10 Family-Friendly Trails and Hikes Around Colorado Springs

Local trails that the whole family can enjoy

Whether you’re visiting the Pikes Peak region or call it home, you don’t have to travel far to find a family-friendly outdoor adventure. With hundreds of miles of trails throughout the region, finding the right outing for young children, beginner hikers/bikers, or an easy day outdoors can feel overwhelming. Fortunately, there are plenty of parks and open spaces that offer accessible trails, interesting scenery, and opportunities to connect with nature without committing to a long or strenuous trek.

Whether you're introducing your kids to their first trail, searching for an easy nature walk, or simply looking for new outdoor activities near Colorado Springs, these family-friendly parks and open spaces are a great place to start.

You can also find more recommendations by downloading the COTREX app.

Bear Creek Nature Trail

Bear Creek Regional Park | Protected by Palmer since 2013

If you’re just introducing your kid to hiking, this one’s for you. Bear Creek Nature Trail begins and ends at the Bear Creek Nature Center, an excellent place for kids to learn about nature and the surrounding area. We recommend taking the Creek Bottom Loop to the Mountain Scrub Loop back to the trailhead for a loop hike with little elevation gain. There are interpretive nature signs throughout the park area to learn about the local flora and fauna. If your little one tires quickly, don’t worry there are plenty of marked cutoff trails to get you back to the trailhead.

Bear Creek Nature Center also offers guided nature walks for your and your little ones for a small fee.

Best for: mixed-age families, picnics, nature center visits, easy walks, dog lovers, and flexible outdoor afternoons.

Length: 0.9+ miles

---

Coyote Run Trail

Cheyenne Mountain State Park

This gently sloped trail is close to the visitor’s center and has interpretive signage throughout your hike. This trail connects to several others if you’d like to make your route a little longer. As one Palmer staff member put it, “My daughter loves the trail names and signs like Raccoon Ridge and Coyote Run.” In this park, you have many options to extend your hike based on what you and the kiddos want to do. The trails close to the base of the mountain are easier, but these trails have less shade so they can be very hot during the summer. Note: on-leash dogs are only allowed on certain trails in the park.

Best for: mixed-age families, nature center visits, and flexible outdoor adventures to suit most experience levels.

Length: 1.37 miles (more if you add on)
Cost: $10-15 per vehicle for a day pass into the state park

---

Ponderosa to Wildflower Path

Stratton Open Space  |  Protected by Palmer since 1998

For those with kiddos who are a little older and want to stretch their legs, this loop will showcase some spectacular views and wildflowers. The dog-friendly trail starts and ends at the parking lot near Cheyenne Mountain High School. It has a bit more elevation than the previous two hikes and has the opportunity to extend to other trails for a longer experience. This area boasts frequent wildlife sightings, like mule deer, and is also excellent for bird watching. 

Best for: views of Colorado Springs and the Broadmoor, options to extend the outing with a variety of trails with many combinations, and summer wildflowers.

Length: 1.5+ miles

---

Paint Mines Interpretive Trail Loop

Paint Mines Interpretive Park | Protected by Palmer since 2001

For a bit of a change of scenery, take a short drive (45 minutes to an hour, depending on where in Colorado Springs you start) out to take in the otherworldly sights of the Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Calhan. You can walk a 1.6-mile loop from the main parking area, which will take you by the ecology and prehistory interpretive centers, or you and the kiddos can add on more to take in more of the alien-like hoodoos with their brightly colored clay and rock formations.

Best for: curious kids, beginner hikers, visiting family, geology lovers, and families looking for a unique Colorado Springs day trip.

Length: 1.6+ miles

---

Red Rock Rim to Red Rock Canyon Trail

Red Rock Canyon Open Space | Protected by Palmer since 2006

Red Rock Canyon has a plethora of interconnecting trails for basically any of your easy-to-moderate hiking needs. This particular trail has minimal elevation gain and is a nice hike for the kids who want to go a little further. This dog-friendly loop starts from the main east parking lot and offers scenic vista views of those iconic massive red rock configurations that are part of the Fountain Formation. Kiddos are sure to enjoy climbing some of the rocks, spotting local wildlife, and seeing remnants of the old quarry.

Best for: curious kids, beginner hikers, visiting family, geology lovers, and history enthusiasts.

Length: 2.2+ miles

---

Ranch Road to Far View Loop

Santa Fe Open Space | Protected by Palmer since 2007

Located near Palmer Lake, Santa Fe Open Space offers a peaceful hike with gentle terrain and beautiful views of Elephant Rock to the east, Ben Lomond to the north, and the Rampart Range to the west, with sweeping views of Mt. Herman, Raspberry Mountain, Chautauqua Mountain, and Sundance Mountain. It’s a great option for families looking for an easy hike with beautiful views. 

Santa Fe Open Space offers sloping trails through grassy meadows, oak woodlands, and ponderosa pines. The area is open and calm, creating a welcoming environment for younger hikers and families new to the outdoors. This is a great place to bring younger kids, with shorter trail options and minimal elevation gain. It’s also a gorgeous area for families to enjoy a low-pressure, easy outdoor outing. 

One highlight of Santa Fe Open Space is the view of Elephant Rock, a well-known local landmark. For kids, it adds a fun visual payoff to the hike. For adults, the area offers a quiet place to walk, reset, and enjoy protected open space without traveling far from town.

Best for: first-time hikers, younger kids, easy family walks, and anyone looking for a quieter outdoor experience near Palmer Lake.

Length: 2.5+ miles, from Palmer Lake Regional Recreation Area

---

Big BlueStem Trail

Bluestem Prairie Open Space | Protected by Palmer since 2003

Bluestem Prairie Open Space is the place to visit for a different kind of outdoor experience. The area offers wide-open skies, gentle trails, sweeping views of Pikes Peak, Cheyenne Cañon, and Cheyenne Mountain, and some of the best wildlife viewing in the region.

Located south of the Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, this 646-acre prairie landscape is home to more than 200 bird species, along with native wildlife like pronghorn, black-tailed prairie dogs, red-tailed hawks, burrowing owls, and migratory shorebirds. For kids, that means there is always something to look for along the trail. Like many lower-elevation open spaces, Rattlesnakes live in the area, so stay vigilant. For adults, it’s a chance to experience a quieter side of Colorado Springs’ protected open spaces, one shaped by grasslands, mountain views, and the prairie.

Bluestem Prairie is also a great option for beginner mountain bikers, with roughly nine miles of flowing dirt singletrack trail. The terrain is approachable, open, and scenic, making it a good place for families with older kids who are building confidence on bikes, training, or looking for a relaxed trail outing.

Bluestem Prairie is beautiful in the summer, but it is also very exposed. If you’re visiting with kids, bring plenty of water, sunscreen, hats, and snacks, and consider heading out early in the morning or later in the evening when the trail is cooler and more comfortable.

To help protect the wildlife that call this prairie home, dogs are not allowed at Bluestem Prairie Open Space. While it may mean leaving your pup at home for this one, it gives families a great chance to watch for birds, prairie dogs, pronghorn, and other native wildlife along the trail.

Best for: birdwatching, wildlife viewing, beginner mountain biking, prairie views, sweeping mountain views, older kids, and early morning or evening summer outings.

Length: 4.2+ miles, out and back

---

Black and Blue Loop

Ute Valley Park | Protected by Palmer since 2013

Located in the heart of Colorado Springs, Ute Valley Park is one of the city’s most popular open spaces for good reason. With a large trail network and routes for a variety of ages and ability levels, families have plenty of options.

You can keep it short and simple with an easy nature walk, or explore farther into the park to find unique rock formations, ridge views, and wildlife habitat. Kids will enjoy the rocks, winding trails, and sense of adventure, while adults will appreciate having a protected open space so close to neighborhoods. Ute Valley is a great choice for an afternoon hike, a beginner-friendly trail outing, or a quick outdoor reset without leaving Colorado Springs. 

Best for: afternoon hikes, beginner-friendly trail outings, curious kids, unique rock formations, and families looking for options close to home.

Length: 2.4 miles

---

Sinton Pond Loop

Sinton Pond Open Space | Protected by Palmer since 1996

Sometimes the best outdoor experiences are the simplest. Sinton Pond Open Space is a peaceful place to slow down in the middle of the city. Located in central Colorado Springs near the Sinton Trail, this quiet open space offers families an easy way to spend time outside without committing to a long hike or leaving town. The nearby trail follows North Douglas Creek and creates a calm corridor through an otherwise developed part of the city.

For families with younger kids, Sinton Pond is a great choice because the experience can be as simple as a short walk, a picnic near the water, or an outing along the trail. The terrain makes it approachable for a wide range of ages and ability levels, while the surrounding trees help the space feel removed from the city. 

Sinton Trail also connects to larger trail systems, including the Pikes Peak Greenway and Templeton Gap Trail, making it a useful option for families who want a longer urban trail adventure. In the fall, the mature trees along the corridor bring beautiful seasonal color, making it an especially nice place for leaf-peeping close to home.

Best for: quick walks, younger kids, birdwatching, fall color, easy urban nature outings, and families looking for calm open space in the middle of Colorado Springs.

Length: 0.8 miles (from Gossage Sports Complex Parking)

---

Farrar Trail Loop

Pineries Open Space | Protected by Palmer since 2007

For families ready to tackle a slightly longer adventure, Pineries Open Space offers a chance to experience the beauty of Colorado's Black Forest region.

The trail winds through meadows, ponds, and tall pine trees. The full loop is longer than some of the other family-friendly hikes on this list, but families do not need to complete the entire route to enjoy the experience. You can hike as far as feels comfortable, then turn around when younger hikers are ready.

Kids may enjoy looking for birds, deer, wildflowers, and signs of the area’s ranching history, while adults will appreciate the shade, scenery, and the beautiful trail. For families building confidence on longer hikes, Pineries can be a great next step.

Best for: older kids, families building hiking endurance, shaded trails, wildlife viewing, and longer nature walks.

Length: 3.5 miles

---

Why Protected Open Space Matters for Families

The ability to take your children hiking, enjoy a weekend walk, picnic in an open space, explore a quiet trail in the middle of the city, or introduce visiting family to the outdoors is part of what makes life in the Pikes Peak region special. Places like Bear Creek, Bluestem Prairie, Ute Valley, and Sinton Pond give families easy ways to spend time outside without needing a full day, a complicated plan, or a long drive into the mountains.

But access to open space is not guaranteed. As Colorado continues to grow, conservation plays an important role in protecting parks, trails, wildlife habitat, water resources, and scenic landscapes. Partnerships among landowners, local governments, community members, and conservation organizations have conserved many of the places families enjoy today.

Without those efforts, some of these landscapes may have been developed, fragmented, or lost to public access over time. That means fewer places for kids to explore, fewer nearby trails for families to enjoy, and fewer opportunities to build a lasting connection with nature close to home.

Protecting land today helps ensure that future generations have the same opportunities to explore nature, build healthy outdoor habits, and create lasting family memories in the places that make southern Colorado feel like home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family-Friendly Hikes in Colorado Springs

What is the easiest hike for kids near Colorado Springs?

Santa Fe Open Space and Sinton Pond Open Space offer gentle terrain and shorter distances that are great for younger hikers and families new to the outdoors.

What are the best parks for wildlife viewing near Colorado Springs?

Bluestem Prairie Open Space, Pineries Open Space, and Sinton Pond Open Space all provide excellent opportunities to observe birds and other wildlife.

Are there free hiking trails near Colorado Springs for families?

Yes. Many of the region's protected parks and open spaces are free to access and offer trails suitable for families, beginner hikers, and nature lovers.

Where can I take my family hiking close to Colorado Springs?

Ute Valley Park, Bear Creek Regional Park, Santa Fe Open Space, and Paint Mines Interpretive Park are all excellent family-friendly options located within a short drive of downtown Colorado Springs.

Download the Free Field Guide

These destinations are only the beginning.

Palmer Land Conservancy's Protected Public Parks & Open Spaces Field Guide features 20+ permanently protected parks and open spaces across the Pikes Peak region. Inside, you'll find trail information, maps, recreation opportunities, and stories about the landscapes that help define southern Colorado.

Whether you're planning your next family outing or searching for a new trail to explore, the Field Guide is a great place to start.