New Santa Fe Regional Trail:
Colorado
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Description:
The New Santa Fe Regional Trail provides a scenic journey along the front range of the mountains, from Palmer Lake Recreation area in northern El Paso County through the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. The trail follows a portion of the abandoned Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroad line, which, heading north to south drops 1,200 feet in elevation.

The trail is popular among hikers, cyclists, equestrians and families out for a stroll. Along the way you'll find interpretive signs, wildlife and interesting geological features, not to mention incredible views—in particular Pikes Peak.

The trail passes through the town of Monument, where you'll find restaurants and some shops, as well as through the Air Force Academy, so don't be surprised to see jets overhead.

At the southern end of the trail at Woodmen Road, the New Santa Fe Regional Trail becomes the Pikes Peak Greenway.

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Parking & Trail Access:
The trail has several access points:

*Palmer Lake Recreation Area: Take I-25 north to Exit 161; head northwest on Route 105 for about 5 miles then east on County Line Road to the park entrance.
*Third Street in Monument
*North Gate Rd. (north entrance of the Air Force Academy)
*Baptist Rd.
*Ice Lake trailhead at the Air Force Academy
*2 places at E. Woodmen Rd.: westbound on Woodman, parking is north of the road; eastbound on Woodmen, turn south on Corporate Drive then west on Mark Dabling Blvd. and immediate right into the lot)

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Reviews: [0 trail ratings]
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By MIKE EGGEN in October, 2007
"RIDE THE TRAIL FROM MONUMENT TO THE USAF ACADEMY. THEN FROM MONUMENT TO GREENLAND TRAILHEAD. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. THE SCENERY WAS GREAT. WE HAD BIKE TROUBLE AND WENT TO THE BIKE SHOP IN MONUMENT, WHICH IS VERY NEAR THE SANTA FE TRAIL, AND RECEIVED EXCELLENT SERVICE, THE OWNER WAS VERY HELPFUL. I WILL VERY LIKELY RIDE IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR. FOR A FLATLANDER THE TRAIL WAS A LITTLE CHALLENGING, DUE TO THE ALTITUDE, BUT A LOT OF FUN. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TRAIL, I WOULD RATE IT AS EASY AND AS SCENIC."
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Monumnet Creek from Santa Fe Trail, Inside AFA - March 4th, 2008
Trail Facts
Trail End Points: County Line Rd. (Palmer Lake Rec Area) to Woodmen Rd. (Colorado Springs)
Counties: El Paso
Trail Length: 14 miles
Trail Category: Rail-Trail
Trail Surfaces: Gravel
Trail Activities: Fishing, Wheelchair Accessible, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Walking, Cross Country Skiing
TrailLink ID: 6031790

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