Two popular trails in Garden of the Gods Park are improved and ready for users. Work started in September 2018 (as we announced here) on the Foothills and Gateway Trails. These trails on the west edge of Colorado Springs serve as critical connections. The Foothills trail north-south trail through Garden of the Gods Park and the Gateway trail, headed west into the park. The ribbon cutting for these two popular trails was delayed due to weather but occurred on January 30th with Mayor Suthers and Council woman Jill Gabler cutting the ribbon.

The total cost of the project is approximately $840,000. $180,000 comes from the Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax (LART). LART is an additional 2% tax charged to guests staying at overnight properties within the city and an additional 1% tax charged to those renting vehicles within the city. These tax collections are added to the city’s general fund to help fund tourism efforts and enhance the quality of life in Colorado Springs. The remainder of the trail project funding comes from the Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) trails account, which is the result of a 1/10 sales tax.

The Gateway Trail

Crews realigned part of the Gateway Trail from 30^th Street into the park, providing a more accessible pathway that is paved for most of it’s length. As part of this project A new pedestrian bridge was also constructed over Camp Creek.

The Foothills Trail

The Foothills Trail, which runs parallel to 30^th Street near Rock Ledge Ranch, has been relocated and improved in order to eliminate conflict with the overflow parking lot at the ranch. This trail is now paved it’s entire length; it used to be gravel south of Gateway Rd. North of Gateway Rd, damaged concrete was replaced and drainage improvements have been made along both trails.

The Foothills Trail is a great and much used bicycle route on the west edge of Colorado Springs as it links the the bikelanes on 31st St. Many improvements are coming to the corridor in the near future as part of several Camp Creek drainage projects.

Upcoming Camp Creek Drainage Improvements

A section of trail that was rerouted after the main trail was damaged by flooding was not addressed in this recent round of improvements but will be completed as part of an upcoming drainage project. Additionally as part of the reconfiguration of the Camp Creek drainage down the center of 31st a multi use path will be added that will connect to the newly paved foothills trail