Considered one of the "crown jewels" in Colorado's extensive state park system, Cheyenne Mountain State Park is the result of strong partnerships and years of thoughtful planning. Acquired in June 2000 through a partnership between the City of Colorado Springs, Colorado State Parks, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and other local private organizations, the park represents the protection of one of the last significant open spaces along the southern section of the Colorado Front Range.
Cheyenne Mountain is the only state park in El Paso County, and will offer superior facilities and recreational opportunities. Foremost among the park's offerings will be the trail system consisting of 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. Along with great trails, the park will offer a Visitor Center with gift shop and interpretive displays, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Future plans include camping, group picnicking, as well as full-service cabins and a first-class Event Center available to rent for weddings, banquets, meetings, and other gatherings. The campgrounds are now open and additional facilities will open as the construction progresses.
While placing this cache, I encountered several deer. I got within 15' of one of them before she wandered away with a nearby buck. There were numerous deer, elk, turkey, and mountain lion tracks all over the trails. The area to the west of the cache is a turkey breeding ground, hence the cache name. I spotted 3 turkeys on my way back to my truck.
Park at the Day Use Trailhead Parking area, then head towards the western edge of the Zook Loop trail. This area is called "The Rock Garden" and is where the Blackmer Loop trail begins. It doesn't matter which direction you go on the Blackmer Loop, you will eventually branch off to the Cougar's Shadow trail.
The elevation gain from the parking area to the cache is only about 450 feet, but over the roughly 5 mile round trip you will hike up and down many small hills. If you counted all the uphill sections, you would gain about 1200 feet or so.
Please stick to established trails. All the twists and turns of the trail system have been designed to get you safely through the terrain and to protect the wildlife habitat. There is nothing to be gained by trying to take a shortcut.
Please park only in parking lots, not along roadways or in front of gates
This cache has been placed with the permission of Park Manager Rich Dudley. There is a first-finder's prize certificate inside that can be redeemed when the Visitor's Center opens in mid to late November.
