City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (719) 385-5940

Address: 3650 Maizeland Rd.

Description: Palmer Park is a great expanse of a park—730 acres that lie east of downtown. It has open fields, steep cliffs, hoodoos (tall rock spires), and great views of Pikes Peak. A favorite of hikers and joggers, it’s convenient to those on the east side of town. Palmer Park has 2 baseball/softball fields, a big playground (worth a drive), a football/soccer field, 3 volleyball courts (bring your own ball), a dog park, and horse stables (lessons and boarding, 719-634-4173). There are scenic overlooks from a drive through the park, picnic spots for large and small groups, a botanical reserve, and the Seven Castles geological point of interest. There also are more than 25 miles of trails for hikers, cyclists, joggers, and equestrians. Palmer Park can be accessed either off Maizeland Road just west of the intersection of Maizeland Road and North Academy Boulevard, or off of Austin Bluffs Parkway west of its intersection with North Academy Boulevard.