There’s a new trail coming to the Austin Bluffs Open Space that will lead to the summit of Pulpit Rock. The 0.5 mile Enlightenment Hiking-Only Trail will incorporate stone steps to provide a more direct path to the summit of the monolith than the existing route. And will help promote sustainability, reduce maintenance costs and improve the overall user experience. The new path will also help to streamline the tangle of social trails in and around Pulpit Rock and the Austin Bluffs Open Space.
“Austin Bluffs Open Space is a cherished landmark in our community, offering breathtaking vistas and unique geological features,” said David Deitemeyer, Trails, Open Space and Parks senior program administrator.
The Enlightenment Trail is being funded by a $250,000 Non-Motorized Trails Grant through a multi-agency partnership that includes Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Lottery and the Federal Recreational Trails Program (RPT). The grant enables larger work within the Austin Bluffs Open Space, including constructing nearly 2.5 miles of new trail and trailhead improvements that will provide better connectivity and visitor experience. Many existing illegal trails also will be decommissioned and restored.
Read more about hiking to the top of the popular landmark in our Pulpit Rock trail guide.
Austin Bluffs Open Space, 1401 Recreation Way
coloradosprings.gov/austinbluffsopenspace
