Entry No. 48 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: outdoor

Heizer Trail to Cascade Mountain

Everyone in this town hikes Barr Trail, then complains about the crowds. Almost nobody walks the Heizer — a steep, lightly trafficked cut that the president of the Cascade Town Co. carved up the mountain back in the 1880s, making it one of the oldest surviving trails in the Pikes Peak region. It climbs without apology through wooded switchbacks and loose gravel toward the 9,387-ft summit of Cascade Mountain, where the trees finally let go and you get the whole show: Pikes Peak, Ute Pass dropping away below, the Front Range, and ranges stacked to the horizon. It is a real climb. The view is the kind you have to earn, which is exactly why so few people have it.

The move: Make the climb itself the date. Hit the trail early, settle into the rhythm of switchbacks together, and let the conversation go where a long uphill takes it — there's nowhere to hide on a 2,000-foot grind, which is the whole point. Pack water, snacks, and a layer you don't think you'll need, and time it so you summit with the panorama wide open. Trade the energy bar at the top, take the obligatory two-of-you-against-Pikes-Peak photo, and walk back down knowing you found out something real about each other on the way up.

📍 Before you go A serious, lesser-known alternative to the packed Barr Trail. Figure roughly 5.7-6.3 miles out-and-back to the Cascade Mountain summit (9,387 ft) with about 1,840 ft of climbing; push on toward Manitou Reservoir and it stretches to ~7 miles and 2,400+ ft of gain. Rated moderate-to-difficult (a black-diamond grind) — steep wooded switchbacks, loose gravel, grades up to ~24%, so good shoes and water are non-negotiable. Trailhead sits in Cascade off US 24 (~25-35 min from Colorado Springs); there's no trailhead parking, so park on Emporia Ave or Park St and walk up Anemone Hill Rd. Open year-round, but it's high and exposed near the top: expect snow and ice fall through spring, watch for fast afternoon thunderstorms in summer (be off the summit by early afternoon), and respect the altitude. Late spring through fall is the sweet spot. No fee or permit for the trail itself — but Manitou Reservoir is closed city watershed, so the lakeshore is off-limits; turn around at the summit. Conditions and access can change, so check a current trail report before you go.

• 📍 Cascade / Manitou backcountry, off US 24 west of Manitou Springs
• 💸 Free
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Outdoors

Where: Heizer Trailhead at the end of Anemone Hill Rd, Cascade, CO. From Colorado Springs/Manitou Springs take US 24 west about 5 miles to Cascade, turn left at the traffic light onto Fountain Ave, then left on Emporia Ave, left on Park St, and left up Anemone Hill Rd to the trail. Note: there is NO parking at the trailhead or on Anemone Hill Rd — park along Emporia Ave or Park St and walk in.

Hours: Day-use, free. Best season: Late spring through fall (June-October); year-round but expect snow/ice near the summit in winter and early spring. Confirm trail & road conditions before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Proof: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4

last checked: 2026-06-10