Situated in El Paso County, Black Forest Regional Park is one of Colorado Springs’ most scenic and popular outdoor spaces. The entire park comprises 385 acres and offers excellent open areas for people to enjoy outside activities.
Views of the front range Rockies and Pikes Peak can be seen throughout the property, which has a nice mixture of developed and natural facilities. The El Paso County Parks Department manages the park.
Developed Facilities
Partially developed parks offer a variety of conveniences that are great for spending a few hours outdoors. Black Forest Regional Park has a nice assortment of amenities including a playground, tennis courts, turf, picnic tables and pavilions, a horseshoe pit, horseback riding areas, and mountain biking paths. There are also drinking fountains and restrooms on-site.
Trails
Spending time surrounded by the smell of the ponderosa pines in the crisp air makes for a fantastic way to enjoy some of Colorado’s wilderness. There are four miles of primarily connected trails throughout the Black Forest Regional Park. Access to the courses is easy from the main parking areas and extends throughout the natural area.
There are three main trailheads from the parking area that mark the orange, white, and yellow main loops. Lesser trails in between make the web of options for short or long treks. This web-like system of paths makes it a breeze for hikers to spend as much or little as their time allows on walks.
Some of the trails are 6’-8’ wide and better for biking or cycling, while others are 2’-3’ wide and ideal for hiking. The Black Forest Trails Association is a volunteer group that works with local residents and the government to ensure that these paths are kept maintained and clean.
Their ultimate goal is to design a safe, non-motorized set of connecting trails in the Black Forest neighborhoods for all to enjoy. There are future plans to continue to create new paths in this area.
Other Popular Trails in the Black Forest Park Area
While visitors can carve their own routes out of the network trails by the park facilities, a few popular paths are often used nearby.
- Pikes Peak Loop Trail – a 5-file loop path that goes through the quiet Cathedral Pines area. Scenery includes wildflowers, aspens, pines, and a primarily dirt-packed trail. Elevation gain is 466 feet, and the path is about five feet wide. Leashed dogs are permitted on the trail, and horses can do parts of it.
- Black Forest Section 16 Trail – a square-shaped loop in a heavily forested part of the park. This 4-mile loop is popular with horse riders, hikers, and non-motorized modes of transportation. The trail is wide, gravel-covered, and doesn’t gain much elevation.
- The Windmill Trail – a short 0.5-mile trail that connects Windmill road with the Chipmunk trail. Follow the BFTA signs for guidance.
- The McDermott Trail – a 0.9-mile trail that connects the Forest Heights Circle with Pinery Drive.
Details
Address: 4800 Shoup Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Phone: (719) 520-7529
Season: Year-round | Reservation season is from April to October
Hours: 5 am – 9 pm
Website: communityservices.elpasoco.com…
