Monument Creek Trail 715

Overview: Monument Creek flows north through the Front Range, around the north side of Raspberry Mtn, and down into the town of Monument, where it turns south, paralleling I-25. Then it runs down through Colorado Springs, where it finally joins Fountain Creek on its way to become part of the Arkansas River on the south side of Pueblo, CO. This guide begins at a small trailhead just west of the town of Monument, leads you up and over the ridge that zig-zags behind Mt Herman, and drops you down into the Monument Creek Valley about two miles east of its inception. The trail for this hike is a multi-use trail; so expect to encounter bicycles occasionally (known to bikers as the “Stooopid Trail” because its curves and dips often launch them into the bushes, making them feel “dumb”). I’m only providing a guide for a 3 mile, out and back, hike. Should you have more time and/or energy, you could push on down the valley, all the way into the town of Palmer Lake (another 3 miles) — just remember, the return journey would be almost all up hill.

Tips: Directions: Leave I-25 at exit 161 (Hwy 105) and head west through the older section of Monument (Hwy 105 turns north just past the Interstate; keep going west on what is now 2nd Street). After you cross the railroad tracks, turn left (south) at the T-intersection onto Mitchell Ave. In .5 miles you’ll see the sign for Mt Herman Road; turn right. From this intersection the trailhead is 5.1 miles. First you’ll see a small parking area and a trail sign for Forest Service Trail 716. Continue past this spot, until you come to the trailhead for trail 715 about .1 miles later. About a mile into this leg of the trip, the pavement stops. The rest of the road is dirt, washboard in many places, narrow in some. Drive slowly and be prepared for people approaching you on the way down the hill — they seem to drive somewhat faster.