North Slope Recreation Area first opened for recreational use in 1992, and is open May through mid October for fishing, hiking, biking, and picnicking. The recreational aspects of North Slope are managed by Colorado Springs Parks, and Recreation, and Cultural Services. North Slope has three reservoirs, North Catamount, South Catamount, and Crystal, and a variety of trails. CS Parks and Rec has information, as does CS Utilities. Vehicular access to North Slope is from the Pikes Peak Highway, which has a toll, which is lower for going only to North Slope.
Friends of the Peak built a segment for Ring the Peak near Crystal Reservoir in 2002 and 2003. In 2000, Friends of the Peak built a short interpretive trail at Crystal Lake Visitor’s Center. Colorado Springs Parks and Rec built several trails near the reservoirs. In 2015, Friends of the Peak helped mitigate erosion problems on three of the trails near North Catamount Reservoir, Mackinaw Trail, Mule Deer Trail near Blue River, and Limber Pine Trail. Volunteers installed drains to move water off the trails and extended the end of one trail to improve the slope. They also cleared corridor as needed, trimming back overgrown branches.
