For more than 20 years, El Paso County has worked to build a trail roughly following a historic route of tribal people ー a seasonal hunting route now defined by U.S. 24 through the foothills between Manitou Springs and Teller County. 

Now that trail is about to see major progress. 

El Paso County expects construction to start later this month on the next segment of Ute Pass Trail. 

It will be a concrete segment spanning 1 ½ miles, including a trailhead off Spring Street in Cascade, near the stoplight and intersection of U.S. 24 and Fountain Avenue. From there, the trail will follow Chipeta Park Road toward Ute Pass Elementary and previously built connections between Green Mountain Falls and the Teller County line. 

The other end of Ute Pass Trail starts in Manitou Springs, beside the Manitou Incline. The dirt trail runs about 3 miles to a gap before Cascade. Following heavy construction expected to continue through this year, that will be the final gap of the trail’s full 11-mile vision: 1.75 miles yet to be filled between Colorado Springs Utilities property and the Cascade trailhead to be built. 

That’s according to Jason Meyer, who has overseen the project since 2009 with El Paso County’s Parks Department. He said the project dated closer to the turn of this century, when trail building was focused west toward the Teller County line, down from Crystola. 

In an area lacking sidewalks, Ute Pass Trail “works double duty,” Meyer explained:

“It’s the local access, connecting neighborhoods, connecting businesses. And to be able to connect the commercial hub there at Highway 24 all the way up to Ute Pass Elementary. Folks no longer have to walk or ride on the shoulder of Chipeta Park Road; they’ll have a sidewalk. And it’s providing that larger, non-motorized connectivity.” 

From Manitou to Cascade to Green Mountain Falls and on toward Woodland Park ー off the highway. 

The coming trailhead and 1 ½-mile segment could be a draw of its own. 

“You don’t have to drive between Cascade and Green Mountain Falls,” Meyer said. “You can, on a nice summer day, take your bike and go for a ride.” 

The $3 million project is launching on the heels of a $2.5 million grant from Great Outdoors Colorado for several recreation and conservation projects around the Pikes Peak region. It will be the first project to take shape among a list prepared by Pikes Peak Outdoor Recreation Alliance. The local nonprofit listed Ute Pass Trail construction as key to progressing Ring the Peak Trail ー the decades-long dream of a trail looping Pikes Peak. 

Meyer said about $200,000 from that grant is supporting trailhead construction, with other funds coming from federal and county coffers. 

While identified as 1.75 miles, he said Ute Pass Trail’s final gap down to Manitou had yet to be designed and planned. 

“It’s going to be very complex,” he said. “It’s the narrowest part of Ute Pass. We have the highway, Utilities, watershed properties. It’s going to be the most difficult section to complete for sure.” 

Upcoming construction out of Cascade will involve curb and gutter installation, retaining walls, drainage improvements and tree removal along public right-of-way, according to a county news release. Construction is expected to be done by December.