Distance: 7 miles (round-trip)
Elevation Gain: 2000 feet
Trailhead: 7000 feet
Hiking time: 3.5 hours
Difficulty: Moderate-Intermediate
Season: Best time to hike, from April to October. Hiking & backpacking
Hike type: Out and back
Near: Cascade, CO; Manitou Springs, CO
Directions: From Colorado Springs, take US Highway 24 west. Pass Manitou Springs about 7.5 miles and there is a parking area alongside the highway. You will see a wooden sign and a post-and-rail fence, marking the trailhead. Arrive early, the parking area fills up quickly, especially during the weekends.
Description: The first 1.5 miles of this trail leads through the folds of the hills. During the spring and summer months, you will encounter wild flowers, lots of birds and some very pretty views. In the winter, there is a sharp contrast between the west and east side of the hills that line the trail. The east side is dominated by scrub oak while the west side of the trail has groves of Gambol oak, spruce and Lodgepole pines. The trail starts with a triple switchback of landscaped stairs after which the pathway leads to the spot where the post is located. This area is a great photo opp. You will continue walking south toward the inner part of the hill; its an established trail easy to follow. There are, however, side trails that you should avoid so as not to pose a threat to the wildlife and their habitat. Our keeping to the main trail will insure that it remains open for future hikes.
After passing the folds of the hills, the trail leads you the entry of the woods, and you will notice a meadow on the right. Not too far from this spot, the trail meets the 3.5-mile loop. At this point, you have two choices: the East trail on the right or the North trail to your left.
- The right trail leads you toward the beginning of several switchbacks. Hikers, who are interested in working on their buttocks, hamstrings and especially the calves, should choose this trail because the first mile starts with a sandy trail. Next, it changes to a gravel trail, and then to a rugged trail filled with loose rocks. Cautious footing is required though to prevent slipping or twisting an ankle.
- The trail to the left leads you deeper into the woods between two large hills. Travis and I chose this trail. The trail crosses the stream several times, which was easy enough to negotiate. I was mindful though to try and keep my shoes dry to prevent slipping on the rocks. Down the path, we sure did enjoy the scenery of the Ponderosa pines, the limestone cliffs, and scrub oak trees. You could see the early signs of spring in the foliage.
Also, the 7-mile trail changes from a flat terrain to steep inclines and declines over hard surfaces and gravel surfaces. So, wearing the proper “comfortable” footwear is very important. Though I love my hiking boots, they were not suitable for this long hike, and I wounded up experiencing a painful heel injury. Therefore, after some research and seeing the positive feedback from other hikers, I bought a pair of Asolo Matrix Attiva GTX hiking boots at a REI store.
On a safety note: Female hikers should always go with a group of one or more friends.
