I did this once on May 10, 2015 with SN and TW, and again on March 7, 2015 with my sister.
Reaching the Seven Bridges Trailhead -First take Cimarron from downtown which turns into 24. Then turn left onto 8th Ave. Then turn right onto Lower Gold Camp Road. Follow this up for a long time. The pavement will turn to dirt. You will pass through at least 2 tunnels. You will pass a parking area on the side of the road, maybe a few parking areas, and then a parking lot which I have on occassion mistaken to be the Gold Camp Road 4-Way. (Number 32 on the Atlas). Alas, you should know when you're at the 4-way. It is a big parking lot where four ways intersect. One is Lower Gold Camp, which you should be on. Another is Cheyenne Boulevard (see post on Cutler Mountain Trail for more about this). Another is the High Drive, which has been closed and still is. (See here for an article: http://gazette.com/popular-colorado-springs-trail-will-remain-shut-down-until-next-year/article/1518042). The fourth is where you are going. It is the closed portion of Gold Camp Road, according to the Atlas.
As you pull in the parking lot, the closed portion of Gold Camp Road -the road for accessing Seven Bridges -is right across from you. You will see a gate blocking it. Park, and walk up this road for what should be less than a mile. You will pass a sign for some watershed or creek, and then a trail will lead off to the right. This is the trail for Seven Bridges. I mistakenly went down this once thinking I'd found St. Mary's Falls, and only upon further investigation on the Atlas did I realize it was Seven Bridges instead.
Trail -The trail is pretty easy. It goes uphill for parts, but my sister, a soon to be recovering ex smoker (fingers crossed!) did it with ease, even though she was nervous. And we did it in the snow. Its fun to count the bridges as you go up (you do, in fact, pass over seven bridges -be careful because one of the bridges you don't pass over, though its very easy to make the mistake, seems like a lot of people do because the trail is worn out for a bit. However, when the trail starts to get hairy after a few dozen feet you will realize you got off trail somewhere. Go back across the bridge and look for the Seven Bridges Trail continuing off to the left.) You will know when you've gotten to the seventh bridge if you have counted right, or because it is a bit more prominent looking than the other ones, and there is a little bench to chill on next to it.
If you pass the seventh bridge, you will continue up the trail and I think encounter a sign that explains what's up next. (See below).
Other options from this area -See the St. Mary's Falls entry for a more detailed breakdown of options in the area. Specifically from the Seven Bridges Trail, you can continue on past the seventh bridge and access Nelson's Camp, the Ring the Peak Trail, and other areas such as Frosty's Park (see the Atlas for details).
The cover picture and this one are from the winter hike I did recently with my sister.
Crossing one of the bridges, way back in May 2014.
This type of girl you want to have on a hike with you always. : )
And of course some famous dogs...
The whole hike is along a river -great for dog hydration.
And for posing like a hipster band cover...
A place for your dogs to pause nobly...
Look at that doggie smile!
Running the trail
Looking for trouble on the closed part of Gold Camp Road
Closed part of Gold Camp Road -haven't seen it this dry in a longggg time