- Created: September 11, 2019 5:19 pm
- Updated: September 14, 2019 10:25 pm
- Distance Instructions
- Distance 4 miles
- Time 0 s
- Speed 0.0 mph
- Min altitude 0 ft
- Peak 0 ft
- Climb 1480 ft
- Descent 13064 ft
Section 16/Palmer Trail
Section 16 is one of the most popular trails in Colorado Springs. It is located in the foothills above Bear Creek Park. Done clockwise, it provides 1100ft of elevation gain in three miles, with a challenging downhill.
This trail provides everything a cyclist could want, from beautiful views, and meandering single-track, to stream crossings, and technical down hills.
Getting There
- Takc I-25 to the Cimmaron Exit and go West on HWY 24.
- Take HWY 24 to 26th Street
- Take 26th around some tight turns until you reach a 4-way stop.
- Go right at the 4-way.
- Park at the lot on your right.
Trail Description
Start your ascent up High Drive, a one way fire road. After two tenths of a mile you will reach the right turn onto Palmer Trail. This single-track goes on for about .25 of a mile till you reach your first right turn. This section begins a series of switchbacks. Keep riding up and you will reach the log bridge over the feeder stream for Bear Creek. This is pretty much your half way point. The climb continues till you reach a fork in the trail. Go right. This will take you to what I call True Top. Check out the city views from here. Start your descent. Take care as the conditions will be loose, and hikers will be coming the other way. After a short distance of rolling terrain, you will come to a saddle. Go left to enter Section 16. This is a steep loose downhill, and not for the novice rider. There are many hazards on the downhill, and you have to constantly be on the lookout for hikers, unleashed dogs, and equestrians. On your way down stay on the main trail which will take you back to Gold Camp Road and the parking lot. You may also wish to choose to ride some of the feeder trails into Red Rocks Park. Many of the trails in the park are for hikers only, but the experience still provides you with challenging options. For an added challenge , take the Paul Intemann Trail into Red Rocks Park and make a longer ride.
Best Time to Ride
This is a VERY popular trail. During peak times it is like riding a highway. Therefore the best times to ride are very early in the morning, or in the evening during the week. My favorite time to ride is in the Spring just as the snow pack is starting the melt. The reason is that the downside of this ride is very loose. The snow pack keeps it in place and if you can pick right when the snow softens enough to allow your tires to sink in, you get awesome traction on a very stable surface allowing you to fly down this trail, even on the hard packed snow. It's a BLAST!
1. Begin Palmer Trail Technical Down
2. Inteman
3. Inteman Cutoff
4. Roadside Lot
5. Trail Head from High Drive
6. Start
7. End
Section 16/Palmer Trail
Section 16 is one of the most popular trails in Colorado Springs. It is located in the foothills above Bear Creek Park. Done clockwise, it provides 1100ft of elevation gain in three miles, with a challenging downhill.
This trail provides everything a cyclist could want, from beautiful views, and meandering single-track, to stream crossings, and technical down hills.
Getting There
- Takc I-25 to the Cimmaron Exit and go West on HWY 24.
- Take HWY 24 to 26th Street
- Take 26th around some tight turns until you reach a 4-way stop.
- Go right at the 4-way.
- Park at the lot on your right.
Trail Description
Start your ascent up High Drive, a one way fire road. After two tenths of a mile you will reach the right turn onto Palmer Trail. This single-track goes on for about .25 of a mile till you reach your first right turn. This section begins a series of switchbacks. Keep riding up and you will reach the log bridge over the feeder stream for Bear Creek. This is pretty much your half way point. The climb continues till you reach a fork in the trail. Go right. This will take you to what I call True Top. Check out the city views from here. Start your descent. Take care as the conditions will be loose, and hikers will be coming the other way. After a short distance of rolling terrain, you will come to a saddle. Go left to enter Section 16. This is a steep loose downhill, and not for the novice rider. There are many hazards on the downhill, and you have to constantly be on the lookout for hikers, unleashed dogs, and equestrians. On your way down stay on the main trail which will take you back to Gold Camp Road and the parking lot. You may also wish to choose to ride some of the feeder trails into Red Rocks Park. Many of the trails in the park are for hikers only, but the experience still provides you with challenging options. For an added challenge , take the Paul Intemann Trail into Red Rocks Park and make a longer ride.
Best Time to Ride
This is a VERY popular trail. During peak times it is like riding a highway. Therefore the best times to ride are very early in the morning, or in the evening during the week. My favorite time to ride is in the Spring just as the snow pack is starting the melt. The reason is that the downside of this ride is very loose. The snow pack keeps it in place and if you can pick right when the snow softens enough to allow your tires to sink in, you get awesome traction on a very stable surface allowing you to fly down this trail, even on the hard packed snow. It’s a BLAST!