Cheyenne Canon

Driving up Cheyenne Canon is enough to take your breath away. The brilliant blue sky peaking behind the cliff faces and countless pine trees; the colorful, brilliant landscape looks almost surreal in the cold, dry winter.

Cheyenne Canon has some of the most diverse hiking spots in Colorado Springs. From the rushing waterfalls of Helen Hunt and Seven Falls, to the endless plains of Stratton open space, the 148 acres park provides countless hiking experiences. The park is also dog friendly, great for experienced mountain bikers and even allows horseback riding on certain marked trails.

Difficulty

Overall, Cheyenne Canon trails' varies in difficulty; while some trails are perfect for beginners, others can quickly exhaust experienced hikers. Most of the trails, however, are only moderately difficult and are fun for the whole family.

Lower Columbine, near the historic Starsmore Discovery Center, is a flat, scenic trial that gradually goes up the canon next to a babbling brook. This trail is perfect for families with young children or those who want a casual, relaxing hike. Continuing on the trail for a few more miles, you'll eventually reach Middle Columbine trail, followed by more intermediate hikes Mount Cutler and Captain Jack trail, which are steeper and sunnier than Lower Columbine. The entire Columbine trail is around four miles, and after hiking steep Upper Columbine, you'll find beautiful Helen Hunt Falls.

Helen Hunt Falls is a beautiful waterfall that is gorgeous even when frozen during the winter. The waterfall is a quick one-mile climb that also provides a beautiful overlook of Colorado Springs. While a little bit slick due to the rushing water, this hike is relativity easy with a rewarding view at the end. A lot of hikers even bring their dogs to play in the stream.

The difficulty of Cheyenne Canon comes from some of the less well known trials, that wind around the mountain for miles, allowing an entire days worth of exploring the seemingly endless wilderness. Section 16 is a difficult eight mile hike that involves steep, loose gravel trails that head up for miles without breather. The hike down is long, usually taking an entire afternoon to head down the winding slopes. With no cell reception and barely any buildings in sights, you really feel like you're lost from civilization. Hikes like Section 16 are definitely for those who want a full day of scenic hiking.

Location

Cheyenne Canon is located a few miles south of the Broadmoor Hotel. While Lower Columbine trail leads all the way to Helen Hunt, most hikers prefer to drive up Old Gold Camp Road and park in a dirt lot close to the trial head. This way they can enjoy a trail without hiking the majority of Columbine.

Is it busy?

The majority of the waterfall trails generates a TON of hiker traffic, especially on warm summer days. Other trails, like Columbine, Stratton Open Place and Mount Cutler, are less crowded; most hikers are usually locals walking their dogs or jogging the steep, narrow paths of the canon.

Some trails are well-renowned for mountain biking, and on beautiful sunny days, expect to find tons of bikers enjoying the wide dirt roads of Stratton Open and Cheyenne Chutes.

Maintenance

The trails are maintained by hard-working volunteers and park services. The trails are regularly cleaned, especially after severe storms and years of wear and tear, keeping the hikers safe and the trails well marked for adventures.

Aesthetic

With Rolling hills, dense forests and babbling brooks that lead to roaring waterfalls, Cheyenne Canon is both breathtaking and diverse. The 148 acre park is filled with gorgeous pines, cliffs and wildlife; hiking for an entire day is filled with countless adventures and experiences as you travel from mountain to mountain. Cheyenne Canon's greatest strength is the park's beautiful scenery, presenting itself on every trail and every switchback, regardless of season.

Family Friendly

The majority of trails in Cheyenne Canon are family friendly. Helen Hunt falls, while somewhat steep, is a great hike to take the whole family, with plenty of seating at the side of trails for breathers and admiring the scenery. Lower columbine is a flat, easy trail that follows a babbling brook and is close to Starsmoor Discovery center, making the trail an ideal outing for families little ones. Stratton open space is a beautiful, leisurely hike that takes hikers over plains and hills, and is safe enough for clumsy toddlers to join the hike. Steeper hikes like Mount Cutler are better suited for families with older kids.

Dog Friendly

Some summer days, you may find more dogs on the trails than people. Cheyenne Canon is friendly to dogs of all shapes and sizes, and to seeing at least one happy pooch is rather uncommon. The park, however, has some guidelines in order to travel the trails with man's best friend. All dogs are required to wear leashes, regardless of their behavior, are not allowed to swim in the reservoir in Stratton Open Space, and owners NEED to pick up after their dog after they do their business. Most trailheads provide a bag for hikers in case the dog relieves himself in the middle of the hike.

Mountain Biking

Cheyenne Canon is great for mountain biking, both beginners and veterans. The Chutes, a winding, wide path that runs from Old Gold Camp Road to Stratton open space, is well maintained and a blast for any avid mountain biker. Stratton Open Space, while less enthralling, is a great place to leisurely bike an entire day, the rolling hills leading to countless trails. Most trails are wide enough and clean of debris for bikers to safely race through the hills and forests without fear of crashing.

Rock climbing

There is no designated spot for rock climbing in the park. Some areas, like Helen Hunt Falls, discourages hikers from climbing the waterfall or going off marked trails. The closest comparison is some scrambling and scree found in more advanced hikes like Section 16 and Upper Columbine.

Other

Cheyenne Canon provides countless experiences to hikers other than traveling by foot or bike. Some trails allow horseback riding and tours are offered deeper in the Canon by the Broadmoor Hotel. Regardless of how you explore, all of Cheyenne Canon's trails are fun for the whole family and a great outing for those who want to experience Colorado's wilderness.