This is a pleasant walk, not difficult. With a graveled path it’s easy to follow. The view gets better as you approach the destination and a map that explains what your view is was kind of neat once you get there. I think there may be an expansion of this path at a later date. I’ve done it twice an it tends to get cooler towards 3:00pm so bring a jacket and a snack. Enjoy!
Sarah N.
Place rating: 4 Colorado Springs, CO
This Open Space is within walking distance for me, so I’m out here at least 3X/week. It provides a natural buffer between the neighborhoods to Powers Blvd and is enjoyable year-round(the address shown is wrong — see next para for access info). Great views of the city, Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, Black Forest, and the Eastern Plains from the top of the open space, which was re-modeled a few years ago to include a primitive resting area with a sign ID’ing mountains along the southern Front Range. The Open Space has 2 well-maintained dirt trails and easy access from various points(one from Stetson Hills Blvd, the other from Iron Horse Tr). It is moderately hilly and provides a good cardio workout if you’re at least briskly walking. In a high-moisture year(ie, 2010), high prairie native grasses and colorful wildflowers abound such as Indian Paintbrush, Prickly Pear, Penstemon, Lupine, Bluebells, Sunflowers, Daisies, Globemallow, Spiderwort. This year the blossoms have held back, but the yucca and scrub oak are still doing ok. I’ve seen herds of mule deer on multiple occasions back here, which seem out-of-place given that this area is bordered by heavy-volume traffic. I’ve even seen a juvenile mountain lion that scared the bejeesus out of me(no, it wasn’t a bobcat — I do know what that looks like!), foxes, coyotes(they are bigger than I thought up close and in person!). Rabbits are EVERYWHERE. I’ve watched an ant colony march away with grains of sand to rebuild their empire, and there are several large beetles that crawl along with their butts in the air. Not much in the way of biting insects, although I’ve had gnats fly into my eyes. Swallowtails and dragonflies also call this area home. Magpie, blue and scrub jays, robins, juncos, sparrows, broad-tailed hummingbirds, etc are all viewable here, including a Great Horned Owl that I’ve been privileged to run into three times! Most users are friendly locals out for some fresh air. I only see maybe 1 – 2 mountain bikers a day, and most are walkers in sneakers. My only complaint is in regards to those irresponsible dog owners who allow their pets to roam unleashed and off-trail. These dogs tear up the underbrush as they sniff around or chase rabbits, trample on vegetation, create erosion in more ways than one, and deposit waste where owners can’t get to them. I’ve seen two dogs carrying away bloody rabbits. I’ve even been BITTEN in the leg near the top of the trail by an unleashed dog and had to visit the ER for some stitches(the owner acted sorry, but he still lets his other dogs run about unleashed in the area). Another owner even throws a ball INTO the bushes and off the trail for the dog, unimpeded, to chase after it. How can I convince these people to a) Go to the dog park if you don’t want to restrain your pets, or b) Understand the damage they’re doing to the trails off-leash? These parks and open spaces are for ALL to enjoy it, so I wished people abided by the RULES that are clearly posted at both ends of the trails! High Chaparral doesn’t get 5* because it’s in a high traffic area(Powers Blvd runs parallel to the trails) with lots of noise, including those from airplanes going in for a landing at the airport. The missing star is also because 80% of the dog-owners that use this space are either willfully ignorant or think they’re special and don’t control their dogs. How does a citizen even begin to approach this problem with so many rule-breakers? Anyway, enough of my ranting. I do enjoy this area and it has allowed me to become a better runner. Let’s hope the city doesn’t give this space up to be developed!
