2 Miles One Way 8200-9000 Elevation

To get here, drive west from Monument on the Mount Herman road. This dirt road rounds the south side of Mount Herman as it climbs and is in horrible shape. After two or three miles of climbing, pull into the marked parking area in the second side canyon.

30 miles north of Colorado Springs is the town of Palmer Lake the high point of the High Plains. Towering above Palmer Lake is Mount Herman, which offers great views of mountains to the west and the high plains to the east. The trail to the top is a beautiful two mile hike and then the stunning vista pops into view when you crest the top.

At first the trail follows a scenic creek in the forest, with a moderate climb. This slowly gets steeper as it goes past rocky cliffs and then climbs nearly straight up the west side of Mount Herman. The upper part takes real effort, but is still enjoyable and isn't all that long. After only a few minutes it crests the top of the ridge and the hundred mile views of the great plains suddenly pop into view.

Continue north along the crest another half mile to the actual high point of Mount Herman. From this point is an eye-popping panorama of mountains, forest and plains, unblocked in every direction.