Black Forest, Colorado resides just north of Colorado Springs to the east of the Northgate neighborhood, I-25, and CO-21. The town is nestled at an impressive 7,575 feet where the high plains begin to meet the foothills.
The unincorporated community of 15,097 (in 2020) is also a census-designated place (CDP) and part of the Colorado Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area. It resides on the northern side of El Paso County. Two zip codes serve Black Forest, one from the COS post office (80908) and one from the Elbert post office (80106).
History
The town got its name from the thick forest of ponderosa pine nearby. It was originally part of a destination called Pineries, which extended from the town of Monument (then known as Divide) to near where the Black Forest resides today.
The locals decided against incorporating it as a city in 2006.
Main Attractions
Black Forest Regional Park – Excellent place for a day hike within the pines. Pedestrians share the trail with bikers and horseback riders, so always keep all your dogs leashed. A few big parking areas to access the many trails and facilities. This tucked-away gem is open year-round.
Accommodations
Activities near Colorado Springs
Amusement:
- Cave Of The Winds (25mi)
- Manitou Springs Penny Arcade (24mi)
- North Pole Santa’s Workshop (29mi)
- Springs Adventure Park (17mi)
Casinos:
- Brass Ass Casino (63mi)
- Bronco Billy’s Casino & Hotel (63mi)
- Century Casino Cripple Creek (63mi)
- Colorado Grande Hotel & Casino (63mi)
- Double Eagle Hotel & Casino (63mi)
- Johnny Nolon’s Casino (63mi)
- McGills Hotel & Casino (63mi)
- Midnight Rose Hotel & Casino (63mi)
- Golden Nugget Casino & Hotel (62mi)
Colorado Brands:
Dining:
- The Airplane Restaurant (16mi)
Dude Ranches:
- The Ranch at Emerald Valley (23mi)
Escape Rooms:
- 21 Keys Escape Rooms (13mi)
- Escaped in Time (10mi)
- Hellscream Escape (14mi)
Federal Lands:
- Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (50mi)
- Fountain Creek
- Pike National Forest
- Pikes Peak
- Rampart Reservoir (47mi)
Ghost Towns:
- Goldfield (64mi)
- Skagway Power Plant (73mi)
Hiking:
- Barr Trail (up Pikes Peak) (25mi)
- Fountain Creek Regional Trail
- Manitou Incline (25mi)
- New Santa Fe Regional Trail
- Pikes Peak Greenway Trail
Hot Air Balloons:
- Adventures Out West (20mi)
Hot Springs:
- SunWater Spa (24mi)
Ice Skating:
Landmarks:
- Cheyenne Mountain Complex
- Garden Of The Gods
- Glen Eyrie Castle
- Gold Camp Road Tunnels (25mi)
- Miramont Castle Museum (25mi)
- Olympic Training Center
- Peterson Air Force Base
- Pulpit Rock
- US Air Force Academy
- US Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel (10mi)
- Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun
Museums:
- ANA Money Museum
- Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
- Colorado Springs Pioneer Museum
- Dragon Man’s Military Museum
- Ghost Town Museum (20mi)
- Manitou Cliff Dwellings (24mi)
- May Natural History Museum
- Miramont Castle Museum
- The Michael Garman Museum & Gallery
- National Museum of World War II Aviation
- Old Colorado City History Center
- Penrose Heritage Museum
- Peterson Air & Space Museum (15mi)
- Pikes Peak Museum (17mi)
- Pikes Peak Trolley Museum
- Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame
- Play Street Museum
- Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center (37m)
- Rocky Mountain Motorcycle Museum
- US Olympic & Paralympic Museum
- Western Museum of Mining
- World Figure Skating Museum
Paintball:
Performing Arts:
- The Black Sheep Rocks
- Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center
- Cottonwood Center for the Arts
- Flying W Ranch (16mi)
- Loonees Comedy Club
- Stargazers Theater
Public Parks:
- Acacia Park
- America the Beautiful Park
- Austin Bluffs Open Space
- Bancroft Park
- Bear Creek Regional Park
- Bluestem Prairie Open Space
- Boddington Park
- Crystal Creek Reservoir (33mi)
- Gold Camp Park
- Gossage Youth Sports Complex
- Memorial Park
- Monument Valley Park
- North Cheyenne Cañon Park
- North Slope Recreation Area
- Paint Mines Interpretive Park (28mi)
- Palmer Park
- Quail Lake Park (22mi)
- Red Rock Canyon Open Space
- South Cheyenne Cañon Park
- South Slope Recreation Area
- Ute Valley Park
Railroads:
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway (25mi)
Rock Climbing:
Scenic Drives:
Shopping:
- Broadmoor Towne Center
- Chapel Hills Mall
- Cheyenne Mountain Shopping Center
- The Citadel Mall
- First and Main Town Center
- University Village Colorado
Speedways:
State Parks:
- Cheyenne Mountain State Park (26mi)
State Wildlife Areas:
- Beaver Creek SWA (64mi)
- Penrose-Rosemont Reservoir (35mi)
Towns:
- Calhan (63mi)
- Cañon City (24mi)
- Cascade (30mi)
- Castle Rock (34mi)
- Colorado Springs (18mi)
- Cripple Creek (63mi)
- Denver (64mi)
- Divide (44mi)
- Florissant (52mi)
- Fountain (26mi)
- Green Mountain Falls (33mi)
- Hartsel (83mi)
- Lake George (57mi)
- Larkspur (26mi)
- Manitou Springs (23mi)
- Monument (14mi)
- Old Colorado City (18mi)
- Palmer Lake (17mi)
- Penrose (53mi)
- Pueblo (mi)
- Security-Widefield (21strami)
- Stratmoor (22mi)
- Woodland Park (37mi)
Transportation:
Waterfalls:
- Helen Hunt Falls (25mi)
- Rainbow Falls (25mi)
- Seven Falls (24mi)
Wildlife:
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo (24mi)