Round Trip Distance: 1 mile
Difficulty: Easy
Elevation: 6381 - 6488 feet
Cellphone: 3-5 bars
Time: 45 mins.
Trailhead: Parking Lot 2
Fee: none
Attractions: Very scenic
The Bretag trail is located in the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The trail travels across a grassy meadow beginning off of the Gateway trail on one end to a junction with the Palmer trail on the other end. The trail is named after Susan G. Bretag to whom it was dedicated to in 1986.
For this post we are beginning where the Bretag trail branches off from the Gateway trail. We got to this point by following the Gateway trail from the Visitor Center.
The trail follows a wide path with a hard packed surface. The trail is closed to mountain bikes so the tire tracks in this photo were probably made by baby strollers or wheelchairs as it looks suitable for both. Wheelchairs might need a little assistance and while they won't be able to go the full length of the trail a little trip through the meadow might be nice.
After all, this is a shot of some of the scenery there is from the Bretag trail.
The world class scenery is definitely nice but the trail is a pleasant stroll all by itself.
As the trail travels around the upper end of the meadow there are two places where the Dakota trail branches off on the right.
The trail gets narrower near the end where it comes to a set of stone steps. The steps could be managed with a baby stroller but would surely be a harrowing experience for a wheelchair.
Just past the top of the stone steps the Bretag trail meets the Palmer trail and comes to an end. Parking Lot 2 is just across the road at this point.
There are nice views of the Kissing Camels from the Bretag trail.
From North Gateway Rock on the right to South Gateway Rock in the middle to Cathedral Rock on the left the views are guaranteed to please and delight.
In this photo Pikes Peak (14,115 feet) is framed on both sides by North and South Gateway with White Rock standing out in contrast to the lush green grass, the red sandstone cliffs and the deep blue sky.
