5 Mile Loop 9200-9700 Elevation

The huge selection of trails in Mueller State Park can provide a whole week of fun for hikers and bikers alike. The trails are a little hilly but they're non-technical and loaded with impressive views.

From the Grouse Mountain Trailhead, at the northern end of Mueller's only road, head north on the wide track called Trail 17. This park has a long history of ranching and most of the trails are the old access roads. This makes the trails wide and smooth, but the array of confusing side trails requires some map skills. After about a quarter mile swing left on the poorly marked Trail 17, the Cheesman Ranch Trail.

The wide track of Cheesman winds gently through the forest as it drops 500 feet over the next two miles. This is a lot of fun, though there aren't any real views other than the nearby trees.

After a while the trail pops out of the forest and into a leafy meadow that follows the creek downstream and into the big grassy hills just south of Divide. This is the prettiest part of the ride as the trail becomes a single track contouring to the grassy hillsides.

After a short climb, a striking view of Pikes Peak appears, towering over the old barn and corral of Cheesman Ranch. This classic Colorado image is the highlight of the ride and is possibly the most photogenic spot in the park.

Swing around the ranch, up the hill to the left, and then catch Trail 33 to start the long climb back up. At first it's a fun ride through aspen groves, with great views of the Crags and Pikes Peak to the east. It then gets steeper as it enters the pine forest and is a tough climb for the next mile until it reaches Trail 17 again. Turn right and you're back at the car.

One caution at Mueller is that the road follows the high spine of the park, making it too easy to cruise too far away and then it's a struggle on the long climb back to the road. Those who don't live in this area will find the high elevation of the park a real shocker when they first hit some of these hills.

Mueller State Park is 25 miles west of Colorado Springs on Highway 24, then turn south at the Divide stop light and drive four miles to the entrance on Highway 67.