Type: Road/Trail, Loop
Difficulty: 7 / 10
Altitude: 6,345 ft
Elev. Gain/Loss: 1,925 ft / 1,925 ft
Dog Friendly: Yes, with leash
Jog-Stroller Friendly: Unknown
Filed Under: Hiking, Running
The Incline Club uses this as one of their training runs in preparation for things like the Pikes Peak Marathon. This description by Randy Lindsey and Matt Carpenter is quite detailed and useful. Sounds like a fun run! Be sure to check out the group entry for the Incline Club here on RunningPlaces for more information about their organized runs.
We used to run Rampart Range Road (RRR) as an out-and-back, but it was too punishing on feet, ankles and everything else with all those miles. Now we?ve discovered some nice connections from the road that provide variety and substitute steepness for distance. This route takes you down into the beautiful, forested Williams Canyon surrounded by tall limestone cliffs. You can return directly to Manitou via the canyon, or you can climb up to the Waldo Loop Trail for views and a good running surface. The longer return to Manitou via Ute Pass Trail provides the sort of ups and downs late in a long run that let you really appreciate a relaxing bath at home.
Section 1: The Road (1.8 miles)
From Soda Springs Park, run east, downhill on Canyon Avenue, and turn left along the creek onto Lovers Lane. When you reach El Paso Blvd. at Manitou?s Memorial Park, turn left and continue east. After 9/10ths of a mile on El Paso Blvd, run under the Highway 24 bridge, then turn left and then curve right into the Garden of the Gods park. Do not take the paved road that branches to the left which leads to a gated community.
Go up the steep hill to Balanced Rock. Threading your way between the precariously balanced rocks, descend a short distance down the other side. 155 meters after balanced rock turn left onto the gravel Rampart Range Road.
Section 2: Rampart Range Road (5.3 miles)
Follow Rampart Range Road up a gentle grade for what seems like forever. Hopefully you?ll have someone to talk to for this stretch.
Eventually you?ll spot a cluster of microwave and cell phone towers atop a hill. When you finally reach these you must go around them and pass them on the north side on a level section. About 120 meters later watch for a small rock cairn on the left between two trees.
Section 3: Upper Williams Canyon (1.3 miles)
The cairn marks an obscure trail that drops steeply off to the left through the woods. This little trail takes you down into Williams Canyon.
When the trail reaches the canyon bottom, it is a very gentle descent for about a mile through thick forest, with 7 watercourse crossings (mostly dry). This trail is not formally maintained so watch your footing.
Just after the 7th creek crossing when you?re at the right-hand side of the canyon, look for the Waldo Canyon cutoff trail coming down the hillside on your right. We call this the ?Bail Trail? because it makes for a quick way back to the car when doing the Waldo Canyon loop from Manitou via the UPT. There used to be a sign here but all that remains is the post. (See the Waldo Canyon run in Manitou for how to use this Bail Trail effectively to make your own custom loops.)
Section 4: Lower Williams Canyon back to the park (2.23 miles)
Lower Williams Canyon is a lot rockier than the upper section. However the views are spectacular especially if the sun is bouncing off the high steep cliffs. 100 meters after leaving the junction with the ?Bail Trail? that leads up to Waldo you must cross over a small waterfall. While there are a total of 18 creek crossings (2 of them you go into the dry creek bed and come out on the same side so perhaps they should not count as crossings) on the lower section this is usually the only one with any significant water in it.
After you cross over the falls stay right and head up over a narrow rock ledge next to a rock wall and then take a small left down. Be careful here! Go right and then down to continue on your way. After 6/10ths of a mile and many more creek crossings you will come to your second waterfall. The trail dips down into the mostly dry creek bed but does not cross the creek but instead exits by going up a few gentle rock steps. If it does not look obvious just stay to the right near the ledge as you are forced to turn to the left as you follow it. The trail then traverses two scree sections on the way down the canyon. A very nice meadow is followed by your last obstacle where you can either go up to the right with a few yards of scrambling or down to the left with a few yards of water. Soon after this section you will cross a few more rocks before popping out on the Williams Canyon Road 1.06 miles from the Bail Trail. From here it is 1.17 miles to Soda Springs Park. Simply head down to the left where you will come to asphalt just before passing under a bridge that will give you 96 foot of clearance to Hwy 24. Just uner 4/10ths of a mile later you will be back at Soda Springs Park.
The directions for this run start from Soda Springs Park, in the heart of Manitou Springs. The maps should make it pretty obvious where to start from, near the Cliff House.
Posted by: tradkelly and last modified on Feb 02, 2006 by thoos
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