HomeColoradoColorado Springs › Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead

Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead

4.8 ★★★★★ 659 Google reviews · Running trail in Colorado Springs, Colorado · Posted hours

Runner's snapshot

Surface
Natural surface
Distance
Not reported
Shape
Not reported
Shade
Not reported
Access
Posted hours

Confirmed from Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.

Natural surfaceScenicDog-friendlyHillyTrailhead parking

Trail for families (if no one's afraid of heights) and kids (including toddlers), plus dog-friendly options for moderate scrambles, challenging inclines and views of nearby mountains and seven waterfalls.

What runners say about Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead

Pulled from public reviews of this trail (659 of them) — the things people bring up again and again, in their own words. Nothing here is written by us.

🏞️ beautiful scenery 10 mentions

“The view throughout the trail was beautiful and it got even more magnificent as you get to the top.”

👟 good for all levels 3 mentions

“A quick, easy hike that perfect for an engagement session or early morning elopement!”

🐕 dog-walking favorite 3 mentions

“With a great stream at the trailhead (across the road) that dogs and their humans will love after that hike.”

A quick, easy hike that perfect for an engagement session or early morning elopement! It gets busy and the parking area doesn’t hold many cars so be strategic with the timing. Amazing colors! The trail can get very slick in the winter so spikes are recommended. Copyright photos: Mikayla Renee Photo

★★★★★ — Mikayla , Jan 2023

Beautiful trail not too far at all away from Helen Hunt falls. Gorgeous views,peaceful, and tranquil. Getting to the top, you can actually see Helen Hunt falls down below. The day I went, it was thundering and then dumped rain. It was actually quite a lovely experience. I love this area and its trails to hike.

★★★★★ — Samantha , Sep 2024

We did the Mt Cutler trail, which is supposedly "easier". The trail is mostly an incline from the beginning and for us who are pretty out of shape, it was moderately challenging.

★★★★★ — Y , Mar 2025

As others have mentioned only the first .25 mile is a little slippery but you do NOT need micro spikes. Once pay that it's smooth sailing. Dry, and well traveled. It's a consistent elevation grade to the top with only one or two areas where you have to do some simple scrambling.

★★★★★ — Kent , Feb 2026

Excerpts from public Google reviews. Read all 659 reviews →

Trail conditions & character

What this trail is actually like underfoot and overhead, taken from its own listing and from reviews. Each one links to every other trail with the same character. Busy or quiet is reported as a plain fact, not a plus or a minus — a runner heading out alone at dawn often wants company on the path, and someone running intervals wants an empty one.

🏞️ Scenic views 21 mentions

“The view from the top were fantastic with a couple of different areas to look in different directions.”

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⛰️ Hills / elevation 13 mentions

“There is definitely an incline and some rocky/tree root areas that you might have to be careful where you step but it was not hard to do.”

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🅿️ Trailhead parking 12 mentions

“Parking is limited and if the first area is full, you will have to add a mile or two walk to the next closest parking area.”

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🐕 Dog-friendly 7 mentions

“With a great stream at the trailhead (across the road) that dogs and their humans will love after that hike.”

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🌲 Natural surface / singletrack 4 mentions

“There is definitely an incline and some rocky/tree root areas that you might have to be careful where you step but it was not hard to do.”

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Plan your run at Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead

The practical stuff

  • AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
  • SurfaceNatural surface — easiest on the joints and the most fun, but expect roots, rocks and mud after rain
  • DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
  • ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
  • At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
  • DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
  • Websitecheyennecanon.org
  • Phone(719) 385-6086
  • Social Instagram · Facebook

Hours

Monday 5 AM–10 PM
Tuesday 5 AM–10 PM
Wednesday 5 AM–10 PM
Thursday 5 AM–10 PM
Friday 5 AM–10 PM
Saturday 5 AM–10 PM
Sunday 5 AM–10 PM

Posted hours for the park or trailhead. Gates and parking lots often close earlier than the trail itself, and seasonal hours change — worth a check before a pre-dawn or after-dark run.

Where to find Mt Cutler and Muscoco Trailhead

N Cheyenne Canyon Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Get directions

Running trails near Colorado Springs

Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.

Mid Columbine Trail

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Trail offering moderate hikes on sloping terrain, with bridges over a cascading mountain stream.

under a mile away

North Cheyenne Cañon Park

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1.2 miles away

Stratton Open Space

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Popular site for hiking, biking, jogging and dog walking featuring a pond and a reservoir.

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St Mary's Falls

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Mostly shady hike with waterfalls passing through a forest of aspens and pines.

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The Broadmoor Seven Falls

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Park focused on scenic waterfalls & geologic monuments that also has a historic gravesite.

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Nearby towns

Listing verified July 2026 from public records, the trail's own website and runner reviews. Trail conditions change — paths flood, gates close at dusk, and shaded woods stay muddy for days after rain. Something out of date? Report a correction. Manage this trail? Send us the details — it is free.