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 Reporter |
Summary: This is a nice hike through the national forest north of Woodland Park. The trail follows a meandering stream through a pleasant valley. Then comes back down along a ridge providing some nice views. Unfortunately the trail along the ridge follows some high-voltage powerlines which really deter from the scenery and wilderness feel. The trail does at times have some steep sections. Trailhead: Take highway 24 to Woodland Park. At the intersection of Rampart Range Road and higway 24 (the stoplight by McDonalds) head north on Rampart Range Road for approximately 2 miles. On the left you will see the trailhead located near a Forest Service building just before the water tanks. A sign is by the road for the trailhead. (Lat:39.01834 Lon:-105.04094) Trail Guides for Lovell Gulch Trail: Mountain Biking Colorado Springs Second Edition by David Crowell (The Globe Pequot Press) Best Seasons: Year-Round User Groups: Hikers, Dogs, Bikes, Horses, Ranger Contact: Pikes Peak Ranger District 719-636-1602 Localhikes Reporter: This hike was submitted by Joshua Friesema, who has posted 97 other hikes on this site. To visit this reporters web site, click here. Trail Reviews Submit your own review 
Reviewed by Rainer on 4/10/2011 Directions are very confusing. Turn off by McDonalds is NOT Rampart Range Road but Baldwin. After a few Intersections it turns into Baldwin. The Trailhead itself did not have a sign on the street. Trail head is located at, what looks like a big garage. The trail itself is not marked very well and there are a lot of other trails branching off. If you enjoy walking through back yards, this is the trail for you.
Reviewed by SB on 8/1/2010 Couldn't find the trail today - needs much better markings! 
Reviewed by Cherokee on 10/13/2009 We did the loop today (10/13/09)with a group from Aurora. The TH was a bit hard to locate. The TH sign is (on left) off the road and it's not facing you when you pull in. Trail was dry. We did the 5 mi. loop counterclockwise. The ups are stretching the "moderate" rating a bit. These ups are heart thumpers with erosion, rocks and roots. Trail then meanders along a power line as it climbs. Not very scenic. On top we had lunch and a great spot for pix. The descent down was easy. Much like following a mini valley to a stream. Three horseback riders passed us in the last 1/4 mi. A nice quiet one time hike. 
Reviewed by Cindy on 7/31/2009 This hike has very nice wildflower viewing through late June to early July. Nice shade for about 1/2 the hike (first half if going counter-clockwise). Quite a bit easier to do this hike counter-clockwise. Quiet, easily accessible hike. I do it at least 2x a year - spring for flowers, fall for aspens.
Reviewed by Hag on 7/2/2007 A favorite trail for horses. Georgious views of The Peak. Cool running creek deep into the trail. Nice canopy of trees for the Summer. Nice variety of hills and valleys. Very accessible and close to town, though it feels miles away.
Reviewed by Craig on 9/11/2006 This is a "balloon loop" hike--we went counterclockwise. Initial 1/2 mile or so is terrible, hiking by power plant, houses, etc. Then this is acutally a pretty nice hike--runs thru forested meadows (lots of wildflowers) and a gentle grade up to the ridge--follow the ridge ahwile and a fairly steep descent back down to forest & out. There are power lines along ridge as prev. reviewer states, but they didn't bother me as much. Trail Note--this hike is actually closer to 6 miles than the listed distance of 5. 
Reviewed by DLF on 11/22/2005 Take note of the review below! We hiked this trail on 9/19/2005 and weather was great. The trail was a bit confusing in the beginning because there were a number of secondary trails off the main trail. The hike was quite steep within the first 60 minutes of the climb and offered a so-so view at the top. The scenery during our decent was not very impressive. Overall, the hike was okay, but I wouldnt do it again!...there are other 5 mile hikes nearby (documented on this website) that offer nicer views throughout the climb.
Reviewed by cwh on 10/25/2004 Trailhead correction: Road by McDonalds is labeled Baldwin Rd. It turns into Rampart Range Rd. Trailhead is after a Forest Service bldg. Notice: Traveling in the backcountry can be hazardous. You are responsible for informing yourself about these hazards and taking necessary precautions. Information on this web site comes from volunteer reporters and may contain errors or omissions. A current guidebook and proper equipment are essential for safe enjoyment of the hikes posted on this site. Keys: Colorado Hiking, Colorado Trails, Colorado Hikes, Teller County Hiking, Teller County Trails, Teller County Hikes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
