Some trails feel like a big commitment before you even lace up your boots. The Seven Bridges Trail in North Cheyenne Canyon isn’t one of them.
Colette had the great idea to meet the kids for a weekend in Colorado Springs, and this hike made it onto our map of possibilities.
Located just outside Colorado Springs, it’s an easy trail to underestimate – creek-side, shaded, and unassuming – but it quickly proves it has more personality than its modest distance suggests.
If you’ve seen some of our previous posts from nearby hikes – places like Garden of the Gods, Mount Muscoco, or the Barr Trail to Pikes Peak – you already know how much variety is packed into this area. The Seven Bridges Trail fits into that mix in a different way. It doesn’t chase big viewpoints or steep elevation gains. Instead, it focuses on water, forest, and a steady, almost meditative pace that makes you slow down whether you mean to or not.
The trail picks up North Cheyenne Creek almost immediately and sticks with it, winding through pine forest and crossing – you guessed it – seven wooden bridges.
With the crazy mild winter we’re having, it’s an easy hike to enjoy in February.
Midway through, we noticed how often we stopped without planning to – adjusting layers, watching the water move, or lining up another photo as light filtered through the trees.
Compared to some of the longer or more strenuous hikes around Colorado Springs, Seven Bridges feels intentionally approachable. It works just as well as a relaxed out-and-back as it does as part of a longer route toward Jones Park.
Seven Bridges ended up being exactly what we didn’t know we were looking for. Easy to access, easy to enjoy, and flexible enough to fit whatever kind of hike you’re in the mood for. For first-timers, this would be an ideal introduction to North Cheyenne Canyon – a trail that shows off the quieter, greener side of Colorado Springs without asking too much in return.
No Vehicle Use Off This Road
What about on the road?
Number Two
Really bridge number one, since the real bridge number one is washed out.
Third Base
Taking in the views from Bridge Three along the Seven Bridges Trail.
Closer Analysis
It appears that this is a snowwoman, not a snowman.
Red and White
We must always have a photo with snowthings.
Big Bang
This massive boulder must have crashed down pretty hard to split in half.
Cold and Clear
North Cheyenne Creek flows fast and cold underneath the ice and snowpack.
Easy Going
These trails are amazing with this mild winter.
