In Colorado, summer seems slow to arrive and quick to leave. With plenty of work to do around the house – paint, fix the roof and mow the lawn – it’s easy for summer to slip away without experiencing the outdoor activities that make the Pikes Peak region a great place to live.Hiking is at the top of the list of Colorado summer pursuits. Check out these local, inexpensive parks with plenty of trails. Homestead Ranch Regional Park16444 Gollihar Road, PeytonTucked away behind Rattlesnake Butte, this county park is easy to overlook but well worth a visit.The park’s three-mile loop trail climbs 200 feet through open meadows and Ponderosa pines to the top of the butte, which has fantastic views of the Front Range and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.A second loop branches off from the main loop, providing an additional three miles of trail, with a watering area for horses and two interpretive sites.The park has a spring-fed pond that draws deer, coyotes, foxes, waterfowl and pronghorn sheep. Fishing is allowed with a Colorado fishing license. Rumor has it that a few bears live on Rattlesnake Butte.Sheltered picnic tables, play equipment and wheelchair-accessible restrooms are available.Equestrians and bicyclists also use the trails, and dogs are allowed but must be on a leash.The park is open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.Directions from Falcon:Take Highway 24 east toward PeytonTurn left on Elbert RoadTurn right on Sweet RoadTurn left on Gollihar RoadArrive at Homestead Ranch Regional Park on the leftDrive time: about 20 minutesDistance: about 14 milesPalmer ParkColorado SpringsThis 740-acre park in the middle of Colorado Springs has 25 miles of hiking trails rated easy, intermediate and advanced. Bicyclists and equestrians also use the same trails.Dogs with a leash are allowed on all trails and well-behaved dogs are permitted off-leash in the dog run and dog park areas.Nine of the park’s 10 picnic areas are located in the south half of the park. Three are designated for large groups and require advanced reservations.There are four trailheads, each with its own parking area, plus additional parking areas at the dog park and picnic areas.Of the park’s four restrooms, one is wheelchair accessible.There are two ways to enter Palmer Park: from Maizeland Road at the park’s south end and from Paseo Road on the park’s west side.The park opens daily at 5 a.m. and closes at 11 p.m. until Nov. 1, when it closes at 9 p.m. for the winter months.Directions from Falcon:Take Highway 24 to Colorado SpringsTurn right on Constitution AvenueTurn right on Academy BoulevardTurn left on Maizeland RoadTurn right into the Maizeland Gate park entranceDistance: about 14 milesDrive time: about 25 minutesCastlewood Canyon State Park2989 South Highway 83, FranktownCherry Creek flows through this 2,303-acre state park, creating an east and west side, with the east side offering more facilities than the west side.The east side has 8.5 miles of hiking trails rated easy to moderate. Some trails follow the rim and some take hikers down to Cherry Creek. The trail along Cherry Creek winds past the ruins of Castlewood Dam, which failed in 1933, felling bridges 30 miles away in downtown Denver.Canyon View Nature Trail is paved for handicap accessibility. The east side also has a visitor center, restrooms with flush toilets and four picnic areas.The west side has 4.25 miles of hiking trails, most of which are rated moderate to difficult; one pit toilet, 20 picnic tables, areas set aside for rock climbing and the Lucas Homestead historic site at the north end of the park.A bridge over Cherry Creek gives hikers on the east side access to the homestead.Biking is not allowed on most trails and horseback riding is limited to the Cherry Creek Regional Trail.With the exception of the East Canyon Preservation trail, dogs are allowed on all trails but must be on a leash no longer than 6 feet in length.Sightings of mule deer, coyotes, cottontail rabbits, porcupines, ground squirrels and red foxes are common. Black bear, mountain lion and elk do not live in the park but occasionally migrate through it. Each summer, there are several rattlesnake sightings.The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. A daily park pass is $7 per person.Directions from Falcon to the east entrance:Take Woodmen Road west to Black Forest RoadTurn right on Black Forest RoadTurn left on Shoup RoadTurn right on Highway 83 and drive 25 miles to the entrance on the left side of the highway.Distance: about 40 milesDrive time: about 50 minutesBe the first to check out South Slope3550 West High Street, Colorado SpringsSouth Slope is not yet open to the public, but Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services has teamed up with the Trails and Open Space Coalition, Friends of the Peak and Colorado Springs Utilities to offer guided hikes of the South Slope on Saturday, Aug. 27; Saturday, Sept. 10 and Sunday, Sept. 18 for $12 per person.Participants will learn about the area’s history, its importance as a watershed and its wetlands, fens and Bighorn sheep lambing areas.Hikers must be at least 12 years old and able to hike seven miles at altitudes ranging from 10,500 to 12,000 feet. Hikers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Dogs are not allowed.Reservations are required and space is limited. Call the Trails and Open Space Coalition at 719-633-6884 to reserve space.Hikers will be transported by caravan from the main parking lot of Red Rock Canyon Open Space to the hiking area.Directions from Falcon:Take Woodmen Road to I-25 southTake exit 145 (Fillmore Street)Turn right on Fillmore Street, which becomes Fontmore Street and then becomes West Fontanero StreetTurn left on North 31st StreetTurn right on Highway 24Turn left on South Ridge RoadTurn left on West High StreetArrive at the Red Rocks parking lotDrive time: about 33 minutesDistance: about 20 miles
