With the days getting longer and warmer, Falcon area residents are looking for ways to get outside and get some exercise. The Pikes Peak area offers many beautiful parks and trails. Out here on the plains, the parks may not be as plentiful, but they’re just as beautiful and not as crowded. There are several great places to spend some outdoor time within an hour’s drive of Falcon.County parks in our areaGenerally, all county parks welcome pets, but they must be kept on a leash and trails must be kept free of “doggy debris”. Bicycles are welcome on most trails. No motorized vehicles off roadways. For specific directions to the following county parks, visit the Web site at http://adm.elpasoco.com/parks.Rock Island Regional TrailThis trail follows the old Chicago and Rock Island Railroad bed parallel to Highway 24 from Falcon to the nearby town of Peyton. The 9-mile trail is graveled and easy going, with a few benches along the way for rest stops. At the trailhead in Falcon, there’s a picnic area and restroom facilities. The trail is great for bicycling or walking.Homestead Ranch Regional ParkThis relatively new park, opened in 1998, offers about 3 miles of walking trails, a great playground, picnic pavilion and restrooms. It’s nestled at the foot of Rattlesnake Butte, about 13 miles northeast of Falcon on Golihar Road.Black Forest Regional ParkThis park is located about 13 miles northwest of Falcon at the intersection of Shoup and Milam roads. The park has a playground, picnic pavilions, athletic fields, tennis and basketball courts and about 5 miles of trails that are particularly popular with horse enthusiasts.Fox Run Regional ParkFox Run is a large, beautiful park popular for large gatherings. With acres of forest, an abundance of wildlife, miles of walking trails, five picnic pavilions, two playgrounds, athletic fields, and a horseshoe pit, Fox Run has something for everyone. Don’t miss the trails that circle the scenic Aspen and Spruce Lakes, and spend a few minutes contemplating the quiet in the gazebo. Fox Run Regional Park is about 20 miles northwest of Falcon on Stella Drive.Paint Mines Interpretive ParkFor centuries, this area, known to the locals as Calhan Paint Mines, was popular with the Indians, who used its colorful clays for pots. More recently, El Paso County residents braved the dusty, barely-marked road, barbed wire fences, and steep descent (or fall) into the canyon to enjoy the cool, sandy canyon bottom. Exploring the canyon fingers, hoodoos and caves was a pleasurable way to spend a hot afternoon. Then the Calhan Paint Mines were closed to the public, purchased by the county, and the process of making it an official county park was begun. Finally, after what seems like an interminable amount of time to its fans, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park will be opened to the public once again on June 4. The grand opening will be held on that date at 10:30 a.m. Tim Wolken, director of El Paso County Parks, said, “The public is more than welcome. We’d love to have them attend.”The long-awaited park, which is now listed as an Archaeological District in the National Register of Historic Places, will offer about 2 1/2 miles of gravel trails. Facilities are limited. There is one restroom in the parking area, but no picnic tables as yet. No pets, horses, bicycles or motorized vehicles will be allowed on the trails. Located about 20 miles from Falcon, the park is on Paint Mine Road, southeast of Calhan.Section 16 TrailGreg Reals, the president of the Black Forest Trails Association, said this trail is a cooperative effort of the state, the county, School District 20 and the BFTA. The trail began as one in a network of trails that wind their way through the scenic Black Forest area. The informal, largely unmapped, network of trails was originally intended to provide the residents of Black Forest the opportunity to ride their horses long distances without having to ride on traffic-bearing arteries. Though much of the network is unpublished; thus, largely unknown to the public, the Section 16 Trail is well known and open to all visitors.The trail, which is best entered from a parking lot on Burgess Road just west of Volmer Road, is about 4 miles of gently sloping trail winding its way through the forest in a large loop, thus never crossing a road. There’s a porta-potty in the parking lot; other than that, there are no amenities. The trail is excellent for horses and mountain bikes. Dogs are welcome, but should be on a leash. No motorized vehicles are allowed.Castlewood Canyon State ParkThis park is a bit further away, about 40 miles north on State Highway 83, but it’s well worth the drive. Pack a cooler with lunch and drinks and plan to spend the whole day. Castlewood Canyon is a beautiful area rich with history, wildlife, vegetation, and activities. The Castlewood Canyon State Park brochure reads, “Trails along the Cherry Creek wind past the ruins of the Castlewood dam (circa 1890). Exhibits and a slide show in the visitor center retell the dramatic events of Aug. 3, 1933, when the dam broke and caused the second worst flood in Denver’s history.”The area offers everything from picnicking to rock climbing. Twelve miles of trails range from easy concrete nature trails that are wheelchair accessible to difficult terrain. A Colorado state parks pass or an entry fee is required. Pets are welcome on a leash. The park is open from 8 a.m. to sunset.
