Red Rock Canyon Open Space is Colorado Springs’ quieter cousin to Garden of the Gods: 1,474 acres of tilted red sandstone fins, old quarry walls and piñon-dotted canyons right off U.S. 24 on the west side of town. With more than 40 miles of trails, climbing routes, dog-friendly loops and big views of Pikes Peak, it’s free, open year-round and easy to fit into any Pikes Peak trip.

People have passed through these canyons for thousands of years; archaeologists have traced human use back to the Archaic period, around 7000 B.C. In the late 1800s the land took on a working life. Quarries here supplied gypsum, building sand and sandstone blocks for Old Colorado City and nearby towns, and the Kenmuir Quarry ran seven days a week at its peak, and you can still see the stair-stepped walls they left behind. Starting in 1886, the Colorado-Philadelphia Company Mill refined gold ore shipped by train from the Cripple Creek mines, and in the 20th century the Bock family owned much of the property and drew up plans for a large resort development. The City of Colorado Springs finally bought the land in 2003 with funds from its voter-approved Trails, Open Space and Parks (TOPS) program so the whole area stays wild for good. It connects with the neighboring Section 16 open space next door.

Today the Friends of Red Rock Canyon describe five distinct canyons, each with its own personality. The Red Rock Canyon Trail and Quarry Pass are the classic first hike, leading past the sculpted sandstone and into the old quarry, while the longer loops climb toward Section 16 for views over the city and out to the plains. Climbers can choose from more than 85 established routes on the sandstone walls, mountain bikers get a freestyle skills area, and there are two off-leash dog loops for pups who need to run. Paragliders even launch from the eastern point of Section 16 on good days. Red Rock Canyon is also a Leave No Trace Gold Standard Site, so stay on the marked trails and pack out what you bring.

The City of Colorado Springs switches to winter hours on Nov. 1, 2026, when the open space will close at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m. The seasonal restrooms are closed for the winter, with portable toilets at the parking lots. In August 2026 the city’s Parks Advisory Board approved renaming the White Acres Trail as the Don Ellis Trail, so watch for new signs. Check the city’s Red Rock Canyon page and Friends of Red Rock Canyon for trail maps and updates.