take I-25 to the Nevada Exit and head east. Once ease of I-25 turn left on to the frontage road and head north. Take road until it ends and you will see the pulpit rock parking lot.
Looks like this trail area has not been reviewed in a while, except by mongwolf, and he is right- this area has had a lot of work done to it. Very pleasantly surprised. The new trail, Black Sheep, is a legit Black Diamond trail- maybe one of the most technical trail inside the city. Fun addition to the already amazing Colorado Springs area!
Pulpit Rock Park was soooo much better than I was expecting. First, there is a great mix of beginner to advanced trails. Secondly, there is some fresh trail building going on, creating mountain biking specific trails. Well done. If things continue in this direction, the future looks quite bright for PRP. Plus, some trails could have been closed, but instead, builders have stabilized the trails for erosion and added new really nice lines. I absolutely loved some of the advanced trails, narrow singletrack dropping off crazy gnarly descents ... always fun to hang off the back of your bike and hope for the best. Some trails, like Ring Around the Rim (0.9mi) and Pulpit Rock to Lame Duck Connector (0.7mi) are slow, pretty constant, rocky, gnar fests -- great for working on your technical skills. If you are unhappy to get off your bike at times, then you probably won't enjoy these trails. I definitely did not like much of the northwest end and lower west end of the park -- too easy. Except for Mr. Goats Trail (which has some nice realignments), many of these trails are fairly wide and not too interesting. Plus, as John Fisch mentioned, you are in constant ear shot of the I-25 traffic on this end of the park. Maybe the biggest negative of the park for some people could be that there are no trail signs. But that's not an issue if you have a smart phone and the mtb project phone app. Plus, with no trail designations, then no one can say what is a designated trail and what is not. So you can jump on any tiny little trail you want and see what happens -- FUN. Ignoring the lower west end and northwest end of the park, PRP is more of a 4 star system than a 2. something system as it is rated currently. All in all, a pleasure to ride imo.
This area has easy through advanced trails. There is no one route that traverses the open space. It's kind of one wade path along the West with smaller Trails that go easy into the park. The trails are littered with cactus. Parts of the lower trail are being redone so there is a lot a loose sand everywhere.
In the past couple of months there has been a surge of more locals doing maintenance on this trail network. Overall the trail is pretty rocky and technical, with a couple of steep climbs that can take you to the top of the overlook. If your looking for a lot of technical trials type riding this network can be very fun. and the views from the top of the overlook boulder are very nice as well. If your searching for a little more flow, there is actually a sub network within this trail system called University Hills. This southern half of the park is much less technical, with a couple trails that venture behind and above the University. I would recommend this trail to anyone who is riding distance, but there still just isn't enough mileage to make the network a stand alone destination.
I commute through this open space almost daily. There are quite a few trails in here if you look. There is no loop and the trails don't really loop well together. But, on Pulpit Rocks ridgeline there is a set of two pretty decent techy downhill sections on sandstone. Watch for cactus everywhere and watch for local hikers. Watch my video(s) for a quick preview.
This place could be cool, but due to its lack of bicycle activity, and activity overall the trails are very poor. The main walking path is hardpack gravel but once you attempt to accend the bluff, you'll find loose sand and jagged rocks that turn simple manuvers into tricky dangerous ones.
If enough people worked the trails into something a little better, it'd be great.
Trails range from extra-wide-groomed to so-narrow-I'm-not-even-sure-this-is-a-trail. Most trails are level and straightforward, but the approaches to the bluff can provide enough of a climb to accelerate the heartrate and there are a few Pamer Park-like rock moves on the narrow trails. The bluff is cool, but most of the time, you're within visual range and/or earshot of I-25, which can be distracting. This place doesn't get much bike traffic and I can see why as it sits midway between Palmer Park and Ute Vally Park, both of which provide a far better ride.
Looks like this trail area has not been reviewed in a while, except by mongwolf, and he is right- this area has had a lot of work done to it. Very pleasantly surprised. The new trail, Black Sheep, is a legit Black Diamond trail- maybe one of the most technical trail inside the city. Fun addition to the already amazing Colorado Springs area!
| ThankPulpit Rock Park was soooo much better than I was expecting. First, there is a great mix of beginner to advanced trails. Secondly, there is some fresh trail building going on, creating mountain biking specific trails. Well done. If things continue in this direction, the future looks quite bright for PRP. Plus, some trails could have been closed, but instead, builders have stabilized the trails for erosion and added new really nice lines. I absolutely loved some of the advanced trails, narrow singletrack dropping off crazy gnarly descents ... always fun to hang off the back of your bike and hope for the best. Some trails, like Ring Around the Rim (0.9mi) and Pulpit Rock to Lame Duck Connector (0.7mi) are slow, pretty constant, rocky, gnar fests -- great for working on your technical skills. If you are unhappy to get off your bike at times, then you probably won't enjoy these trails. I definitely did not like much of the northwest end and lower west end of the park -- too easy. Except for Mr. Goats Trail (which has some nice realignments), many of these trails are fairly wide and not too interesting. Plus, as John Fisch mentioned, you are in constant ear shot of the I-25 traffic on this end of the park. Maybe the biggest negative of the park for some people could be that there are no trail signs. But that's not an issue if you have a smart phone and the mtb project phone app. Plus, with no trail designations, then no one can say what is a designated trail and what is not. So you can jump on any tiny little trail you want and see what happens -- FUN. Ignoring the lower west end and northwest end of the park, PRP is more of a 4 star system than a 2. something system as it is rated currently. All in all, a pleasure to ride imo.
| ThankThis area has easy through advanced trails. There is no one route that traverses the open space. It's kind of one wade path along the West with smaller Trails that go easy into the park. The trails are littered with cactus. Parts of the lower trail are being redone so there is a lot a loose sand everywhere.
| ThankMore of a nice walk in the park. No technical parts and if you try to get to some you end up hiking your bike. Not a bad ride, just easy.
| ThankTrails are very limited. Mostly a wide gravel path with some singletrack that is poorly maintained. Not really any reason to ride here
| ThankIn the past couple of months there has been a surge of more locals doing maintenance on this trail network. Overall the trail is pretty rocky and technical, with a couple of steep climbs that can take you to the top of the overlook. If your looking for a lot of technical trials type riding this network can be very fun. and the views from the top of the overlook boulder are very nice as well. If your searching for a little more flow, there is actually a sub network within this trail system called University Hills. This southern half of the park is much less technical, with a couple trails that venture behind and above the University. I would recommend this trail to anyone who is riding distance, but there still just isn't enough mileage to make the network a stand alone destination.
| ThankI commute through this open space almost daily. There are quite a few trails in here if you look. There is no loop and the trails don't really loop well together. But, on Pulpit Rocks ridgeline there is a set of two pretty decent techy downhill sections on sandstone. Watch for cactus everywhere and watch for local hikers. Watch my video(s) for a quick preview.
| ThankThis place could be cool, but due to its lack of bicycle activity, and activity overall the trails are very poor. The main walking path is hardpack gravel but once you attempt to accend the bluff, you'll find loose sand and jagged rocks that turn simple manuvers into tricky dangerous ones.
If enough people worked the trails into something a little better, it'd be great.
| ThankTrails range from extra-wide-groomed to so-narrow-I'm-not-even-sure-this-is-a-trail. Most trails are level and straightforward, but the approaches to the bluff can provide enough of a climb to accelerate the heartrate and there are a few Pamer Park-like rock moves on the narrow trails. The bluff is cool, but most of the time, you're within visual range and/or earshot of I-25, which can be distracting. This place doesn't get much bike traffic and I can see why as it sits midway between Palmer Park and Ute Vally Park, both of which provide a far better ride.
| Thank