El Paso County accepted the 1,070-acre site through the land development process. The site straddles the Palmer Divide in the Black Forest and is characterized by gentle rolling terrain, covered by ponderosa pine forests, grassland meadows, wetlands, dotted with small ponds with abundant wildlife, including elk, whitetail deer, raptors, and turkeys.

The Palmer Land Trust holds a conservation easement on the site which ensures scenic, wildlife, aesthetic, recreational, and ecological conservation values will be preserved and maintained in perpetuity.

The Pineries Open Space Master Plan was completed in 2010 which guides the overall development of the site. In 2013, the site was extremely damaged by the Black Forest Fire and significantly delayed the opening of the site for public use.

Phase 1 improvements include 1,070 acres of scenic open space, large trailhead, restroom, and approximately 9 miles of single-track trail.

  • Location: 13201 Volmer Road (.6 miles north of the intersection of Volmer and Shoup)
  • Park Hours:
    April – October
    5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    November – March
    6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
  • Driving Directions:
    The Pineries Open Space can be reached from Interstate 25, exit 153 to Interquest Parkway, then travel east on Interquest Parkway for 2.2 miles. Interquest Parkway turns into State Highway 83 at Powers Boulevard. Continue 0.85 mile and turn east onto Shoup Road. Continue 6.5 miles on Shoup Road to the stop sign at Vollmer Road. Turn north, and proceed for 0.60 mile to the entrance of Pineries Open Space on the east side of the road.
    From East Woodmen Road, drive 0.20 north on Black Forest Road and turn east onto Vollmer Road. Continue 6.15 miles north on Vollmer Road to the entrance of Pineries Open Space on the east side of the road.
  • El Paso County Parks:
    (719) 520-7529
  • Park Weather: NOAA
  • Cycling / Mountain Biking
  • Hiking
  • Horseback Riding
  • Interpretive Kiosk
  • Restrooms

Make a donation specifically to Pineries Open Space through the “Trust for County Parks.”

Secure donations can be made using PayPal by clicking the icon below.

Thank You Scheels
Partner in the Park for Pineries Open Space

Pineries Open Space