more stats
3,501 ft
Distance
-376 ft
Descent
00:03:28
Avg time
-376 ft
Altitude change
7,143 ft
Altitude min
7,518 ft
Altitude max
7,518 ft
Altitude start
7,142 ft
Altitude end
-10.7%
Grade
-35.2%
Grade max
3.1%
Grade min
66 ft
Distance climb
3,320 ft
Distance down
112 ft
Distance flat
00:03:28
Avg time

Penrose Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    North Cheyenne Cañon Park
    Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • AKA
    Gravel Gutter, The Colonel
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #552 in Mountain Biking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm, Drop, Jump, Gap Jump
  • Land Owner
    City of Colorado Springs

This is a high-speed trail in the decomposed granite with many optional jumps including gaps. The trail handles moisture very well and given it's southern exposure, often loses snow and dries out very quickly.

Great alternative descent to lower Captain Jacks.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 6 rides
  • 14 miles average
6 Months
  • 184 rides
  • 17 miles avg distance
All
  • 857 rides
  • Last: Aug 26, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Penrose Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jun 11, 2026 @ 11:13am (America/Denver)
Jun 11, 2026
 tons of ruts from that storm, some fucked up spots.
Mar 10, 2026 @ 3:11pm (America/Denver)
Mar 10, 2026
 hero dirt right now, go get some
Mar 1, 2026 @ 2:19pm (America/Denver)
Mar 1, 2026
 looking good! dry and dusty, as usual!
Jan 4, 2026 @ 10:03am (America/Denver)
Jan 4, 2026
Dec 19, 2025 @ 9:45pm (America/Denver)
Dec 19, 2025
more »
Status:
on Jun 11, 2026
Variable
Avg: 4.56 (9 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
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  • Uphill Only
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Jump Magnitude Heatmap
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Slope Aspect
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Flat N NE E SE S SW W NW
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        Directions to penrose trailhead (38.800800, -104.881040)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        7 more »
        mtb
        34 |
        Jul 14, 2026 @ 11:16am
        Jul 14, 2026
        mtb
        27 |
        Jul 14, 2026 @ 11:16am
        Jul 14, 2026
        mtb
        260 |
        Jun 25, 2022 @ 9:29pm
        Jun 25, 2022
        mtb
        267 |
        Jun 25, 2022 @ 9:29pm
        Jun 25, 2022

        Videos

        1 more »
        2,000 ft downhill Captain Jacks, arroyo...
        mtb
        24:38 | 46 | Jul 20, 2026 , Colorado Springs
        5.0 ★★★★★
        9 Ratings
        5 ★ 100%
        4 ★
        3 ★
        2 ★
        1 ★

        7 Reviews & Comments


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        Nearby Trails

        North Cheyenne Cañon Park

        • By toddTF Pro Trailforks & contributors
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        Frequently Asked Questions About Penrose

        ▼ Where is Penrose located?
        Penrose is located in North Cheyenne Cañon Park, Colorado Springs, Colorado, United States. It is part of the North Cheyenne Cañon Park trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 38.8008, -104.88104.
        ▼ How hard is Penrose?
        Penrose is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The average grade is 10.7%.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Penrose?
        The trail has 376 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,143 ft to 7,518 ft.
        ▼ How long is Penrose?
        Penrose is 3,501 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Penrose?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Penrose. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Penrose?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Penrose are:
        • July (25 activities)
        • May (15 activities)
        • September (9 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Penrose? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Penrose are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Penrose?
        The estimated time to ride Penrose is approximately 3 minutes. The trail is 3,501 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace.
        ▼ How busy is Penrose?
        Penrose is a very popular trail. There have been 6,261 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 6,532 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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