Palmer Park 🇺🇸

As the largest park inside the Colorado Springs metro area, Palmer Park offers a marvelous escape into rugged wilderness without leaving the city. Situated several miles northeast of downtown at 3650 Maizeland Road, this 730.7-acre regional park sits on a high mesa boasting what may be the city's best views of Pikes Peak. Originally donated by city founder William Jackson Palmer in 1902, the terrain features unique geologic formations like tall rock spires or hoodoos, steep cliffs, open fields, and Seven Castles.

You can explore over 25 miles of interconnected singletrack, doubletrack, and dirt road trails designed for hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Traverse the 2.6-mile Edna Mae Bennet Nature Trail to admire ravines, canyons, and rock formations, or wander through a botanical reserve dedicated to yucca plants. Along the rocky bluffs, you might spot wildlife such as mule deer, foxes, coyotes, rabbits, and occasionally bears, alongside birds like hawks and ravens.

You can also visit horse stables, picnic grounds, a dog park, a playground, and sports fields. Perched on a high rock ledge, you will enjoy a strange and marvelous contrast between urban sprawl and surrounding wilderness.

What to see at Palmer Park

• Over 25 miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding
• Panoramic overlooks with views of Pikes Peak
• Geological formations including hoodoos, steep cliffs, and Seven Castles
• Dedicated botanical reserve for native yucca plants
• Park amenities including horse stables, a dog park, and picnic grounds

Visiting tips

Drive along Paseo Drive to easily reach the park's scenic overlooks and horse stables.

How long: 2-3 hours · Best time: Early morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Palmer Park is easy to reach on Colorado Springs’s public transport, and pairs naturally with World Figure Skating Hall of Fame and Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Colorado Springs travel guide.