Cheyenne Mountain State Park

In 1893, Katharine Lee Bates, an English professor at Wellesley College, had taken a train trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to teach a short summer school session at Colorado College. Several of the sights on her trip inspired her, and they found their way into her poem, which would later become the song we know as America the Beautiful.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park is Colorado’s newest park with the RV section opening in April of this year. The Park consists of 1,680 acres and 16 trails covering 20 miles. The trails run from easy to moderately difficult and all have unique views of the mountains and Colorado Springs. What a great place to take the family and watch fireworks on the 4th of July weekend.

The park has an abundance of wildlife as noted from this excerpt from their website.

“Mule deer, elk, and wild turkeys are plentiful in the park. It is not uncommon to observe these species roaming, feeding, and resting among scrub oaks, ponderosa pines or the abundant prairie grasses. Along the trails on the eastern edge of the park listen for the shrill barks of black-tailed prairie dogs as they warn other colony members of a strangers presence. Coyotes, foxes, and red-tailed hawks also keep a watchful eye on the prairie dogs hoping to swoop in and snatch a meal. Though not often seen, other predators like the black bear, bobcat, and mountain lion inhabit the park. Evidence of their presence can be detected by examining the tracks, scat, and other clues left along the trails."
 

The park has posted photos and specifications of each campsite so that you may see what site will work best for your needs. The sites are generous in size and are remote enough from your neighbor, that you feel you are not “all stacked in.” The sites are poured concrete which makes leveling a breeze and each site contains a picnic table and fire pit. The full hookups are easy to reach and will pose no challenge for the camper. The pads for tents are large and level. While the park contains an area for tenters, each RV site has a tent pad and may be rented by tenters. There are 61 campsites: 51 are full hook-ups (with water, sewer and electricity) and 10 are unique walk-in, basic tent sites. Cheyenne Mountain State Park also has group camping areas. The Camper Services Building also has coin-operated showers and laundry, as well as a playground and activity room.

Due to the diversity of the wildlife on the park, dogs are not allowed on the trails or in the back country. They are always welcome in the campgrounds, picnic areas, and within 50 feet of the paved roads. They must be on a leash at all times and you must pick up after them.

The park is 10 minutes off I-25 but be sure to use exit 135, Academy Blvd, versus the marked exit 140. Exit 140 will take you there but will be a difficult drive with an RV or towed trailer. The directions contained on the website are the best ones to use for visitors not familiar with the area.

For that weekend, or weekday, get away we suggest you take a look at Cheyenne State Park as it appears to be one of Colorado’s best kept RV camping secrets.