Cheyenne Mtn.

Get an early start, especially in the winter. attempted this hike in the summertime and it was too hot. hit this trail in early winter while the trails were still dry and it was perfect. 15 miles round trip from the visitor parking area. the dixon trail takes the longest. thought it was 4.5 round trip but it meant one way. the dragons backbone trail had fun scrambling at the top and amazing views of the Springs and the Sangre De Cristos.There is a fuselage from an old plane crash site right before the backbone trail. Suggest climbing Dragon’s backbone counterclockwise to scramble up the boulders rather than attempt a descent should one trek the trail clockwise. dixon trail was a lot of switchbacks and rocks the last two miles before you begin dragons backbone. there is a sign halfway on dixon notifying you of the remainder of the trail getting steep and rocky which is true. but definitely give yourself an early start, just because of the length if hiking from parking lot to the top of Cheyenne mountain in the winter. There were others behind us that probably descended in the dark.