Paved Hiking Trails in Castle Rock

Downtown Plum Creek Trail

 Quite a few people ask about "paved" hiking trails in and around the town where I live because during the winter they will be cleared of snow and can keep you away from the mud. For runners and walkers, a paved trail can get you outdoors for a quick dash or stroll during the winter months, where the natural surface and gravel trails must be cleared naturally by the sun.  For the snowshoers and cross country skiers, the natural surface trails are great under snow.

Plum Creek Trail at Hangman's Gulch Trail

In Castle Rock, Colorado, the county uses small snowplows to clear most of the paved trails in the town.  Starting after the roads have been cleared, these crews work for days after a snowfall to plow the trails. If you live where it snows, you can check with your city parks department to see if they clear the trails locally.
In Castle Rock, they clear the following trails and neighborhoods after a snowfall:

• The Plum Creek Trail and most interconnecting trails through downtown including Sellars Gulch Trail and the area around the Fairgrounds.
• Most of the city neighborhoods including Meadows, Founders, Red Hawk, Crystal Valley,         Woodlands, Metzler Ranch, Castle Oaks and Maher Ranch.
• The sidewalk that follows the north side of Plum Creek Parkway from Gilbert Street to Ridge   Road, connecting downtown with Founders.
• The Cherry Creek Trail

The communities of Parker, The Pinery, Lone Tree, and Highlands Ranch all have their own paved trail systems too. Feel free to check them out HERE.
Many of these neighborhood trails have portions that are used as sidewalks along major thoroughfares, and several connect to public parks and schools. Most offer some space to run, jog walk or even bicycle during snowy weather once they are cleared.
A Castle Rock TRAIL MAP is available here. It is from 2004 and there are many updates since. Check it out to find a trail near you. Do a drive-by first as not all town and open space trails are paved.

Dupont Open Space

 

Dupont Open Space Trail

Dupont Open Space near Louviers, CO is a peaceful and quiet riparian habitat beside Plum Creek, just west of US 85 (Santa Fe Trail) and north of Sedalia.   It was raining off and on when we hiked it this week.  The area is great for a nice walk.  The Open Space is packed with many different bird species and wildlife.

Deer

Plum Creek

During the rain, 3 does were eating in the tall grass, nervously watching us from behind the Russian Olive and Cottonwood trees.
Hiking the trail could have gone on longer but the rain drove us back to our car.  We will come back when the weather clears and hike some more.

The park-like Open Space with dark skies

Flowers are everywhere

Enchanting forest inviting you in

Afterward we toured the Dupont company town site of Louviers.  Built in 1908, most of the homes were well kept and the Village Center was in great shape.  A couple homes are new, but most are older and are in a style more eastern than western.  I grew up around the coal company towns in eastern Kentucky, and this place felt like that.
A Douglas County Library and a bowling alley are also in the Village Center.  Here is a wealth of historical information about the area.

Last look from the safety of the car in the rain

Finding Dupont Open Space is easy.  From Denver, travel south of 470 on Santa Fe US 85 for about 5 miles.  After the road changes from 4 lane to 2 lane, look for a sign pointing to Louviers on the right.  This is just past a very large travel trailer storage site.  Turn right, cross the railroad tracks and follow Main Street around to the right.  Cross the second set of railroad tracks and follow to the bridge over Plum Creek.  Park in the roadside area just past the bridge and cross the street to the trailhead pictured above. The Town of Louviers is just down the road about half a mile.

Spruce Mountain Open Space Trail

Spruce Mountain Open Space Trailhead.  Greenland is a great open area south of Larkspur

Spruce Mountain Open Space Trail runs about 8 miles and climbs a forested flat-topped mountain in southern Douglas County Colorado.  Similar to other multi-use trails in the county, Spruce Mountain used to be a wayside on old highway 85, called the Santa Fe Trail, about 6 miles south of Larkspur, Colorado.  On many bike rides I paused at the mountain's base, looking out over the great open expanse of land running south and east.  Thanks to groups like Colorado Outdoors and the Colorado Lottery, land like this plus miles of open grassland have been set aside to enjoy "as-is" forever.

Looking north across the meadow to Monkey Face Butte at Larkspur

Looking up the Oak Shortcut trail to the Greenland Overlook

Go straight on the Oak Shortcut trail or go left.  Both climb Spruce Mountain

The trail head is in a parking lot at an elevation of 7100 feet.  From there you can easily climb up switchbacks along the trail to the Windy Point overlook at 7605 feet above sea level.  The trail is natural sandy surface and is shaded.  It runs through thick woods for most of the way.  Mountain Bikes are welcome here and along the Spruce Meadows Trails throughout the open space north, east and southeast of Spruce Mountain.  Horseback riders are welcome too!  The meadow trails run for 8.5 miles.

Pine Junction Trail Sign

The Greenland Overlook

The first climb is about 100 feet to Pine Junction where a shorter and steeper trail called Oak Shortcut runs from the parking lot (go south instead of west).  My wife and I took advantage of the great weather and hiked the Spruce Mountain trail in this direction this time.  While this trail was OK for reducing trail time on the uphill climb, it is so steep that coming down the trail may lead to slips and erosion. Plus our knees enjoyed the more mellow altitude loss of the longer trail on the way back down. The way we hiked today, the trail was just under 5 miles.

Switchbacks

There are two switchbacks below this one

Climbing switchbacks, the trail ascends past Greenland overlook.  Greenland is the group of ranches to the east of Spruce Mountain in the meadow and is Douglas County Open Space along both the east and west sides of I-25.
Further along, the trail splits at a jut in the trail out to the northwest so horseback riders can get by the overhanging rocks.  Here there is a marker celebrating Paddock's Point, for Warren Craig Paddock who practiced forestry and loved Spruce Mountain. Once you reach the upper loop road you will see that trees have been selectively cut from the mountain top, like someone used a measuring tape to cut the same size trees.  Just look around the area at how trees were selectively thinned, but never clear-cut.  Wood chips on the ground show they were trimmed and logged in select areas before being taken out along the road.  Thanks to Mr. Paddock for taking great care of the land.

View south with snow-covered Pikes Peak behind the front range foothills

Thanks to Mr. Paddock for his forestry service and love of Spruce Mountain

Eagle Mountain, to the north of Spruce Mountain, is part of a private conservation easement

We hiked on up to the upper loop junction at around 7400 feet.  There the trail joins an old service road which loops the mountain.  This loop travels through forest and undulates up and down past rocks and hoodoos.  There are three picnic tables spaced along here at overlooks with great views. Bring lunch and make it a day!

When you need a rest, there is a bench nearby

What an awesome trail!  You can smell the spruce and pines

Views amid hoodoos

Views south to Palmer Lake

One of 3 picnic benches placed about 2/3 of the way to Windy Point

Tree death by lightning.  Beware!

At 1.5 miles of the mountain top road, the loop road passes Windy Point, the southernmost part of the mountain top.  Here the views were exceptional.  Today there was no wind, but with this rock outcropping so near the Palmer Divide (Palmer Lake is the town you see below) this area could be incredibly windy with the weather changing rapidly.  Most severe storms are steered by the Palmer Divide, variously going either north or south.  The weather here still troubles meteorologists and ranchers alike today because they cannot tell which way the storm will go until the last moment when it passes the divide.

Usually it is windy here

Palmer Lake at the Palmer Divide

Interesting stone circle with a stone in the center

One last view southeast before turning north.  You can see the Black Forest from here

We turned back north along the loop road and enjoyed a beautiful view of the Colorado Front Range extending past Long's Peak.  We continued to enjoy the walk along the mountain top park.  The precisely thinned trees, mossy boulders and gently undulating ground looked like a professionally trimmed lawn.  Birds flitted from pine tree to pine tree, the air was heavy with scented spruce and pine, spring wildflowers began their blooms, damp moss covered shady parts of the ground, grasshoppers flitted about our legs.

Looking north into the red rocks of Perry Park

More awesome upper loop hiking

The service road down to Eagle Pass Trail

Wildflower lit just for me

About a third of a mile past Windy Point, we came to the service road which leads to the bottom of the hill on the west side of the mountain.  It was steep and we were enjoying the mountain top so much, we just continued along the loop road.  At the bottom of the hill this road connects to the east with the Eagle Pass Trail and Spruce Meadows trails along the open space in the grassland.  It also leads west to a picnic table and (I have heard but have not seen) a pioneer grave site.  I will come back to hike that trail portion another time.

Our trail sign to go back downhill.  The Slow Down sign is for mountain bikers

More wildflowers

Erosion in this sandy soil is a very bad thing.  Please stay on the trail

Trail on the way back down

Back side of the Oak Shortcut trail sign

We finally reached the Upper Loop Junction trail sign and headed back downhill.  We enjoyed the peacefulness of the trail.  We made our way back down to the trailhead and the awaiting (and hot) car.  What a great hike this was!
To find Spruce Mountain Open Space, go south from Denver on I-25 and exit at #173 Larkspur. Watch your speed going through town, they are serious about you driving 25 MPH.  Travel south 6 miles on Spruce Mountain Road.  The trailhead is one mile on the right past Noe Road.  To visit the Spruce Meadows Trailhead, turn left (east) on Noe Road and go 1.5 miles.  Pets are welcome but must be on a leash.  The trail is open from 1 hour before sunrise to 1 hour after sunset.  No camping is allowed.

Hidden Mesa Trail

Hidden Mesa Open Space Picnic Shelter

To the east of Castle Rock is the trailhead for Hidden Mesa Trail.  This trail runs east-west from the farm valley floor of Franktown to the top of Hidden Mesa, near the Terrain and Founders neighborhoods.  Today I hiked the eastern portion of the trail that runs from highway 83 to the paved Cherry Creek Trail.

The trail runs over 7 miles round trip and winds through the rolling 1224 acre property. Cherry Creek runs through the property and brings the riparian area to meet the grasslands. The uplands include shrubs and forests along with the cap rock on top of the mesa.  4.7 miles of the trail are natural surface and the paved Cherry Creek portion runs .3 miles.  The valley portion of the trail is rated moderately easy with the mesa portion rated moderately difficult.

Trail sign along farm lane

Along with day hikers, this trail is popular with mountain bikers, horseback riders and families with children and pets.  Drinking water and a Port-a-let are available at the picnic shelter.  The parking lot handles cars and horse trailers.  The original farm house stands closed here, a reminder of simple architecture and of additions as the family changed.

R & D Center sign

At this trailhead, Douglas County is conducting a research project with the Tri-County Health Department and Colorado State University to study growing fruits and vegetables without using chemicals in the local climate.  The orchard trees include figs and hazelnuts, and an edible honeysuckle called heskap is also being studied in the garden.   The plan is to provide local farmers and gardeners potential groundbreaking techniques for growing foods from around the world naturally that have never been tried here before.  They will publish the agricultural details once they determine how well the plants and trees grow in the greenhouses and orchard here.  Last year 1500 pounds of natural produce was given to the nearby Parker Task Force to feed families.  Tours are conducted throughout the year if you are interested in seeing the garden or fruit trees. The inner gardener in me is pleased the county is willing to experiment and to grow the plants naturally.

Pond

The hike through the open field to Cherry Creek follows the old farm road as it slants downhill toward the trees by the water.  You pass an old pond on the left with a birdhouse perched on the dike.  As you near the creek the trail bends north, then turns back south before crossing it on a steel bridge.  

Cherry Creek flowing north from the bridge

Pausing on the bridge, I watched the water flow by and listened to the birds and the wind in the trees.  I could not hear the highway down here.  I continued on to reach the Cherry Creek Trail.  The paved trail runs north-south here.  To follow the Hidden Mesa Trail, turn right and continue following the trail over the rolling meadow.  At about one third of a mile, the Hidden Mesa Trail turns left and climbs toward the hills to the west.  The web site and trail sign mileages don't seem to match, oh well.  A trail map is available HERE.  This is where I turned around and returned to the trailhead as the sun was setting.  

Go right and turn left onto the Mesa Rim Loop

Even though I was just off the highway, the whole area was peaceful and I noticed I felt relaxed like I do when I hike in the forests.  Night birds were darting about, eating dinner from the bugs buzzing along Cherry Creek.  Several old trees stood tall and quiet as gray sentinels.  An owl hooted from a high branch.  Old, dried and decaying trees laid upon the ground, their age lines, cracks and wrinkles showing unusual bends in the fading light.  I was entranced and enjoyed it.  I will hike the rest of this trail soon!  I walked slowly back uphill to the car.

All of Colorado is a rattlesnake area, right?

Wrinkles

To find the Hidden Mesa Trail, drive east from Castle Rock on highway 86.  At the intersection with highway 83 in Franktown, turn left.  The trailhead is one mile north.  Turn left by the large Hidden Mesa Open Space sign.

Dawson Butte

Dawson Butte overlooking the 5 mile loop trail

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space is a 25 square mile plot of Douglas County open space land, just 7 miles south of Castle Rock.  The mostly forest-covered land was purchased to preserve the open space feel and provide recreation.  The loop trail runs 5 miles and is a favorite with area runners and bicyclists.  Horseback riders also enjoy the area and the 60 horse jumps placed along bridal paths.
The day we went was cold and we only saw a few other people on this usually popular trail.

Well marked, easy to follow trail

Bench by the trail

Open Space began in 1994, when it was voted in by the Douglas County residents as a way to preserve some of the quickly disappearing lands in the county.  As a past and present resident, I have enjoyed many of the county's open space lands.
The Dawson Butte Open Space Trail travels from trees to meadow and back to heavy tree cover, providing shade and peace.  A few benches are placed along the trail, with picnic tables at the start and at the halfway point.  The hike starts at the high elevation of around 6800 feet, drops over 2.5 miles to the lower elevation of just over 6500 feet, and climbs back almost 300 feet of elevation near Tomah Road to the trail head.  Front range views are nice, and the ever-present Dawson Butte looks over all here.  There are no trails (or access) to the top.  We all liked the hike, enjoying the sound of the wind in the trees, while listening to birds and watching the views.  At times you could smell the pines all around you.  It is a very different experience from the areas around Castle Rock, with so much timber here.
This actually felt like a "real hike".  Where the shorter trails and sections we had been hiking had been fine, they didn't provide as much of a workout, or an extended time "on Trail".  I did have some sore muscles afterward, and this was a good hike at a good time for my leg recovery.  For spring, this will be the trail that I can walk a couple times a day to get into shape for longer trips in the high country.  I highly recommend this hike for all.  I would like to come back and snowshoe here this winter.

Meadow walk

Benches are available

The Stairway to Heaven, Manger Meadow, Tomah Meadow and Fenceline trails are bridal paths and include those 60 horse jumps.  A dirt road provides emergency access through the park.  There is no water, so bring your own.  A Port-a-let is available at the trail head.  Trail maps are available HERE.

Peaceful hiking trail

Indian Head view

To get to Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space, take I-25 south of Denver to Castle Rock.  Exit at mile 181, Plum Creek Parkway, turn right under the railroad overpass, then turn left to go south on the frontage road (on the west side of the Interstate).  Follow south to the right turn on Tomah Road.  Watch for trains at the railroad crossing!  Follow Tomah Road up the hill, turning right into the trail head.  Park here and hike.  Following the trail clockwise will lead you alongside of Tomah road for the start, counter-clockwise will take you into the pines first.