more stats
2.3 miles
Distance
541 ft
Climb
-303 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point
236 ft
Altitude change
7,011 ft
Altitude min
7,035 ft
Altitude start
7,270 ft
Altitude end
1.9%
Grade
-37.9%
Grade max
36.6%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
4,265 ft
Distance down
1,322 ft
Distance flat

Upper Ladders Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    North Cheyenne Cañon Park
    Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 70 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #2258 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #70105 in Trail Running
    • #106371 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular Direction Shown
  • eBike Allowed
    No

Great views on this extension of the Ladders trail from Stratton Open Space. Avoid the road and stay on the singletrack Connects with Middle Columbine. Typical North Cheyenne Canon decomposed granite surface.

Access Info

Easy to access from top of Stratton and from Gold Camp Road.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 148 rides
  • 18 miles avg distance
All
  • 505 rides
  • Last: Sep 20, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Jun 23, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.24 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (2,940)
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      Directions to upper-ladders trailhead (38.800030, -104.876720)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      16 more »
      mtb
      161 |
      Jun 17, 2024 @ 12:34pm
      Jun 17, 2024
      mtb
      165 |
      Jun 17, 2024 @ 12:34pm
      Jun 17, 2024
      mtb
      148 |
      Jun 16, 2024 @ 9:38am
      Jun 16, 2024
      mtb
      145 |
      Jun 16, 2024 @ 9:38am
      Jun 16, 2024

      Videos

      1 more »
      2,000 ft downhill Captain Jacks, arroyo...
      mtb
      24:38 | 105 | Jul 20, 2026 , Colorado Springs

      Routes with this trail

      18
      D-Loop #8
      10 miles • 1,734 ft • 9 • Loop •
      Start at the southern parking lot off of Ridgeway Ave. Leave the lot to take Ridge Trail, left uphill....
      5.0 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 100%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      2 Reviews & Comments

      BikeManDann
      Not from here so dont know if the terrain right now is normal, but its the only place ive ridden where most people have bells. Lots of pea gravel and blind corners for two way traffic, interesting to say the least.
      G6g31gZ G6g31gZ
      Epic climb and descent, amazing views and right on the edge for a while

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      Nearby Trails

      North Cheyenne Cañon Park

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Upper Ladders located?
      Upper Ladders 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 38.80003, -104.87672.
      ▼ How hard is Upper Ladders?
      Upper Ladders is rated as Blue difficulty. The average grade is 1.9%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Upper Ladders?
      Upper Ladders has 541 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 303 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 7,011 ft to 7,369 ft.
      ▼ Is Upper Ladders a point to point trail?
      Upper Ladders is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Upper Ladders?
      Upper Ladders is 2.3 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Upper Ladders?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Upper Ladders. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ How do I access Upper Ladders? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Upper Ladders are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How busy is Upper Ladders?
      Upper Ladders is a very popular trail. There have been 2,356 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,940 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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