Pikes Peak Road Runners

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Downtown Lunchtime Running Routes

The following downtown running routes were developed by Jon Cornick, a club member, pictured below.  Jon works at Booz Allen near Tejon and Colorado Ave.  Your time for these routes will obviously vary from Jon's, depending on your pace.  If you see Jon out running these routes, be sure to give him a big smile, a friendly hello and a hearty thank you.

Notes:

1. Times include standing around waiting for stop lights and slowing for unleashed dogs.
2. Risky intersections are:
   

• Cascade and Colorado
• Colorado and Nevada
• Colorado and Wahsatch
• Sierra Madre and Cimarron
• 8th Street and State Highway 24

3. The coal train blocks Sierra Madre at the crossing between Fountain and Mill St for as long as ten minutes, really eating into the running time.  Train stops were included when the average time was estimated for the South Loop trail.
   

1. Start in the south tower courtyard and run west toward MacKenzie's Chop House.
2. Go right (north) on Tejon to Colorado, then left (west) onto Colorado, over the railroad tracks to the light at Conejos.
3. Run south on Conejos past the Cottonwood Art Gallery and turn right (west) onto the paved foot path into America the Beautiful Park.
4. Run west across the Fountain Creek foot bridge and under I-25, crossing Chestnut street up to the light at 8th Street.  This light is a real time killer and can be three minutes long.
5. Continue northwest on the paved foot path to 14th street and turn right (northeast) to Colorado Ave.
6. Turn right (southeast) on Colorado Avenue and follow it all the way back to Tejon St.
7. Turn right (south) on Tejon to the court yard and back to the starting point.
   

1. Start in the south tower courtyard and run west toward MacKenzie's Chop House.
2. Go North (right) on Tejon to Colorado, then west (left) on Colorado, over the railroad tracks to the light at Conejos.
3. Run south on Conejos past the Cottonwood Art Gallery and turn right (west) onto the paved foot path into America the Beautiful Park.
4. Run west across the Fountain Creek foot bridge and under I-25, crossing Chestnut street up to the light at Eighth Street.  The Eighth Street light is a real time killer and can be three minutes long.
5. Continue northwest on the paved foot path to 21st street where the paved trail ends.
6. Cross 21st street and turn left (southwest to Naegele Street (frontage road) and turn right (northwest).
7. Run on Naegele street to the "Gordon Sign Company" billboard and turn around.
8. Return the way you came.
   

1. Start and the Pendulum Clock sculpture and run east on Colorado across Nevada and Wahsatch to the corner of Colorado and Corona.  Note: The light at Colorado and Nevada is a "time buster" on this route.
2. Follow the sidewalk as Colorado curves around the old depot and becomes East Pikes Peak.
3. Continue along East Pikes Peak over the bridge that crosses Shook's Run, past the Gazette and Hospital to Union Blvd.
4. Turn right (south) on Union Blvd., and continue south until the parking lot entryway to Memorial Park.  Enter the parking lot.
5. Run southwest through the parking lot toward Prospect Lake, through the picnic and play grounds to the paved trail around the lake.
6. Run the trail (either direction) and return to the picnic area.
7. Return the way you came.
   

1. Start in the south tower courtyard and run west toward MacKenzie's Chop House.
2. Go north (right) on Tejon to Colorado, then west (left) on Colorado, over the railroad tracks to the light at Conejos.
3. Run south on Conejos past the Cottonwood Art Gallery and turn right (west) onto the paved foot path into America the Beautiful Park.
4. Run west across the Fountain Creek foot bridge and turn left (south) onto the gravel trail that parallels Monument Creek.
5. Cross the foot bridge over Fountain Creek.
6. Continue past the foot bridge that crosses fountain Creek and turn right (west) into the tunnel under I-25 that follows Bear Creek.  The tunner comes up alongside the south edge of the Wal-Mart shopping center.
7. Continue on the paved trail, into the tunnel adjacent to the 8th street bridge over Bear Creek, loop around onto the bridge.
8. Cross Bear Creek over the 8th street bridge and turn right (west) onto the gravel trail into Bear Creek Park.
9. Follow the gravel trail (heading southwest) across the paved access road to a "T" intersection of trails and take a right (west, northwest).
10. Follow this gravel trail (Swallow Tail or Butterfly Trail) for about a half mile, where Buck Trail (or Deer Trail) joins in from the right.
11. Turn right (north) onto Deer Trail and proceed down to Bear Creek, cross Bear Creek (use the nicely displayed rocks) and into Penrose Stadium proper.
12. Follow the gravel roads within Penrose Stadium, between the corrals, heading in a northerly direction to the Entrance from West Rio Grande.
13. Run north along the entrance road and turn right (east) onto West Rio Grande.
14. Run east on West Rio Grande to the intersection with 8th Street.  Wal-Mart will be across the street.  Wait for the traffic to clear before crossing 8th street.  This is no clearance to safely run along the west side of 8th street to join the trail at the bridge over Bear Creek.
15. Run south on the sidewalk in front of Wal-Mart and pick up the trail on the south edge of the Wal-Mart parking lot.
16. Run east on the trail alongside of Bear Creek, under I-25 and return the way you came.
    

1. Start at the south Courtyard and run west to Tejon St.
2. Turn Left and run south on Tejon to Vermijo.  Turn right (west) onto Vermijo and run to Sierra Madre.
3. Turn left (south) onto Sierra Madre and run south.  There is a light at Cimarron that can take minutes to clear.
4. Continue south on Sierra Madre across the railroad tracks (Trains arrive every three days around noon).
5. Pick up the paved entrance to the Fountain Creek Trail where Sierra Madre turns east and becomes Las Vegas (shortly after the railroad tracks)
6. Follow the paved access road to the gravel trail and turn right (northwest) onto the Fountain Creek Trail.
7. Follow the trail along Fountain Creek to the foot bridge leading into America the Beautiful (A the B) Park, turn right (east) into the Park.
8. Leave the Park and turn left (north) onto Conejos St, run past the Cottonwood Art Gallery up to Colorado Ave, and the bridge over the railroad tracks.
9. Run east along Colorado Ave to Tejon, turning right (south) on Tejon and south into the courtyard.
   

1. Start at the south Courtyard and run west to Tejon St.
2. Turn Left and run south on Tejon to Vermijo, Turn right (west) onto Vermijo and run to Sierra Madre.
3. Turn right (north) onto Sierra Madre and run under Colorado, past the Old Depot and meet up with a gravel trail on the left just before Bijou Street.
4. Run the gravel trail under Bijou Street Bridge, staying left of the foot bridge crossing Monument Creek.
5. Cross over Monument Creek and run the gravel trail on the west side of the creek to Mesa Rd.
6. turn right (east) on mesa across Monument Creek and pick up the trail (turning left) on the north side of Mesa Rd after the bridge.
7. Run north on the east side of Monument Creek, behind Colorado College to Uintah St.
8. Run up onto Unitah St and turn left (west) across the bridge and past the old Van Briggle pottery factory.
9. Turn left (south) onto Glen Ave and run into the Van Briggle parking lot where you can pick up the gravel trail in the southeast corner of the lot.
10. Run south along the west side of Monument Creek to Mesa, where you turn left, cross the bridge and turn right onto the gravel trail running alongside Monument creek on the east.  The pattern of crossing Mesa and Uintah St bridges forms a figure 8, hence Unitah-8.
11. Follow the trail south to the footbridge noted in #4 above and return the way you came from that point.
    

1. Start in the south tower courtyard and run West toward Mackenzie's Chop House.
2. Go North (right) on Tejon to Colorado, then West (left) on Colorado, over the railroad tracks to the light at Conejos.
3. Run South on Conejos past the Cottonwood Art Gallery and turn right (West) onto the paved root path into America the Beautiful Park.
4. Run west across the Fountain Creek foot bridge and turn left (South) onto the gravel trail that parallels Monument Creek.
5. Cross the foot bridge over Fountain Creek (the end of Monument Creek begins here)
6. Continue past the foot bridge that crosses Fountain Creek and turn right (West) into the tunnel under I-25 that follows Bear Creek.  the tunner comes up alongside the South edge of the Wal-Mart shopping center.
7. Run along the south end of the Wal-Mart parking lot to 8th St and turn right (north).
8. Run north along 8th St to Highway 24 intersection.
9. Cross Highway 24 and pick up the paved trail at the intersection (turning right, east) that leads into American the Beautiful Park.
10. Leave the Park and turn north on Conejos St past the Cottonwood Art Gallery up to Colorado Ave, and the bridge over the railroad tracks.
11. Run east along Colorado Ave to Tejon, turning right (south) on Tejon and south into the courtyard.