Pulpit Rock adds "Inspiration" to trail offerings
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Pulpit Rock in north Colorado Springs. Photo: Glenn Wallace/Axios
Colorado Springs is building a 400-step trail up Pulpit Rock as part of a broader overhaul to Austin Bluffs Open Space.
Why it matters: The new trail expands access to one of the city's most visible landmarks and highlights the importance of outdoor recreation to the city's identity and economy.
Driving the news: City crews have started work on the Inspiration Trail, which will climb to the iconic stony tip in full view of I-25 and the nearby UCCS campus.
The latest: The city is wrapping up projects on its 2020 Austin Bluffs Open Space Master Plan, including the new trail and an expansion of the southern parking lot, to be completed "this summer."
Zoom in: Park users should expect disruption for the next few months.
- The southern parking lot for Pulpit Rock is closed, though the northern trailhead will remain open for most of the construction.
- The Lori Cohen Connector Trail and the downhill-designated Black Sheep mountain bike trail are both closed for now.
Yes, but: Hikers can still get to the top of Pulpit Rock on the Summit Trail.
By the numbers: With the completion of Inspiration Trail and a new connector between Rockhurst Boulevard and North Union Boulevard, the park will grow its total trail length to around 18 miles.
- Those new routes help replace more than 13 miles of "rogue trails" identified in the 2020 master plan conditions survey.
Zoom out: Completing the Austin Bluffs park plan underscores the city's multi-year investment in outdoor recreation — a major economic driver that generated $90 million last year from city-run offerings alone.
Case in point: The Manitou Incline in particular is a major draw, with thousands of visitors on a typical weekend day.
Flashback: The Austin Bluffs 2020 master plan pegged all the improvements at $15 million over six years ago.
Reality check: This year, the parks department has struggled to fund basic upkeep like landscaping and public bathrooms.
What we're watching: Hikers who want a good quad burn will have to stick to the Seven Falls or Manitou Incline for now, since the parks department hasn't set an opening date for the new trail yet.
- Mountain bikers missing the Black Sheep Trail can head to nearby Palmer Park and Ute Valley Park for more miles.