castlewood canyon state park

Hachitaeqs

Beautiful area, great hiking choices depending on what you want to do and how far you want to go. NOT dog friendly, lots of Rattlesnakes! Use caution in the summer and fall and always be on the lookout.

379lisas

This is my fourth visit since moving here 7 months ago. Its gorgeous in all seasons but fall was stunning. Be careful of ice on the trails in winter-very slippery. I love the views, the rocks and the water. I also like all the kids and dogs everywhere. The north end (west) has an old homestead and waterfalls to hike to that is very nice and the east (south) end has many nice trails. Its worth purchasing a park pass for the year if you live around here.

DarronS

I visited this park because it is close to home and was happy to find well-mainained trails and friendly staff at the visitor center. There are even paved walking trails through much of the park, which would be great for handicap access. Great place for day hikes.

susancK9224AJ

This is a great park anytime of the year. You might want some spikes during the winter for the icy spots. Cherry Creek is beautiful and the history of the park is interesting with the ruins of the old dam that broke in 1933. The is also an old homestead on the west side of the park. If you want more sidewalks, enter on the southeast side of the park (main entrance). If you want to be close to all the trails, enter on the northwest side of the park. There are even rock-climbing options.

JoeJenW

We brought our four young children here for a hike and we all loved it. We first entered the park on the southern end, and we had a great hike along the canyon rim and the various trails. The kids really enjoyed going off the paved paths and climbing on all the rocks. Very family friendly hiking areas. We got a lot of great pictures. We then drove around to the northern end of the park, where there are more trails and even the Historic Lucas Homestead, with the remains from their concrete house you can explore. The kids loved it and so did we. We will be back.

lovestobike

I've lived in Denver for 29 years and have never hiked at Castlewood Canyon. I really missed out! I intend to go back time and again. The closeness to the Denver metro area makes it appealing to take the short drive and enjoy beautiful vistas and explore different trails. We chose a 4 mile loop, starting by the homestead ruins, continuing on the Rim hike, then down on the Creek bottom hike. There is something for everyone-history, beautiful views, exhilerating hikes, easy family hikes, shade, picnic areas, etc. The trails are well marked and maintained-many perfect for families. Most of the trails are dog-friendly. Most people obeyed the signs to keep your dog leashed, although some disregarded the signs. For nearby, moderate hiking options, try Castlewood Canyon. You'll love it!

ColoradoNativeChick

I've been coming to Castlewood Canyon since high school and it's still a favorite close drive to hike and picnic. They now have lots of classes and programs that you can sign up for and learn about nature, photography and the native animals. Fall is gorgeous there with all the scrub oak and aspens. You can hike, rock climb and splash in Cherry Creek.

estimator51

The diversity and views are really worth it. Around the whole canyon is a little over 8 miles, but the hike can be that or much less, depending on the paths chosen. Great for a family picnic, especially down by the waterfall. The path on the far south side rim is sometimes a little difficult to see, but not hard - but the views are beautiful.

Andithenana

Had a great time there, awesome walking paths. Enjoyed the canyon, river, they even have an old farmstead. It is split in two parts - the upper part needs to be seen more in the day - other wise it will be mostly in the shadows in the evening, not the greatest for photographs.

jtt040909

It's like a mini Grand Canyon in the middle the rolling hills of Colorado. $7 per car for the day. We only spent a couple hours there (our nearly 2 yr old was worn out). Picnic tables, grills, nice sidewalks (stroller recommended), off the beaten path trails and breathtaking views.We will be going back!!

277jonc

We've been State Park-hopping this past few weeks and this park is one of the best within one hour drive from Denver area. There are several trails of mostly moderate in their classifications. We combined the Inner Canyon and Lake Gulch trails. The Inner Canyon travails close to Cherry Creek. Lots of families with kids take this as the kids can go to the shallow part of the creek. Kids love hopping through the rocks too!

louiem2013

Just 45 minutes south of Denver center is the beautiful Castlewood Canyon State Park. Knowing that I would be in Denver for a few days, I really wanted to go enjoy a hike. During my initial research, many sites recommended Devil's Head. While beautiful, I decided on CCSP since it didn't seem as strenuous and it seems EVERYONE visited Devil's Head. It is easy to find, just a straight shot south on the 25, enter Castle Rock, head east to Franktown and follow signs for the park. There are two entrances for CCSP: east and west. When you're on Hwy 86, you can make a right on Castlewood Canyon Rd and that will lead you to the west entrance. Once there, there are several places to park and start your hike. As I mentioned, the hikes aren't too strenuous, ie, the slopes aren't too angled. More than likely, you'll come across other hikers or teenage runners, so it doesn't feel too secluded.

dougn122

Like a stunning mini grand canyon 40 miles from Denver. $7 per car to enter the park is the only cost. Nice paved parking lot at the top of the canyon. There are a few round trip hikes you can make in the park. We took our time on a 2 mile hike, taking 2 hours and exploring some dead end side trails to get some nice views. Lots of picnic tables to stop for lunch. It's cooler down in the canyon as well with lots of trees a nice stream.

331jennyh

It's hard to believe this beautiful place is basically right in our backyard. The hike is easy and full of picture-perfect moments. There are a lot of picnic areas that are right off the path as well as close to the parking lots for those who don't want to back-pack a lunch in. We started the hike while the sun was shining and took cover under some rocks when the rain and lighting came. We continued our journey after the storm and took in all the scenery even saw some wild turkeys. We will definitely do this hike again...after all it's just a short commute from the city.

klong1212

Castlewood Canyon State Park is about 40 miles south of Denver and near Franktown. It's a great hike which can last 3+ hours depending on your hustle. There is a creek that flows throughout, impressive cliff walls and atop the Rim Rock trail, views of the Great Divide. The remnants of the Castlewood Dam are a highlight of the hike; the dam broke in 1933 sending a wave of water all the way to Denver causing substantial flooding. Be sure to pack plenty of water, sunscreen, good shoes and a hat are recommended. Insect repellant can be helpful as there are often mosquitos near the water. There are bathrooms at the parking lot, picnic tables in a few spots and it's really a great hike.