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Moderate Hiking Trails near Colorado Springs

The directory currently contains 11 quality-checked routes matching this guide near Colorado Springs. Their average mapped distance is 4.3 km and average recorded ascent is 369 m (1,211 ft); the longest route in the set is 9.7 km.

This subset represents 73% of the 15 quality-checked routes near Colorado Springs. Its average distance is 4.3 km, compared with 22.2 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 369 m (1,211 ft), versus 610 m (2,001 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 2 (18%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

1.1 km

Cabin Canyon Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

58 m

Cabin Canyon Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

2 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

The Hornbek homestead in Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Colorado
Moderate

Hornbek Wildlife Loop

Colorado · United States

Distance
5.8 km
/ 3.6 mi
Elevation gain
145 m
Typical duration
1 hr 26 min
  • Mountain
  • Wildlife watching
Moderate

Cabin Canyon Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.1 km
/ 0.7 mi
Elevation gain
58 m
Typical duration
19 min
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

Ring the Peak

Colorado · United States

Distance
9.7 km
/ 6.1 mi
Elevation gain
604 m
Typical duration
2 hr 56 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Columbine Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
6.1 km
/ 3.8 mi
Elevation gain
769 m
Typical duration
2 hr 25 min
Moderate

Mount Muscoco Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
2.1 km
/ 1.3 mi
Elevation gain
366 m
Typical duration
59 min
Moderate

Mount Cutler Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.0 mi
Elevation gain
226 m
Typical duration
41 min
Moderate

Thomas Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
1.7 km
/ 1.1 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
35 min
Cheyenne Mountain from the Talon trailhead
Moderate

Talon

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.0 km
/ 2.5 mi
Elevation gain
218 m
Typical duration
1 hr 9 min
Moderate

Waldo Canyon

Colorado · United States

Distance
6.9 km
/ 4.3 mi
Elevation gain
851 m
Typical duration
2 hr 43 min
  • Mountain
  • Canyon and gorge
Moderate

The Crags Trail

Colorado · United States

Distance
3.9 km
/ 2.4 mi
Elevation gain
291 m
Typical duration
1 hr 15 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Waldo Canyon Loop

Colorado · United States

Distance
4.3 km
/ 2.7 mi
Elevation gain
373 m
Typical duration
1 hr 27 min
  • Canyon and gorge

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Hornbek Wildlife LoopColorado5.8 km145 m1 hr 26 minModerateJuly to September
Cabin Canyon TrailColorado1.1 km58 m19 minModerateJune to October
Ring the PeakColorado9.7 km604 m2 hr 56 minModerateJuly to September
Columbine TrailColorado6.1 km769 m2 hr 25 minModerateJune to October
Mount Muscoco TrailColorado2.1 km366 m59 minModerateJuly to September
Mount Cutler TrailColorado1.7 km226 m41 minModerateJune to October
Thomas TrailColorado1.7 km156 m35 minModerateJuly to September
TalonColorado4.0 km218 m1 hr 9 minModerateJune to October
Waldo CanyonColorado6.9 km851 m2 hr 43 minModerateJuly to September
The Crags TrailColorado3.9 km291 m1 hr 15 minModerateJuly to September

Hornbek Wildlife Loop, Cabin Canyon Trail, Ring the Peak currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

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Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

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Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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