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is a Statutory Town in El Paso County, Colorado, United States. The population was 2,179 at the 2000 census. The city is bordered by the Greenland Open Space Preserve to the north, Pike National Forest to the west, Monument to the south, and Ben Lomond and the I-25 corridor to the east. Palmer Lake is the beginning of the Santa Fe Regional Trail. The trail is one of the largest continuous trails in El Paso County, running south through Monument to the southern boundary of the Air Force Academy along the historic Atkinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad right-of-way.
Palmer Lake is one of three communities in the Tri-Lakes region between Denver and Colorado Springs. Conveniently located off I-25 near two major metropolitan centers, Palmer Lake is a growing Front Range community. On the north edge of El Paso County, situated at the high point between Denver and Colorado Springs known as the Palmer Divide (7,200 ft), Palmer Lake affords sweeping views of the Rocky Mountain foothills.
Downtown Palmer lake features shops, cozy restaurants and an historical museum. Here visitors will find everything from antiques to homemade jewelry. From fine dining to a make-your-own-steak joint, Palmer Lake is also home to a number of popular eateries.
While much of the area is dedicated to residential development, the Tri-Lakes region is known for its watering holes - Lake Woodmoor, Monument Lake and Palmer Lake - and extensive trail system. Palmer Lake is adjacent to the Santa Fe Regional trail, which runs south through Monument to the southern boundary of the Air Force Academy and follows part of the old Atkinson, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. One of the largest continuous trails in El Paso County, the graveled route supports a wide variety of activities such as biking, hiking and horseback riding. Cross-country skiers and snowshoers enjoy the pathway in the winter.
Tucked in the mountains behind Palmer Lake are two reservoirs which supply the town with water. Both reservoirs are accessible by a trail used by hikers and bicyclists. The lower reservoir is fenced off from the public, but the upper reservoir has an open shoreline. Both reservoirs and Monument Creek, which flows out of them, are considered part of the town's watershed.
Library services for the city are provided by the Palmer Lake Branch Library, located at 66 Lower Glenway in Palmer Lake.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), of which, 3.1 square miles (7.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.65%) is water.
The town marks the top of the Palmer Divide, a geological ridge running from Palmer Lake eastward. This ridge creates its own weather patterns and separates the Arkansas River drainage to the South and the Platte River drainage to the North. The highest point of the divide is about at Monument Hill. It staggers along the county line between Douglas County and El Paso County. This divide separates the Denver metropolitan area from the Pikes Peak area. The town's namesake, Palmer Lake, at , is said to be the highest spring-fed lake in the continental US.