Add a new trail to the impressive network that begins in Green Mountain Falls. The Kirkpatrick Trail officially opens Sunday with a community hike. The trail opened last year, and connects more than two miles of trails built by the late H.B. Wallace to more than five miles of trails in the town of Green Mountain Falls. Dedication ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m. at the H.B. Wallace Reserve Trailhead, located at 10199 Mountain Road in Chipita Park. Hikers are asked to park in the large lot on Ute Pass Avenue at the east entrance to Green Mountain Falls and hike up Mountain Road to the trailhead. Parking along Mountain Road is not recommended. Following the ceremony, members of the Green Mountain Falls Trails Committee will conduct guided hikes on the trails system.
The trail is narrow and shaded, and even though it never strays far from houses, it offers a feeling of solitude. Connect this trail with the Thomas Trail and the Catamount Trail, and you have an entire day of hiking through mixed pine forests. Compared to those two, Kirkpatrick is relatively easy, with a small stream crossing and a little stepping up on boulders. Our favorite way to reach the eastern trailhead for Thomas or Kirkpatrick: Park by the lake downtown, and check the trail map posted there. Head up to the east; check out Kirkpatrick and then head back and pick up Thomas. Save Catamount for another day – it’s known for its steep switchbacks as it takes hikers up to the shore of Catamount Reservoir.
– Deb Acord
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Tags: Colorado, Colorado Springs, Green Mountain Falls, hiking, trail
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That trail is awesome; I hiked it about a month ago. I started from the Thomas Trail over by Catamount/Thomas trail head. Like you say, Kirkpatrick isn’t a particularly difficult hike, and you’re not really far from civilization, but it still offers a feeling of solitude and it’s a beautiful hike. It looked like there was yet another new trail being built, shooting off from KP, too. Green Mountain Falls is awesome for hiking.