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Palmer Park Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
 3.7 (56)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Colorado Springs
  5. Palmer Park
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“This is mostly the course from the 24 Hours of COS. Fun singletrack right in town. ”

Jon Zanone
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Map Key

11.9

Miles

19.2

KM

75%

Singletrack

6,589' 2,008 m

High

6,326' 1,928 m

Low

921' 281 m

Up

920' 280 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

15%

Max Grade (9°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

Palmer Park is a excellent in-town ride. There are many ways to ride it. There are great views of Pikes Peak and downtown Colorado Springs. The trail is not terribly technical, but there are enough drops and steep climbs to keep you on your toes.

There are a lot of alternate ways to ride the park, but this course seems to be the best way to link together most all of the good stuff in the park.

Need to Know

This is a heavily used urban park. Horses, runners, hikers, kids having birthday parties - they're all there.

Description

There are many ways to ride this park. All are fun. This is the way I do it. You'll learn to ride in sand, climb and descend. Stop and say hello to your fellow humans.

Although you'll almost always hear the hum of the urban river, for much of the ride you'll forget you are in the middle of Colorado's second largest city. Smell the pine and juniper in the morning. Stop and look at the blooming cactus and yuccas after a wet spring. Do take care of this park. There are many areas with clay-based soil. It dries quickly, so give it a bit after a rain.

If you want extreme mountain biking, look elsewhere. There are several areas that are technical, but this is not a technical ride.

It is not an epic ride. It's a ride to remind yourself why you attach your flesh to a hunk of exotic metal and composites. It's a ride that puts a grin on your face, and maybe a few dings in your downtube.

History & Background

General William Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, willed this beautiful chunk of real estate to the city. In that will, he stipulates if the city were to ever sell any or all of the park, the city would pay his heirs the retail price of the park. Looking at real estate prices here, I can't imagine the city would ever find that much money.

Contacts

Local Club: Guardians of Palmer Park

Land Manager: City of Colorado Springs

Shared By:

Jon Zanone with improvements by Adam Nurmi and 1 other
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  3.7 from 56 votes

#1

in Palmer Park

#414

Overall
  3.7 from 56 votes
5 Star
23%
4 Star
39%
3 Star
23%
2 Star
9%
1 Star
5%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Palmer Park

#115

in Colorado

#414

Overall
64 Views Last Month
32,209 Since Jul 24, 2013
Intermediate/Difficult Intermediate/Difficult
0%
4%
38%
13%
38%
6%
Add a Photo

Photos

One of many fun drops in the park.
Sep 17, 2014 near Cimarro…, CO
Sessioning at Palmer Park
Jun 13, 2019 near Cimarro…, CO
Ran into a Pro Photographer that took this picture
Feb 20, 2018 near Cimarro…, CO
Little Moab - Palmer Park - Colorado Springs
May 14, 2024 near Cimarro…, CO
Kevin being picture perfect
May 31, 2023 near Cimarro…, CO
Palmer Park at winter with my 7 year old.
Nov 14, 2018 near Colorad…, CO

5 Comments

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

All Clear 33 days ago
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Check-Ins

Jun 11, 2024
Anonymous
This route is garbage. Not only is it not intuitive to follow but you end up hiking your bike up black diamonds and missing all the cool features b… 11.9mi — 2h 09m
Nov 17, 2022
Daniel Veloso
Jun 23, 2022
Ernie Brown
Nov 7, 2021
Ricardo Urbano
May 8, 2021
Ryan B
12.1mi — 1h 56m
Nov 22, 2020
Lindsay Ewing
Oct 17, 2020
Jason Geveshausen
7mi
Oct 11, 2020
Patrick Csongei
Maze of trails but fun to explore. lots of social trails and fun rocky stuff to check out 12.9mi — 1h 45m

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