Round Trip Distance: 0.5 miles
Difficulty: Moderate
Elevation: 6392 - 6488 feet
Cellphone: 2-5 bars
Time: 30 mins.
Trailhead: South Garden - P10
Fee: none
Attractions: Scenic views
The Ridge Trail is located in the Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The trail begins in the South Garden area where it climbs up the southern flanks of the Sleeping Giant rock formation and forms a loop that offers scenic views of the Garden of the Gods.
Parking Lot 10 is on the east side of the Juniper Way Loop Road which is the main road that travels around the Central Garden area.
From the parking area head across the road to where the Ridge trail begins.
From the roadway the trail makes a gentle climb up a terraced path lined by various grasses and yucca plants.
After about 300 feet of hiking the trail splits and begins a loop. For this post we went to the left and followed the loop in the clockwise direction. Having done so we decided the views would probably be better going in the opposite direction.
The trail along the west side of the loop is primitive in nature. A sturdy pair of shoes would be much more suitable than flip flops would be.
As the trail reaches the top of the ridge it becomes more uneven turning into a bit of a scramble.
At the top of the ridge the trail comes to a pleasant area where jagged outcrops of sandstone jut up in front of the surrounding landscape. In this picture Pikes Peak (14,115 feet) can be seen on the horizon.
On the east side of the ridge there is an incredible view of Gray Rock aka Cathedral Rock.
Coming down the east side of the loop the trail isn't quite as primitive.
