Foothills Trail (CO):
Colorado
Trail Map
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Description:
The Foothills Trail runs 4 miles along Colorado Springs' western border at the base of the majestic Rocky Mountains. You'll begin at Mountain Shadows Park and travel south along Flying W. Ranch Road through residential neighborhoods. The trail will T-bone at N. 30th Street. Follow the street southwest to continue on the Foothills Trail. After a short distance, you'll come to the Garden of the Gods Road. If you turn east along this road, you can connect to the Sinton Trail, which will take you 3 miles southeast into the city.

As you continue along N. 30th Street, you'll see more open vistas and the scenic rolling terrain of the foothills. About 1 1/2 miles south of your starting point, you'll come to the Glen Eyrie Reservoir area. In the vicinity is the Glen Eyrie Castle, a sprawling Tudor-style estate built in 1904 by railroad tycoon General William Palmer, the city's founder. For a fee and with an advance reservation, you can tour the castle and its landscaped grounds nestled among beautiful rock formations and pine trees. The trail crosses N. 30th Street just after the turn-off to the castle grounds.

Shortly after this crossing, an opportunity will arise to hop on the Dakota Trail, a rugged hiking path that leads to the Kissing Camels rock formation. The Dakota Trail also meets the Palmer Trail if you're feeling adventurous and want to explore the Garden of the Gods. If you continue along N. 30th Street, you'll come to Gateway Road, across from the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center, where you can learn about the area's towering red cliffs.

The southern half of the trail runs through a residential area and ends at W. Colorado Avenue, along which you can find a number of restaurants.
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Parking & Trail Access:
Parking can be found at Mountain Shadows Park (intersection of Flying W. Ranch Road and Champagne Drive) at the north end of the trail. At its southern end, parking is available at the Garden of the Gods Visitor Center (1805 N. 30th Street).
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