Sand Canyon Trail

One can spend years in Colorado Springs and still discover new trails in one of the city’s most popular recreation hubs. We were reminded of this at our last visit to Red Rock Canyon Open Space. 

Of course we’ve been long familiar with Contemplative Trail, which tours geology on the open space’s west side. It’s reached via Sand Canyon Trail, which continues to the preserve’s scenic, upper backside. Little did we know until we finally took the trail. 

From the parking lot, Sand Canyon Trail starts wide through the meadow overlooked by Pikes Peak. The path veers closer to the red rocks bordering Contemplative Trail and remains well marked as it continues west and slightly uphill, higher to views of Garden of the Gods if you turn around. In front, the foothills loom ever closer. 

After about a mile, at a ‘Y,’ we turned left for the marked East Fork. The trail proceeds up into the fringes of the parkland that suddenly feels wild and secluded, much different from other parts of Red Rock Canyon Open Space. 

Our tracker read 1.7 miles when we came to a sharp switchback to the left, higher still to views of Garden of the Gods and canyons north and west. The path soon meets Intemann Trail, which goes left through a meadow and on to a panorama of the nearby foothills, distant plains and colorful fins and outcrops below. 

At a post marking Greenlee Trail, we went left and down. At the next junction, we went left for Mesa Trail, which meets Roundup Trail, where we went left again. Roundup winds through the woods, connecting back to Sand Canyon Trail. We went right, back the way we came. 

Trip log: 3.9 miles round trip (loop), 617 feet elevation gain

Getting there: Red Rock Canyon Open Space entrance at 3550 W. High St. off U.S. 24. At the traffic circle, go right for the smaller parking lot. 

FYI: Open 5 a.m.-10 p.m. May-October; 5 a.m.-9 p.m. November-April. Multi-use trail. Dogs on leash. 

SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE