Close to Colorado Springs

Black Forest Regional Park — walk through the aftermath of the most destructive forest fire in state history

Castlewood Canyon State Park — East Side, West Side — great scenery, but very popular

Cheyenne Cañon — Seven Bridges Trail, Mt. Muscoco, Columbine Trail, Helen Hunt Falls

Cheyenne Mountain State Park — Lots of trails through oak and pines on the lower slopes of Cheyenne Mountain

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space — Easy five-mile loop through pine and scrub oak forests with views of the Front Range and Dawson Butte.

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms (Littleton) — Demonstration gardens, historic farm, and trails

Devil’s Head National Recreation Trail to Fire Lookout Tower

Eagle Peak — steep, hard climb to great views of Pikes Peak and north Colorado Springs

Fox Run Regional Park — walk through a Ponderosa forest and maybe see black Abert’s Squirrels

Garden of the Gods — Central Garden Trail, Balanced Rock, Siamese Twins

The Incline — Very steep hike up the track of an old incline railroad.

Lincoln Mountain Open Space — not super exciting, but close and not crowded

Monument Rock — rock outcropping and easy trails in Pike National Forest

Mount Herman Trail — “like The Incline, but without steps”

New Santa Fe Regional Trail — Palmer Lake to Monument, Monument to Baptist Road —flat and easy walk along old railroad bed

Palmer Lake Reservoir Trail — short but steep hike to two small lakes in pine woods

Palmer Park — Templeton Trail, Overlook — the feel of the wild right in the city

Pulpit Rock — views of Colorado Springs

Red Rocks Canyon Open Space — great views of mountains and city with quarries and ponds

Spruce Mountain/Spruce Meadows Open Space

Ute Valley Park — the feel of being away right in town

Further away

Eleven Mile State Park (Lake George) — the eastern end is pretty, but not a lot of hiking opportunities

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument — easy to moderate trails through meadows and pine forests at 6,800 feet with great views of Pikes Peak.

Great Sand Dunes National Park — sand, and lots of it, also tubing and sand sledding if you’re so inclined.

Mount Evans (Idaho Springs)

Mueller State Park (Divide) — Trails 7 and 8, Grouse Mountain Overlook, Raven Ridge Overlook

Paint Mines Interpretive Park (Calhan) — small canyon, easy hike, stunning colors

Rocky Mountain National Park — Bear Lake, Trail Ridge Road, West Side

Roxborough State Park (Roxborough Park) — amazing sandstone formations

Tunnel Drive Trail (Cañon City) — beautiful, easy trail along the Arkansas River near Royal Gorge

Vindicator Valley Trail (Goldfield) — two-mile loop with amazing views at 10,000 feet past the remains of old gold mines