homestead Trail is divided into two main segments, separated by a short on-street connection.
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Northern Segment (≈2 miles):
This portion branches off the Cottonwood Creek Trail about a mile south of Woodmen Road. It travels southeast before ending at Templeton Gap Road, where users must transition to sidewalks to reach the southern segment.
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Southern Segment (≈5 miles):
The more commonly used section begins at the High Chaparral Open Space parking lot, located off Stetson Hills Boulevard (accessible when traveling eastbound). From there, the trail travels south, crossing several major streets, passing neighborhood parks, and eventually terminating at Radiant Drive.
The Homestead Trail is not an easy ride or walk. Users should expect rolling hills and a mix of trail surfaces, including asphalt, concrete, and dirt. While much of the trail is paved, some sections are rough or deteriorated, adding to the challenge.
Parks and Connections
One of the Homestead Trail’s strengths is its proximity to numerous parks and open spaces. Along the route, the trail travels through or alongside:
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Old Farm Park
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Rudy Park
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Homestead Park
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Villa Loma Park
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Penrose Park
The trail connects directly to Cottonwood Creek Trail, and with some street or sidewalk travel, users can also access Palmer Park and the Rock Island Trail. The Homestead Trail shares a trailhead and parking area with High Chaparral Open Space, making it a key access point for both trail and open space users.
Management and Stewardship
The Homestead Trail is managed by City of Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, which oversees maintenance, safety, and long-term planning for the trail.
Because the trail passes through busy urban areas, stewardship focuses on:
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Safe street crossings
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Trail maintenance and surface improvements
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Balancing recreation with neighborhood use
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Improving long-term connectivity
Plan Your Visit
Access Points:
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Cottonwood Creek Trail connection (north)
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High Chaparral Open Space parking lot (south, via eastbound Stetson Hills Blvd)
Parking:
Hours:
Open daily, dawn to dusk
Tips:
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Expect hills and uneven surfaces
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Use caution at major street crossings
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Bring water—shade is limited in many sections
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Check conditions before biking due to rough pavement in spots
Learn more about Colorado Springs Urban Trails: https://coloradosprings.gov/urbantrails
The Crews Gulch Trail is about 2.5 miles long. The trail winds through neighborhoods, along a riparian corridor and through Widefield Park. The trail begins in the west at John Ceresa Memorial Park, travels northeast to Widefield Community Park and ends abruptly at Fontaine Blvd. The trail surface is mostly gravel, with some paved areas. There are several neighborhood street crossings.
Connections: Crews Gulch Trail links into Fountain Creek Regional Trail, near Willow Pond #2. There are several neighborhood connections along the trail, providing easy access to Widefield Community Park and Fountain Creek Park & Nature Center.
Future Plans: Once completed the trail will connect Bluestem Prairie Open Space to Fountain Creek Regional Park.
Colorado Front Range Trail – El Paso County, CO
The Colorado Front Range Trail is a long term vision for a continuous multi use trail system that will one day extend from Wyoming to New Mexico, following the Front Range of Colorado for approximately 876 miles. In El Paso County, this vision is already taking shape through a connected network of regional trails that provide important recreation and transportation opportunities across the Pikes Peak region.
Trail Experience
In El Paso County, the Colorado Front Range Trail consists of roughly 43 continuous miles of multi use trail. The surface varies by segment and includes dirt, gravel, asphalt, and concrete. When traveling south, the route generally follows a gradual downhill slope, making it accessible for a wide range of users.
Because the Front Range Trail is made up of multiple existing trails, it is known by different names depending on location.
Trail Segments
New Santa Fe Regional Trail
The northernmost segment begins in Palmer Lake, north of Monument, and extends approximately 17 miles south through open landscapes and natural areas. This section is primarily gravel, about six feet wide, and is generally straight and level. A critical 6.9 mile portion crosses U.S. Air Force Academy property via a designated trail easement. Visitors must remain on the trail at all times while on Academy land.
Pikes Peak Greenway
Near Woodman Road, the route transitions into the Pikes Peak Greenway, which runs north to south through the heart of Colorado Springs for approximately 16 miles. This largely paved corridor follows Monument Creek and Fountain Creek alongside I 25 and serves as the spine of the city’s urban trail system. Investments from Great Outdoors Colorado and the Trails Open Space Coalition TOPS program helped create an eight foot wide concrete commuter trail between Monument Valley Park and Highway 24. The Greenway connects to dozens of east west trails and passes near popular destinations such as Pikeview Reservoir, Monument Valley Park, America the Beautiful Park, and El Pomar Youth Sports Park.
Fountain Creek Regional Trail
South of El Pomar Youth Sports Park, the trail becomes the Fountain Creek Regional Trail. This segment follows Fountain Creek south toward Fountain Creek Regional Park, terminating near Bandley Drive. The trail is approximately 10 miles long, with an additional three mile disconnected segment within Clear Springs Ranch Open Space. This section features a dirt surface and more elevation changes than the northern segments.
History
The foundation of the Front Range Trail in El Paso County began in April 1982 with the formal opening of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail, which originally extended from Palmer Lake to the U.S. Air Force Academy. In 2013, a generous donation from REI Colorado Springs supported a partnership between the Trails and Open Space Coalition, the City of Colorado Springs, the Greenway Fund, and Leadership Pikes Peak to establish 15 adopter groups along the Pikes Peak Greenway, strengthening long term stewardship and community involvement.
Plan Your Visit
Location: Palmer Lake to Fountain, following the Front Range through El Paso County
Length: Approximately 43 continuous miles
Surface: Gravel, dirt, asphalt, and concrete depending on segment
Amenities: Multiple trailheads, connections to local parks and neighborhoods
Tips: Stay on designated trails, especially on U.S. Air Force Academy property. Check segment specific conditions before heading out.
The Colorado Front Range Trail in El Paso County represents decades of collaboration, investment, and community stewardship. As connections continue to improve, this regional corridor will play an increasingly important role in linking communities, supporting active transportation, and expanding access to outdoor recreation across the Pikes Peak region.
