Written by Mary Murphy
In the southwest corner of Garden of the Gods is a hidden trailhead. The two short loops combined with an out-and-back trail make this area a great place to explore. Throughout the 2.5-mile trail, one meanders through the beautiful yet rocky terrain that Garden of the Gods is known for, but this trailhead is free of the usual hordes of tourists that invade Garden of the Gods each day.
Although this trail at Garden of the Gods is for beginner hikers and seemed pretty straightforward from the online map, the beginning was misleading and not well marked (as well as a few other sections). Some advice: stay to the right and make sure to stay on trail. This hike is accented with many large rock formations, which the trail takes you around and over. You will encounter these rock formations very quickly, and the first is known as the Siamese Twins. Due to the terrain, this trail is not conducive to trail running.
In addition to the rock formations, there are an abundance of panoramic views overlooking Pikes Peak. These breaks in the trail, either through the brush or along ridges, allow you to enjoy the beauty of the rocky valley as well as the breathtaking views of the fourteener to our west.
The first loop, or trail section to the right, is rather short and will take you back around to the Cabin Canyon Trail. This trail gives you access to the out-and-back as well as the looping trail to the left. Definitely hike the out-and-back, which is no more than a mile long. At the end there is a steep gain that will lead to a ridge with breathtaking views of Pikes. It is very easy to accidently hike off-trail (which we did). Hike a bit further east for yet another surprising view of Pikes and a light, hilly gain onto a “mystery trail.”
After researching other trails near Spring Canyon, I have come to the conclusion that this is not an original trail, but a manmade offshoot by hikers looking to get a longer hike. It does loop back around to the middle mark where the out-and-back trail begins, but if you do take this path please remember to stick to the trail. A good rule of thumb is to stay on the wider paths and take the paths that look more traveled if you are unsure of the trail. Another tip for this trail: go in the late afternoon when you can see the sun reflecting behind the clouds and onto the summit of Pikes Peak.
This light hike is a perfect afternoon excursion if you are looking to get outside with some friends and explore, or if you are just looking for some great photo-ops of Pikes.And, as always, some hiking wisdom to take with you on the trail. As John Muir said: “Between two pines is a doorway to a new world.”
How to find the trail: drive to the main entrance of Garden of the Gods, off 31st St. From the Garden of the Gods entrance, the Spring Canyon Trail turn off is about two miles down Garden Drive.