*** The park opened to the public on Oct. 21, 2006.
***
Cheyenne Mountain State Park is a fee area. Annual passes can be
purchased at the Colorado State Parks Website
http://parks.state.co.us/
Considered one of the "crown jewels" in Colorado's extensive
state park system, Cheyenne Mountain State Park is the result of
strong partnerships and years of thoughtful planning. Acquired in
June 2000 through a partnership between the City of Colorado
Springs, Colorado State Parks, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and
other local private organizations, the park represents the
protection of one of the last significant open spaces along the
southern section of the Colorado Front Range.
Cheyenne Mountain is the only state park in El Paso County, and
will offer superior facilities and recreational opportunities.
Foremost among the park's offerings will be the trail system
consisting of 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. Along with
great trails, the park will offer a Visitor Center with gift shop
and interpretive displays, picnicking, and wildlife viewing. Future
plans include camping, group picnicking, as well as full-service
cabins and a first-class Event Center available to rent for
weddings, banquets, meetings, and other gatherings. The campgrounds
are now open and additional facilities will open as the
construction progresses.
While placing this cache, I encountered several deer. I got within
15' of one of them before she wandered away with a nearby buck.
There were numerous deer, elk, turkey, and mountain lion tracks all
over the trails. The area to the west of the cache is a turkey
breeding ground, hence the cache name. I spotted 3 turkeys on my
way back to my truck.
Park at the Day Use Trailhead Parking area, then head towards
the western edge of the Zook Loop trail. This area is called "The
Rock Garden" and is where the Blackmer Loop trail begins. It
doesn't matter which direction you go on the Blackmer Loop, you
will eventually branch off to the Cougar's Shadow trail.
The elevation gain from the parking area to the cache is only
about 450 feet, but over the roughly 5 mile round trip you will
hike up and down many small hills. If you counted all the uphill
sections, you would gain about 1200 feet or so.
Please stick to established trails. All the twists and turns of
the trail system have been designed to get you safely through the
terrain and to protect the wildlife habitat. There is nothing to be
gained by trying to take a shortcut.
Please park only in parking lots, not along roadways or in front
of gates
This cache has been placed with the permission of Park Manager
Rich Dudley. There is a first-finder's prize certificate inside
that can be redeemed when the Visitor's Center opens in mid to late
November.
Additional Waypoints
G1YYQY - Day Use Trailhead Parking
N 38° 43.874 W 104° 49.265
This is the only parking area available for those using the trail system. Other parking areas up the road are for specific uses (such as the planned event center which will only be open to those that have paid to reserve it). Restrooms are also available at this location.
G2YYQY - Blackmer Loop/Cougar's Shadow South
N 38° 43.632 W 104° 50.398
This is the southernmost end of the Cougar's Shadow trail where is connects to Blackmer Loop
G3YYQY - Blackmer Loop/Cougar's Shadow North
N 38° 44.043 W 104° 50.236
This is the northernmost end of the Cougar's Shadow trail where is connects to Blackmer Loop
Gobble gobble
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