The Ute Indian Trail section of the Ute Pass Regional Trail starts at the base of the Manitou Incline and follows the historic trail alignment used by Ute Indians through the pass. The trail offers a unique and memorable hiking experience featuring nine interpretive panels touching on Ute culture, Ute Pass history, watershed management, local habitat and geological formations. Three miles up from the incline the trail ends in an interpretive loop offering a hands-on educational experience. Trail users are encouraged to build their own rock cairn and enjoy the interpretive kiosk.
- Trailhead Location:
The Ute Indian Trail shares a trailhead with the Manitou Incline near the end of Ruxton Avenue near the Pikes Peak Cog Railroad. - Parking:
Parking, for a fee, is limited in the Incline Parking lot and along Ruxton Avenue.
Parking for free is available in the lot by the Tajine Restaurant, 10 Old Man’s Trail, Manitou Springs, where you can then take the free shuttle right to the Incline trailhead. - Park Hours:
Dawn to Dusk - Ute Pass Regional Trail Master Plan
- El Paso County Parks Department:
(719) 520-7529 - Park Weather: NOAA
The Ute Pass Regional Trail is a planned 40-mile trail that will eventually connect Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek in Teller County. It is part of the American Discovery Trail and the America the Beautiful Trail. The trail will help to preserve the rich Ute Pass history that includes the Ute Indians using the historic trail for their pilgrimages, and later, explorers, gold seekers and settlers seeking the easiest passage to points west through the mountains.
The first section of the El Paso County’s Ute Pass Regional Trail was constructed in 2003, connecting the Ute Pass Elementary School with the Town of Green Mountain Falls to allow safe passage for students. In 2006, a second section was completed connecting the Town of Green Mountain Falls to the Teller County line. Green Mountain Falls later provided an on-road trail through the community that links the two sections.
El Paso County received a State Trails grant for construction of a 3-mile portion of the trail east of Longs Ranch Road, with a turn-around interpretive loop to return hikers to the Manitou Springs area. Construction of this section was completed in the Fall of 2014. The last section of the trail will connect the interpretive loop trail to the Ute Pass Elementary School. A State Trails Planning Grant was received for this segment and is scheduled to begin in 2015.
Ute Pass Trail Ribbon Cutting and Ute Indian Prayer
On September 6, 2014, El Paso County Officials, along with Northern and Southern Ute Indian elders and members, celebrated the opening of the Ute Pass Regional Trail with blessings, a ribbon cutting and an Indian prayer.