City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (719) 385-5940

Insider Pick:

Description: Managed by the City of Colorado Springs, North Cheyenne Cañon is a full forest ecosystem right here in the city. The canyon itself is 1,000 feet deep and cut into 1.5 billion-year-old granite. The swift, clear North Cheyenne Creek runs through the spine of the 1,600-acre park, providing an ideal habitat for diverse plant life and such large animals as black bears, mountain lions, and mule deer. The little birds that love water, such as the broad-tailed hummingbird and kingfisher, also make a happy home here. You don’t have to remember all this, though, because as you enter the park you can stop at the Starsmore Discovery Center (719-385-6086). Each year, more than 450,000 people visit this unique City of Colorado Springs center, especially active in the summer with programs and festivals such as the annual Hummingbird Festival in May. At Starsmore you can pick up free canyon maps, see the critters outside the bird-watching window, see authentic dioramas, and explore hands-on nature exhibits. Books, videos, and hummingbird feeders are on sale, and past programs offered include a “Tipi Raising & Ute Heritage Workshop. ”The Helen Hunt Falls Visitor Center (719-633-5701 in summer or 719-385-6086 during the school year) is a quick drive up the canyon. Visitors find exhibits, scheduled hikes and walks, and informative staff and volunteers on-site. There’s also a gift shop with Colorado scenic guides and history books, maps, nature books, videos, gift items, and drinks. The stars, though, are the falls and trailheads accessed from this spot. You can find a trail map at www.springsgov.com. Note that the visitor center is normally closed in the winter months.