Dixon Trail takes hikers to the top of Cheyenne Mountain

For the first time ever, hikers can make their way up to the top of Cheyenne Mountain via the Dixon Trail.

It’s now open to the public, but it comes at the cost of a 17-mile hike roundtrip.

As the sun came up Tuesday morning, Jane Craig pulled into the Limekiln Trailhead parking lot and loaded up her water pack before hitting the trails.

“It’s a cool day and I’m only doing three miles,” Craig said. The temperatures Tuesday morning were in the low 40s before sunrise.

She wasn’t hiking the Dixon Trail, knowing she couldn’t make it the top without struggling. She said her max distance is about eight miles at this point.

Greg Hiltbrand, on the other hand, was ready to try and make it to the top. He walked along the Talon Trail — the three-mile trail leads up to the Dixon Trail — with hiking poles, a water pack, and layers of clothing. He says, “I’ve been waiting to do it for a while, so we’ll see what it’s like.”

Hiltbrand says he’s climbed all of Colorado’s 14ers but knows this trail will come with its challenges.

“I know it’s a strenuous hike just with the knowing what the vertical gain is, but that’s about it,” Hiltbrand says.

Unfortunately, not all hikers will start the path knowing when to stop and turn around, which is something Cheyenne Mountain State Park officials hope people are cautious of.

“There’s no point to fill up a water bottle, there’s no restroom, there’s no road access. You can’t hitchhike down the way you can with Pikes Peak if you make it to the top,” said Jeanette Lara, an administrative assistant with Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

An emergency plan is in place if someone does get stuck while hiking the Dixon trail, but it could take time to get to them.

There is also still some construction along the trail. Crews are working to make accessible for cyclists and other equestrians who want to try the trail.

The official grand opening is tentatively planned for October.