We here at Integrity Home Buyers Colorado love being outdoors in our beautiful city of Colorado Springs and El Paso County area we thought we would put together a little blog post about the different parks and trails you may not have heard of but are great outdoor choices. If we missed any leave a comment and let us know. Enjoy the post!
Garden of the Gods gets all the postcards, and rightfully so. But ask any longtime Colorado Springs local where they actually go to hike, clear their head, or take an out-of-town guest who’s “already seen the red rocks,” and you’ll get a very different list. From sandstone formations with a fraction of the crowds to waterfalls tucked into granite canyons, these are the trails that make living in Colorado Springs so good.
Palmer Park
Locals sometimes call this “the other Garden of the Gods,” and once you see the white and pink rock formations rising out of the prairie on the city’s east side, you’ll understand why. Palmer Park spans hundreds of acres right in the middle of town, with miles of trails for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding, plus sweeping views of Pikes Peak. Because it sits inside several established neighborhoods, it’s one of the most accessible “real” hikes in the city.
- Official park info: Palmer Park — City of Colorado Springs
- Map / Business Profile listing: Palmer Park on Google Maps
Red Rock Canyon Open Space
Directly across 26th Street from Garden of the Gods sits nearly 1,500 acres of the same dramatic red sandstone — minus the tour buses. The Hogback Trail and Palmer Red Rock Loop both deliver postcard views of the formations with Pikes Peak in the background, and several trails here are dog-friendly off-leash. It’s a favorite for trail runners and mountain bikers who want the scenery without the parking-lot scramble at Garden of the Gods.
- Official park info: Red Rock Canyon Open Space — City of Colorado Springs
- Map / Business Profile listing: Red Rock Canyon Open Space on Google Maps
Ute Valley Park
On the north side near Rockrimmon, Ute Valley Park is an easy, flat-to-moderate network of trails leading to sandstone cliffs, mesas, and the distinctive Pulpit Rock formation. It’s less photographed than the big-name parks, which makes it one of the better-kept secrets for an early-morning walk with views of Pikes Peak and the Pope Bluffs formation.
- Official park info: Ute Valley Park — City of Colorado Springs
- Map / Business Profile listing: Ute Valley Park on Google Maps
North Cheyenne Cañon Park & Helen Hunt Falls
Carved 1,000 feet deep into 1.5-billion-year-old granite on the southwest side of the city, North Cheyenne Cañon is 1,600 acres of canyon, creek, and forest — home to black bear, mule deer, and the iconic Helen Hunt Falls. The Seven Bridges Trail follows the creek across (you guessed it) seven bridges and is a local favorite for cooling off in summer, while the short climb above the falls rewards hikers with one of the best views in the canyon.
- Official park info: North Cheyenne Cañon Park — City of Colorado Springs
- Map / Business Profile listing: Helen Hunt Falls on Google Maps
Stratton Open Space
Tucked right next to North Cheyenne Cañon, Stratton Open Space packs five distinct ecosystems and miles of trails into 318 acres — ponderosa pine forest, scrub oak, meadow, and riparian zones. It connects directly into the Pike National Forest, so it’s an easy way to turn a short local walk into a much longer backcountry day if you’re feeling ambitious.
- Official park info: Stratton Open Space — City of Colorado Springs
- Map / Business Profile listing: Stratton Open Space on Google Maps
Why These Spots Matter (Beyond the Views)
Colorado Springs has a way of making outdoor access feel like part of daily life rather than a special trip, and that’s a big part of what draws people here. Whether you’re already a local who hasn’t made it to Ute Valley yet, or you’re weighing a move to the Pikes Peak region, these parks are a good reminder that there’s a lot more to this city than its most famous postcard.
Looking for more local guides to the Colorado Springs area, or thinking about buying or selling a home here? Reach out to us — we’re locals too, and we’re happy to share what we know.