Stewart M. Green - Best Hikes Colorado Springs: The Greatest Views, Wildlife, and Forest Strolls

Based in Colorado Springs, Stewart M. Green has hiked, climbed, photographed, and traveled across the American West as well as the United States and the world in search of memorable images and experiences to document. Stewart, a freelance writer and photographer for Globe Pequot Press and FalconGuides, has written and photographed forty-five travel and outdoor adventure books, including Best Easy Day Hikes Colorado Springs, Scenic Driving Colorado, Scenic Driving Californias Pacific Coast, Best Climbs Moab, Best Climbs Denver and Boulder, KNACK Rock Climbing, Rock Climbing Colorado, Rock Climbing Utah, Rock Climbing Arizona, and Rock Art: The Meanings and Myths Behind Ancient Ruins in the Southwest and Beyond. His photographs and writing are also published in many magazines, books, catalogs, and websites. Stewart is a professional rock climbing guide with Front Range Climbing Company. Visit him at green1109.wix.com/stewartmgreenphoto for images and information.

Best Hikes Colorado Springs is an exploration of the wild lands surrounding my home-town. Almost every day in summer when I grew up near North Cheyenne Caon, I would pack a lunch, fill my steel army canteen with water, and shoulder an Austrian rucksack for the days adventure.

I would walk in the cool morning to the pine forests at the canyon entrance. Some days I puttered along the creek, taking off shoes and wading in glassy water. Other days I watched 10th Mountain Division soldiers give climbing exhibitions at an amphitheater below the Pinnacle. But usually I logged miles on my boots, hiking Columbine Trail, then branching to St. Marys Falls and the summit of Mount Rosa or hoofing it up to Captain Jacks, Tenney Crags, and Mount Arthur. I would arrive back home in the eveningfootsore, tired, but always happy.

This book details those hikes I did as a boy and more. There is no shortage of great hikes near Colorado Springs. The city park system is simply one of the best in the United States. There arent many cities that offer so much hiking on public lands. The Springs was fortunate to have General William Jackson Palmer, its forward-thinking founder, donate natural areas as parks but also to have a wealth of undeveloped land for recreation, including El Paso County parklands, Colorado state parks, and Pike National Forest. My thanks to the general, as well as other residents who love Pikes Peak Country and work to preserve and protect its natural values and diverse trails.

Thanks to all of my trail companions over the years as well as other hiking experts, FalconGuides editors, and park staff at state and city parks who reviewed the manuscript, offered advice, proofread sections, and added their ten cents, including Deb Acord, Kevin Baker, Howard Brooks, John Burbidge, Bob DAntonio, Jimmie Dunn, Dave Golec, Aubrey Green, Ian Green, Isaac Hamilton, Doug Hatfield, Mike and Sherry Heinrichs, Bob Hostetler, Dennis Jackson, Jewels Johnson, Mitch Martin, Cindy McCaffrey, Martha Morris, Max Phelps, Brian Shelton, Bill Springer, Spencer Swanger, Autumn Thorpe, and Jeff Wolin.

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Colorado Springs offers well over 1,000 restaurants, from the Broadmoor Hotels five-star option, including the Penrose Room and Charles Court, to humble curb-side trucks that vend burritos with homemade tortillas. There are numerous standout restaurants in the Springs that offer a huge variety of cuisines, styles, and prices. This listing is the beginning of your culinary exploration and includes the authors favorite dining experiences. Try any of these restaurants after your day of hiking and you will surely be satisfied, happy, and ready to hit the trail again tomorrow. Bon apptit!

Adams Mountain Caf

26 Manitou Ave.

Manitou Springs 80829

(719) 685-1430

adamsmountaincafe.com

A Manitou Springs tradition serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with lots of vegetarian and vegan meals, no prepared foods, no microwaves, and organic local ingredients.

Amandas Fonda

3625 W. Colorado Ave.

Colorado Springs 80904

(719) 227-1975

amandasfonda.com

Popular Mexican restaurant with creek-side dining in west Colorado Springs. Thirty-five flavors of tequila, lunch and dinner, and gluten-free menu available. Also at 8050 N. Academy Blvd.

Green Line Grill

230 Pueblo Ave.

Colorado Springs 80903

(719) 964-1461

greenlinegrill.com

Chef Bobby serves up a tasty onion-fried burger straight out of central Oklahoma, topped with El Reno Slaw and served with hand-cut fries. Also, a great veggie burger.

Hungry Bear Restaurant

111 E. Midland Ave.

Woodland Park 80863

(719) 687-5912

hungrybearcolorado.com

Hiking behind Pikes Peak? Visit the Hungry Bear, a family-style diner with traditional breakfasts and salads, burgers, and soups for lunch.

Il Vicino

5214 N. Nevada Ave.

Colorado Springs 80903

(719) 590-8633

ilvicino.com

Contemporary pizzeria with wood-fired artisan pizzas, calzones, flatbread sandwiches, salads, and award-winning ales.

Kings Chef Diner

131 E. Bijou St.

110 E. Costilla St.

Colorado Springs 80903

(719) 636-5010, (719) 634-9135

www.cosdiner.com/

One phrase describes this classic downtown diner: green chile. Its hot and tasty, plus theres a vegetarian version. Open for breakfast and lunch. Eat at the tiny purple-castle diner on East Costilla for old-time ambience.

La Baguette Downtown

117 E. Pikes Peak Ave.

Colorado Springs 80903

(719) 636-5020

labaguettedowntown.com

Informal and affordable French country dining with authentic French onion soup, crusty baguettes, croissants, and delectable desserts in the heart of Colorado Springs.

La Casita Mexican Grill

306 S. Eighth St.

4295 N. Nevada Ave.

3725 E. Woodmen Rd.

Colorado Springs

(719) 633-9616; (719) 599-7829; (719)536-0375

lacasitamexigrill.com

Basic tasty Mexican food with three locations, daily specials, great salsa bar, and patio dining. Muy sabroso!