Welcome to a new feature as part of our new Out There section, coming to you every Friday. Here, we’ll spotlight one-by-one Colorado’s 42 state parks, the lands from the vast prairies to the soaring mountains that have been set aside for your enjoyment. Whether it’s a day on the water or in a forest or a night of camping under the stars, whether it’s cross-country skiing or rock climbing or sitting back to watch the wildlife, these escapes offer something for everyone year-round.

We’ll start with the park in our backyard.

Cheyenne Mountain

Description: The views should not be missed in this open space on the city’s southern boundaries. The 2,700-acre park flanking its 9,564-foot tall namesake is an essential plains-to-peak experience, with the grassland paths giving way to the foothills of Gambel oak and ponderosa pine. Stop into the visitor center and pick up some knowledge of the former ranchland that opened 10 years ago as El Paso County’s one and only state park.

Activities: 51 full-service campsites and 10 tent sites; day-use picnic areas; 20-plus miles of trails for hikers, bikers and equestrians (pets not allowed); archery range with targets 10 to 80 yards out; cross-country skiing/snowshoeing; geocaching; interpretive hikings programs and youth archery classes; yoga sessions; event spaces and two meeting rooms

Wildlife: Abundance of birds including golden eagles and wild turkeys and red-tailed hawks, black bears, bobcats, coyotes, foxes, deer, elk

Fun fact: Hidden within Cheyenne Mountain’s granite walls is the Cheyenne Mountain Complex, built initially with the idea of Cold War America needing a center of defense against long-range Soviet threats. The North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Combat Operations Center moved into the mountain in 1967.

Address: 410 JL Ranch Heights, Colorado Springs, 80926

Contact: 719-576-2016, [email protected]

Hours: Day-use areas 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.; archery range sunrise to sunset; 24-hour camping with quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Directions: Head south on Highway 115 toward the traffic light at Gate 1 of Fort Carson, turn west at the light to the park entrance