<p>I’m going to take advantage of my son’s week at Summer Seminar (Session B) to take a vacation in Colorado. Can anyone recommend some good hiking trails? I’m looking for something in the 5-8 mile range.</p>
<p>Stanley Canyon is a good hike with lots of good views. It's about 2 miles up to the reservoir and about 2000ish vertical feet (all in the first mile). A little stream runs all the way up the canyon. There are more trails and stuff that you can hike beyond the reservoir but just up to the lake and back down is like 4 miles.</p>
<p>Eagle Peak is very difficult I hear, but I haven't done it. It is the mountain right behind the cadet area and Stanley Canyon is about 1 mile south.</p>
<p>Both are on academy grounds and I am pretty sure they are open to the public.</p>
<p>Pictures of Stanley Canyon:
<a href="http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/cbkillion/Stanley%20Canyon/%5B/url%5D">http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f117/cbkillion/Stanley%20Canyon/</a></p>
<p>I hiked Eagle's Peak...its not very long, but its very steep. I would reccomend it, but if you're looking for a longer hike, I wouldn't know what to tell you.</p>
<p>Those sound like great suggestions. Can you tell me where the trailhead would be?</p>
<p>The trailhead for Eagles Peak...lets see...from what I can remember, its back behind the Academy, past the Visitor's center out behind the chapel. You might want to ask a cadet. ;)</p>
<p>Stanley's...no idea.</p>
<p>The other thing too...Eagle's peak has an amazing view...even if its a bit short for what you're looking for, the view of the Academy is amazing.</p>
<p>When we hiked Stanley at SS last summer the trailhead was off of one of the Academy roads. They took us to it in vans and there was a small parking area. You might go to the Visitor's Center to get directions for all of the trails around USAFA, not just the one's in the mountians.</p>
<p>I'm not sure any of the trails from the academy are open to visitors. Security concerns. But I would like to know if they are.
The National Forest Service office in Colorado Springs (a little hard to find - near downtown) has some good topo maps and other info for sale.
We really enjoyed Waldo Canyon (on US 24 a few miles past Manitou Springs) and there's another really nice trail on the old railroad bed that goes to Cripple Creek. We found last June that it clouded up and rained or threatened to rain almost every day about 1:00 PM in the mountains.</p>
<p>Thank to everyone that posted information. I'd really like to do some hiking west of USAFA if the trails are open, but if not I'll look into some of the other options. If I can get a definitive answer on the accessibility of the Academy trails I'll let everyone know.</p>