Winter Scenery In North Cheyenne Canon, Colorado

Basic Information

• What: North Cheyenne Canon
• Where: Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Cost: Free
• More Information: Friends of Cheyenne Canon

Narrative

Much like I did after a recent snow storm that dumped snow on the Garden of the Gods, I decided to drive over to North Cheyenne Canon in Southwest Colorado Springs to take pictures of it after a recent snowfall.  North Cheyenne Canon is located behind the famous Broadmoor Hotel and is one of the most popular places in Colorado Springs for locals to visit.   The park is free to visit and is filled with great mountain scenery, various hiking trails, and beautiful waterfalls.  When I arrived at the entrance of North Cheyenne Canon I was relieved to see that the road had been plowed.  Despite being plowed it was still very icy and thus I drove very slowly as I ascended into the canyon:

The surrounding trees and rocks still had plenty of snow hanging off of them as I drove up the road:

Despite the snow I could see that Cheyenne Creek that flows next to the road was visible and largely not frozen over:

Four miles up the canyon near where the paved road ends I reached my destination which was Helen Hunt Falls:

I have written about this before, but this waterfall is named after Helen Hunt Jackson who was a famed writer and activist for Native-Americans back in the 1800’s:

As usual for this time of year, the waterfall was completely frozen over and buried in snow:

Next to Helen Hunt Falls was this visitor center that was constructed last year and opens during the summer months:

After parking my truck, I walked past the locked visitor to the top of the bridge that crosses the waterfall.  Despite being frozen over I could hear the roaring water below me rush through the creek and over the waterfall:

Here is the view from the bridge looking back down the canyon towards Colorado Springs:

From the waterfall I then followed the Silver Cascade Falls Trail to a lookout that provides a nice view of the canyon.  At the below link you can read more about my prior hike to Silver Cascade Falls:

• On Walkabout On: The Silver Cascade Falls Trail

Here is a picture from the trail of North Cheyenne Creek covered in snow down below:

From the creek the trail has a series of steps that were not too slippery due to the fresh snowfall that ascended up the hillside to the lookout:

I eventually reached the snow covered lookout and enjoyed the views looking down the canyon towards Mt. Cutler:

You can read more about prior hike up Mt. Cutler at the below link:

• On Walkabout On: The Mt. Cutler Trail

Looking up the canyon I could see that Silver Cascade Falls was completely covered in snow:

Conclusion

Much like with the Garden of the Gods I encourage people who live in Colorado Springs to get out and see North Cheyenne Canon after a snow storm.  As beautiful as the canyon normally is, fresh snowfall really gives the place a very different appearance.  As much as I have visited North Cheyenne Canon I never get tired of coming back to this park especially during the winter months when it feels like I have the whole canyon to myself because so few people come here during this time frame.  Don’t let me have this whole park to myself, get out and see it for yourself.