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. 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. The trail
will fork after a short distance. Take the southern fork towards
the first waypoint. You will probably figure out what the cache
name means when you get there. Inside the container will be the
coordinates to stage two. Please copy them down and leave the paper
in the container.
Follow the trail to the second stop, and then on to the final.
There is no need to bushwhack to get to any stage of this cache.
Enjoy the view from near the final cache. You can see a lot of the
park from there, as well as Ft. Carson across CO-115.
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.
