Bridge #1 washed out in June 2025 flooding and was removed by a Pikes Peak Ranger District trail crew. The trail reopened on July 18, 2025 with a signed detour that starts on Buckhorn Trail #776 and rejoins Seven Bridges Trail at Bridge #2; the rest of the trail to Jones Park is open.
Expected reopening: No announced reopening date
Confirm current status with Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak Ranger District (USDA Forest Service), 719-636-1602 before visiting.
Open alternatives: Mount Cutler Trail
USFS release "Seven Bridges Trail (FST #622) reopens to public with a new detour" (July 18, 2025), checked October 4, 2026; no bridge-replacement notice found on the USFS alerts page.
Seven Bridges Trail (Colorado Springs) Hiking Guide
Seven Bridges follows North Cheyenne Creek up from the top of North Cheyenne Cañon Park, crossing the water again and again on small wooden footbridges. It is one of the most popular hikes in the city for good reason: it is mostly shaded, the creek is loud in spring, and you can turn around whenever you like. These days the count starts at two, because Bridge #1 is gone.
Bridge #1 and the Detour
Flooding in June 2025 sent high water over the first bridge, and the Forest Service closed the trail, removed the damaged bridge and reopened the route on July 18, 2025 with a detour. You now leave on Buckhorn Trail #776 and rejoin Seven Bridges at Bridge #2; hikers describe the detour as well signed and easy. No replacement date for Bridge #1 has been announced, so follow the detour signs rather than fording the creek.
Distance and the Route
AllTrails maps the out-and-back to the seventh bridge at about 3.4 miles with roughly 840 feet of gain. The Forest Service rates Trail #622 moderate. From the Powell parking area at the junction of North Cheyenne Cañon Road, High Drive and Gold Camp Road, walk past the locked gate along Gold Camp Road, an old narrow-gauge rail bed, for about half a mile to the signed trail. Most hikers turn around after the seventh bridge; the trail continues to meet Pipeline Trail #668, which is open to motorized use, and El Paso County's Jones Park.
Getting In: Road Rules and Storm Damage
The city may close North Cheyenne Cañon Road temporarily when the park reaches capacity, and no buses, RVs or oversized vehicles are allowed on it. The canyon road gates shut each evening when the park closes, which the city sets at 10 in the evening during the summer season and 9 in the colder months. Summer storms here are real: debris flows in June 2026 closed the canyon roads and the Powell lot from early June until the city reopened them on July 2. The Forest Service's standing advice is to watch the weather, since conditions in the canyon change quickly.
Dogs, Water and Fire
Leashed dogs are allowed, and the city requires leashes throughout North Cheyenne Cañon Park, which you walk through to reach the trail. The creek is right there, but the Forest Service says stream water must be treated before drinking. Campfires are not allowed anywhere along Seven Bridges, which sits inside the Bear Creek Restoration Area, and motorized vehicles are prohibited on the trail itself.
Wildlife and Crowds
The canyon is home to black bears, mountain lions and mule deer, so keep kids close and dogs on a short leash. The Forest Service calls the trail heavily used and lists mountain biking among its uses, so listen for bikes coming downhill. Go early on a weekday for the quietest creek, and look for kingfishers along the water.
Hiking tips for Seven Bridges Trail (Colorado Springs)
- Follow the Buckhorn Trail #776 detour signs around the missing first bridge.
- Arrive early; the city can close North Cheyenne Cañon Road when the park is full.
- Carry a filter if you plan to drink from North Cheyenne Creek.
- Turn back at the seventh bridge unless you are prepared for the climb to Jones Park.
- Leave the campfire gear at home; fires are banned along the whole trail.
Nearby trails to explore
- Mount Cutler Trail
- St. Mary's Falls Trail
- Palmer Red Rock Loop (Section 16)
Hike this trail with TrailMates
Seven Bridges is the shady creek hike to save for a hot Colorado Springs morning. Use TrailMates to find Colorado Springs hikers heading to Seven Bridges. Download the TrailMates app to connect.