Pikes Peak Greenway facts for kids
The Pikes Peak Greenway is a super cool trail in Colorado Springs, Colorado! It's about 16 miles long and follows along two creeks, Monument Creek and Fountain Creek. As you travel along the trail, you'll see lots of parks, like Monument Valley Park, and even sports fields. It also connects to other awesome trails, such as the Midland Trail and the Bear Creek Trail.
Exploring the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail
This amazing greenway stretches for 16 miles from north to south. The very northern tip of the trail is called Pine Creek Reach, located north of Woodman Road. Down south, you'll find the Sand Creek Reach near the El Pomar Youth Sports Complex. This trail is considered easy to use, perfect for a fun ride or walk. It runs right next to Monument Creek, Fountain Creek, and even I-25. If you're cycling, it takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to ride the whole thing without stopping. Need a quick bike fix? There's a bike shop called Criterium Bike Shop right on the trail at 6150 Corporate Drive!
How the Greenway Trail Was Built
The idea for this greenway started way back in the 1980s. But it took a while for it to become a reality! In 1997, a big grant from the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO) finally provided enough money to begin the project. Money from Trails, Open Space and Parks taxes also helped, matching the grant funds. The Palmer Foundation and the City of Colorado Springs also gave money for the Pikes Peak Greenway. Then, they bought the private land needed to finish the trail.
In 2000, the Greenway trail was connected to the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. This connection lets people like joggers, bikers, and skaters travel past the United States Air Force Academy and all the way up to Palmer Lake. To celebrate, a special "golden spike" was hammered into the ground. This showed that a long-awaited part of the trail was finally open!
Cool Spots Along the Trail
The Pikes Peak Greenway has many different sections, called "reaches," as you travel from north to south:
- Pine Creek Reach: This is the northernmost part. The Woodman Trail is nearby, and the Pine Creek Reach connects to the New Santa Fe Trail, which goes north to Palmer Lake.
- High Plains Reach
- Northridge Reach (north)
- Northridge Reach (south): The Austin Bluffs Trail is a short distance east of the Greenway Trail from here.
- Reservoir Reach: This section goes past a Skateboard Park and the Pikeview Reservoir.
- Templeton Gap Reach: You'll pass the Gossage Youth Sports Complex here. The Sinton trail leads to the Sinton Pond Open Space, and you can also get to the Templeton Gap Trail from this spot.
- Roswell Reach: This part of the trail travels along Roswell Park.
- Monument Valley Reach (north): This section winds through Monument Valley Park. There are trails on both sides of Monument Creek here. From the west side, you can go to the Mesa Springs Greenway or the Mesa Valley Trail.
- Monument Valley Reach (south): Also winding through Monument Valley Park, with trails on both sides of Monument Creek. The Mesa Springs Greenway can be reached from the trail on the western side.
- Downtown Reach: This section goes through America the Beautiful Park (also called Confluence Park), which is where the Midland Trail starts.
- Power Plant Reach: In the middle of this section, you can connect to the Bear Creek Trail, which leads to the Bear Creek Nature Center.
- Tejon Marsh Reach: This part passes through Dorchester Park.
- Spring Creek Reach (north)
- Spring Creek Reach (south)
- Sand Creek Reach: This is where the El Pomar Sports Center is located, and where the trail connects to the Sand Creek Trail.
