Red Rock Canyon Mesa Trail Loop (Colorado Springs) Hiking Guide
Red Rock Canyon Open Space sits along Highway 24 just south of Garden of the Gods, with the same red sandstone fins and a web of dirt trails between them. This loop climbs onto the Mesa Trail for views over the fins, then drops back through Red Rock Canyon itself. The land was quarried, milled and nearly turned into a resort before the City of Colorado Springs bought it as open space in 2003.
The Mesa and Canyon Loop
AllTrails lists this loop at 3.3 miles with about 525 feet of gain, starting from the main Red Rock Canyon lot. The Mesa Trail climbs gradually along the ridge with a few shaded stretches, then the route comes back down into the canyon on the Red Rock Canyon Trail. The surfaces are dirt, shared with mountain bikers, horses and leashed dogs, so expect traffic and keep to the right on the climbs.
Quarries, a Mill and a Resort That Wasn't
The city says people have used this canyon since 7000 B.C. In the late 1800s it was a quarry supplying gypsum, sand and sandstone blocks to nearby towns, and a large ore mill operated here from 1886. In the 1920s and 1930s John George Bock bought the property and planned a resort community that was only partly built. The cut faces you pass are the quarry's work; the city purchased the land in 2003.
Getting There and Parking
From I-25, take Cimarron Street west, turn onto Ridge Road, and follow the roundabout to W. High Street; the address is 3550 W. High St. Two parking areas sit on the right side of the road, and both have portable toilets. City open space hours apply: 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. from May through October and 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from November through April. Parking is free.
Dogs: Leashed Here, Loose There
Dogs must be leashed on the regular trails, including this loop. If yours needs to run, the open space also has an off-leash dog area on the Upper and Lower dog loops, so you can finish the hike there. Pick up after your dog; the open space has earned Leave No Trace Gold Standard recognition, and keeping it requires everyone's help.
Recent Trail Work
In 2023 the city finished a round of reclamation that removed old ponds, dams, berms and canals left from before it owned the land, then reopened the Roundup, Red Rock Canyon and Red Rock Rim trails. The northernmost piece of the Mesa Trail was realigned at the same time to improve its grade and drainage, so older maps may not match what you walk. Climbing on the quarry walls is allowed only with a city permit.
Hiking tips for Red Rock Canyon Mesa Trail Loop (Colorado Springs)
- Use the second W. High Street lot if the first is full.
- Walk the loop in the morning before the mesa gets hot in summer.
- Yield to bikes and horses on the shared dirt trails.
- Finish at the off-leash dog loops if your dog needs a run.
- Download the current city map; the Mesa Trail's north end was rerouted in 2023.
Nearby trails to explore
- Palmer Red Rock Loop (Section 16)
- Perkins Central Garden Trail
- Manitou Incline
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Red Rock Canyon is the after-work loop with Garden of the Gods rock and plenty of trail to choose from. Use TrailMates to find Colorado Springs hikers heading to Red Rock Canyon Open Space. Download the TrailMates app to connect.