Trail crews working to improve Cheyenne Mountain State Park

Heavy rain and flooding this summer have not only affected roads, but trails too. Since May, Colorado Springs has received nearly 20 inches of rain.

Cheyenne Mountain State Park- is one area hit hard by Mother Nature. Visitation is up 28 percent compared with last year. With more people on the trails, there’s a bigger rush to get them fixed.

Eighteen different trails, totaling more than 21 miles, cover the park. As an avid a bicyclist, Justin Holmes can easily spot some recent damage.

“A lot of the trails here have been damaged. Cougar Canyon, things like that in the park have been unfortunately damaged,” Holmes said.

Heavy rain and flooding are to blame for most of the damage.

“We’ve had a couple trails that have washed out a little bit. Some of the steeper trails on the side of hills,” said Jason Hagan, park ranger at Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

There’s also visible road damage right outside the park’s main entrance. Hagan says trail maintenance crews are working to repair damaged areas and improve them. Visitors are already noticing the changes.

“We’ve noticed new rocks. I think what they’re trying to do is help them become not dangerous and completely refurbish them as it snows and rains,” said Mary Schmitt.

While improvements are being made, Holmes offers a reminder: “When it’s raining, stay off the trails. Just because we have a lot of gravel and dirt here that builds up and damages the trails.”

Funding for state parks isn’t a big issue – but it is for Colorado Springs’ city trails. Tuesday, the city council approved a $2.1 million measure that will be on the ballot in November. The money would go toward repairing trails within the city.