Cheyenne Mountain State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheyenne Mountain State Park |
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The park's entrance sign and Cheyenne Mountain.
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 Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Location in Colorado
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| Location | El Paso County, Colorado, United States |
| Nearest city | Colorado Springs, CO |
| Area | 1,680 acres (6.8 km2) |
| Established | 2006 |
| Governing body | Colorado State Parks |
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a special place in Colorado. It became a state park in June 2000. Many groups worked together to create it. These included the City of Colorado Springs and Colorado State Parks. Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Colorado Lottery also helped. It's a great example of teamwork to protect nature!
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History of the Park Land
The land that is now Cheyenne Mountain State Park has an interesting past. In 1917, two men, Bert Swisher and Thomas Dixon, started a homestead here. A homestead meant they could claim land by living on it and improving it. They officially received the land between 1922 and 1926.
Thomas Dixon lived with his family in a cabin. It was near the top of the mountain. Bert Swisher's cabin was also high up. It was close to where antennas are now. Later, in 1988, Swisher's grandchildren bought the Dixon property.
A Special Place for Wildlife
This park was once called the JL Ranch. It is located just south of Colorado Springs. The park helps protect one of the last big open areas. This area is along the southern part of the Colorado Front Range. The park covers about 2,701-acre (10.93 km2) of land. It sits below the eastern side of Cheyenne Mountain.
The park is a stunning place where the flat plains meet the tall mountains. The land is in amazing natural condition. This means it has not been disturbed much by people. Because of this, many different kinds of animals live here.
Animals You Might See
You can find lots of wildlife in the park. This includes deer and elk. You might also spot black bears and cougars. Other animals are coyotes and foxes. Look for prairie dogs too! Birds like red-tailed hawks, golden eagles, and wild turkeys also call the park home.
Visiting Cheyenne Mountain State Park
Cheyenne Mountain State Park opened in October 2006. It is the only state park in El Paso County. The park has about 20 miles (32 km) of trails. These trails are great for hiking and biking.
To protect the park's nature, dogs and horses are not allowed on the trails. This helps keep the plants and animals safe. It also protects birds that nest on the ground.
Things to Do at the Park
The park has many things for visitors to enjoy. There are picnic spots for day use. You can also visit the park's visitor center. Inside, you will find displays that teach you about the park. They also have special programs.
During spring and summer, you can join evening programs and nature hikes. These are sometimes offered in the fall and winter too. The park is open for day visits. You can also go camping! There are sites with full hookups and walk-in camping spots. A building for camper services is also available.
