11.8 miles

Distance

1,163 ft

Climb

-1,175 ft

Descent

1 mile

High Point

-11 ft

Altitude change

6,325 ft

Altitude min

6,368 ft

Altitude start

6,358 ft

Altitude end

-45.6%

Grade max

21.3%

Grade min

6 miles

Distance climb

5 miles

Distance down

4,675 ft

Distance flat

Starting at the south east corner of Palmer Park by the intersection of Academy Blvd. and Maizeland Rd. There is parking here and bathrooms. Later, when you're done, "fresh" roller dogs await you at Kum & Go across Maizeland.

Find your way towards the back corner, Academy side and look for Greencrest Trail heading north. It will have you on a doubletrack until you see a trail sign, this is the start

About half a mile into your climb, a confusing intersection will come up. Paseo Road will be on your left with a dirt road heading roughly north with a gate. You want to veer left, but the trail further from Paseo Road, named Greencrest Connector on here. This will connect with Mini Moab and deliver your first bit of technical. The notch is mandatory.

Towards the end of Mini Moab, the you can leave the ridge right or left (east or west), you want left (west) down a drainage to a small parking lot. Go through this lot, across the dirt road (Lazyland Rd.) towards a trail sign connecting you to Greencrest Alternate Trail, take a left to head south. You'll reach an intersection at mile 1.6, head right towards the dog park.

Mile 1.8 will have you pop out north of the off leash dog park, continue through the wooden fence and look for Templeton Trail on your immediate right. Stay on straight on Templeton Trail through mile 2.3 and look for your left turn back up to Yucca Trail at mile 2.6 with a steep, punchy bit.

Hang a right on Yucca Trail and catch your breath. At mile 3, the road will take a hard left turn. Look for a wooden fence with a trail sign on your right at the apex of the turn. This is your next decent onto Templeton Trail Alternate. Stay straight onto two quick intersections and then left at mile 3.3 for Templeton - Lazy Land Connector. Come out at the Lazy Land lot and hang a left, heading north onto Palmer Point Trail.

Palmer Point Trail will wrap around the north west perimeter and bring you to the stables by mile 5. There is a quick trail on Paseo Road Connector that will bring you to another parking lot. Cross Paseo Road to gain access to Grandview Trail to start climbing. At mile 5.8, you'll cross the pavement of Paseo Road with a left turn (crosswalk) to head north onto Greencrest Trail Connector for a moment. At mile 6, there will be a left turn onto a steep climb to cross over the dog park road onto Yucca Flats Connector.

From Yucca Flats Connector it will run into the southern part of Templeton Trail and then Yucca Trail. Just follow the contour of the terrain to stay high until mile 6.3 which will be a four way intersection. Take the left onto Yucca Flats Flow. At mile 6.6, you'll intercept Templeton Trail again, take it to the right and stay on it until the Edna Mae Bennet Nature Trail, mile 6.9, take the sharp switchback left downhill.

You'll be at the stables again by mile 7.3, follow the road out, cross Paseo Road again to climb Grandview Trail. Look for the Cheyenne Trail spur at mile 8.3 on your right, take this turn for a quick bit of tech. You'll rejoin Grandview Trail at mile 8.7, take the right to continue.

Mile 9.1 has a split, take the left onto Grandview Trail Alternate which will rejoin onto Grandview Trail at mile 9.4. Coming up is the entrance to Cheyenne Trail on the right with a tight, rocky switchback decent at mile 9.5.

Ride all of Cheyenne Trail sweet tech and climb back up to Grandview Trail by mile 10.3, hang a right. Look for a left turn at mile 10.4, Grandview - Kinnickinnick Shortcut to cross Grandview Overlook Road and join Kinnickinnick Trail.

Navigate the technical decent and hang the first left to stay on Kinnickinnick Trail all the way back to the park at the start. Stay straight at mile 11 and again at mile 11.3. Kinnickinnick Trail will start decending at mile 11.4 with the trail going right. Watch the road crossing at mile 11.4, continue straight.

Will be a sharp left off of Signal Hill at mile 11.7 onto Palmer Park Acc to Paseo Road, then right back to the starting parking lot!

Drop the hammer to bring it home!

Detailed Description

D-Loop #5 is a 12 mile popular intermediate route located near Colorado Springs Colorado. This mountain bike only route can be used one direction and has a hard overall physical rating. This route includes 11 trails. This route climbs 1,163 ft with a max elevation of 6,583 ft then descends -1,175 ft.

Local Trail Association

Guardians of Palmer Park (www.gopalmerpark.org)

Please consider joining or donating to the local riding association to support trail development & maintenance.

Donate to earn trail karma!

Stats

Distance

12 miles
Altitude change

-11 ft
Altitude min

6,325 ft
Altitude start

6,368 ft
Altitude end

6,358 ft
Climb

1,163 ft
Descent

-1,175 ft
Grade max

-45.6%
Grade min

21.3%
Distance climb

6 miles
Distance down

5 miles
Distance flat

4,675 ft

9 Reviews & Comments

Score Time Route Post Comment

We hope you've been enjoying Trailforks!

Create a FREE account to view route comments and much more.

Create a Free Account

Trails in Route

	Little Moab Alt				302 ft
	Lazy Land Acc				554 ft
	Templeton to Lazy Land Alt.				650 ft
	Templeton Acc				217 ft
	Palmer Point				1 mile
	Palmer Park Acc				256 ft
	Edna Mae Acc				184 ft
	Upper Mesa				1,683 ft
	Palmer Park Acc				1,155 ft
	East Cheyenne				2,156 ft
	Grandview Alt				574 ft

Details

Riding area

Palmer Park
Primary Activity

Mountain Bike
Difficulty rating

Blue
Bike type

AM, XC
Direction

One Direction
Physical rating

Hard

status	trail	date	condition	description
	Palmer Point	Mar 18, 2026 @ 1:40pm (America/Denver) Mar 18, 2026
	Upper Mesa	Mar 18, 2026 @ 1:40pm (America/Denver) Mar 18, 2026
	Edna Mae Acc	Mar 18, 2026 @ 1:40pm (America/Denver) Mar 18, 2026
	East Cheyenne	Mar 18, 2026 @ 1:40pm (America/Denver) Mar 18, 2026
	Little Moab Alt	Mar 18, 2026 @ 1:40pm (America/Denver) Mar 18, 2026