Cycling Colorado Springs, Colorado: The Pikes Peak Greenway Trail

One of the advantages to being a cyclist in Colorado Springs is that, with a few wintry exceptions, we can ride year round. Of course, if you are new to the area, or to the sport for that matter, you might be wondering just where to ride. You've probably noticed that Colorado Springs is full of cyclists, ranging from sponsored elite riders that think nothing of heading out for a hundred-mile ride to homeless folks that use their bicycles for transportation, to all levels in between. In the meantime, you're just looking for a place to pedal, be it after work or on a weekend.

One ride to consider is the popular Pikes Peak Greenway Trail (PPGT.) The PPGT runs north/south for 16 miles, from the Air Force Academy boundary in the north to the Colorado Springs Youth Sports Complex just south of Circle Dr. The majority of the trail is easy - the section between Woodmen Rd. and the AFA is somewhat hilly, otherwise, the trail is a steady, gentle, false flat-climb as you ride north. The trail runs the gamut from dirt and gravel to concrete to asphalt in various sections, so you'll want to make sure you ride a bike you feel comfortable taking on the different surfaces; a mountain bike, hybrid/comfort bike, or a cyclocross bike will probably be most suitable for the variety of terrain. A round trip on the PPGT provides plenty of opportunity to get some quality pedaling into your legs, and for those wanting additional mileage, the trail links to the New Santa Fe Trail in the north and the Fountain Creek Trail in the south, as well as the east/west bound Templeton Gap Trail.

There are several places from which to access the trail, including Edmondson Trailhead just off Woodmen Rd, Monument Valley Park near downtown Colorado Springs, and Dorchester Park near South Nevada Ave and I-25.