Greenlee and Mesa Loop Trail

If you are seeking a good route to explore the Open Space, then the Greenlee and Mesa Loop Trail is the perfect option. This wonderful hike features sights of the Front Range, the cityscape, the Garden of the Gods, and the breathtaking red rock bluffs. Note the red rocks radiate heat in the summer months, so head out early to beat the heat and the crowds! Additionally, the terrain is rocky and uneven in sections, so wear sturdy footwear and mind your footing! Lastly, the trail GPS may prove useful as there are many route changes along this hike.

Begin your excursion along the Greenlee and Mesa Loop Trail from the Red Rock Canyon Trailhead. From the trailhead, follow the Red Rock Canyon Trail southwest, past the shimmering reservoir and Lyons Sandstone Quarry. Soon you will track the Quarry Pass Trail northwest through the quarry and up the mesa. Once atop the mesa, take the leftmost Mesa Trail heading southwest. When you encounter the Roundup Trail, take a left and hike east before merging onto the Greenlee Trail, tracking northeast.

Travel along the Greenlee Trail north, passing the quarry and reservoir again before connecting with the Mesa Trail. Once you meet the path’s end, take the rightmost Red Rock Canyon Trail back to the trailhead.