4 Mile Loop Trail 7500-8000 Altitude

This steep trail climbs out of North Cheyenne Canyon and then down to High Drive. The trail is in good shape with great views in every direction. This is sometimes called Captain Jacks Backside.

In the southwest corner of Colorado Springs, drive west into North Cheyenne Canyon. Continue past Helen Hunt Falls and after a few more bends, park in the big parking area at Gold Camp Road and High Drive. Head the bike west past the gate on the closed section of the road. This hard-to-spot trail starts in about a half mile, just before the bend in the road, and then zig zags up the steep hillside to the north.

This is one of the few trails in the canyon that hasn't degraded over the years. This trail is a good workout but isn't very technical on the Cheyenne Canyon side. The High Drive side is pretty rough, so we'll go down on that side.

After leaving Gold Camp Road, the trail zig zags its way north and climbs out of Cheyenne Canyon. As it nears the top, the view opens up to the canyon and nearby mountains and then it meets the Jones Park Trail.

Head east and the trail climbs a little higher and then tops out on a promontory with a stunning view of the entire countryside - well worth the tough struggle. Snap a few pictures and then follow the hairpin to the northeast toward High Drive. The trail suddenly turns rocky so stay alert as it weaves its way down.

Once down on High Drive you can either go south and back to the parking lot (1 mile). Or cross the road and ride the Multi-Use trail around Mays Peak and back to the parking lot (4 miles).