Every trail carries a history most riders never see beneath their tires. Lion Trail in Red Rock Canyon Open Space carries more history than most, and it just got another chapter.
Trail users meeting with Parks staff to discuss rework on Lion Trail – August 2026
City of Colorado Springs Parks staff have completed drainage repair work at the top of Lion Trail. We wanted to share more background about how this trail came to be, what MedWheel has asked for over the years, and where we hope future work on this section can go further.
Where Lion Trail Came From
The Lion Trail riders know today isn’t the original. An earlier alignment was officially closed by the city due to conflicts between different trail users on the lower end. They initially planned to leave it closed – but the trail appears in the approved 2013 Red Rock Canyon Open Space Master Plan, so MedWheel spent over three years advocating with the Parks board and Parks staff to implement the plan, and provided design input including several site visits with staff.
That work came together at the end of 2020, when the city opened a rebuilt Lion Trail, roughly 2,500 feet of new and converted singletrack. MedWheel provided a full trail layout for the lower portion of Lion Trail. Not all of it was built as we proposed, because staff preferred to reuse some existing double track that was already on the ground rather than construct new trail. We agreed to this compromise.
The top section is a different story. The entire trail was built by a contractor, and MedWheel had no hand in the layout of the top portion the way we did with the lower section. The upper section has never drained the way it should. Water stayed on the tread instead of running off it, and the trail has degraded as a result ever since. The unnatural lines the city and contractor chose have also encouraged off-trail use and the construction of unauthorized jumps.
Years of Asking
For several years, MedWheel and our partners have raised the drainage and design problems at the top of Lion Trail with staff – repeatedly, and with a revolving cast of rangers as staff have come and gone. Each conversation started over. Each one made the same case: this section needs a real look at grade, drainage, and how it channels use, not a patch.
The Fix
Parks staff have completed repair work at the top of the trail. They chose to use a skid loader to improve drainage, and a mini excavator to place rock in spots to discourage people from cutting the trail and creating improvised air features.
We’re glad the top of Lion Trail is finally getting attention. We just hope this is first step, not the last one.
The work completed does not include the suggestions MedWheel and our partners have brought to improve the trail. Drainage and rock placement will help slow the damage – but on their own, they don’t address the underlying design.
Where We Go From Here
Trails are shared work. The best ones come from full engagement with the people that actually use the trail. Part of what makes this section tricky is that Lion Trail rides great as a downhill, but is designated as multi-use, 2 direction. This has led to conflicts between users, as well as impromptu, user-created features. A more thoughtful design could ease that tension and make the trail work better for everyone, rather than just patching drainage and preventing riders from hitting jumps.
We’ll keep showing up to that table. If you ride Lion Trail, or just care about how Red Rock Canyon holds up over time, we’d love to hear your thoughts about the repair. Post on our socials, or email us your feedback. We will use your feedback in ongoing discussions about Lion trail.