Much better trail conditions than our last time attempting to hike here, when it was a swampy mess…read more Trail is now completely dry. Tons and tons of bikers and hikers out on a clear Saturday morning. It's not the most exciting trail, but it's close if you live in Castle Rock, and the views of the front range are decent.

Don't go on a hot day. There is no shade. But beautiful views, needed breezes one is at the top…read morenear the water tanks

Nice walk along the trail. We chose the Gus's gulch trail green loop after taking a look at the old…read morehomestead. It's a lovely set of buildings which harken back to the old days. Some farm machinery left behind made for interesting viewing. The open space is a network of 4 miles of unpaved trails suitable for hiking and mountain biking. We started at the Allen Street trailhead but there's another option to park off Mountain Vista Way. We could see Founders on one side and there are houses on the other. Open spaces and wooded areas with bird houses set up on the trail we were on. We took the easier trail as I wasn't feeling well and just wanted some fresh air. Nice, quick walk.

Great short hike that spits you out on the far side of Hidden Mesa Open Space. There are lots of…read morecool sites and we saw tons of birds, butterflies, rabbits, and one snake. Running by the creek is cooler and shaded at times.

*edit-I don't know why Inspirahike is on my review title. I have no idea what inspirahike is. I'm…read morestrictly reviewing this hike/trail. I can't believe we didn't know about this lovely trail sooner! It is under construction, but that didn't stop us from enjoying the part we were able to explore. It was a good 2 mile walk with options to stop at a couple places to take in the view. It's dog friendly, horse friendly, peaceful and mostly clean. You will need to be cautious while walking due to horse droppings. But overall we enjoyed walking here and taking in the breathtaking front range views, and will be back to check out the rest of the trail.

All of the parks in this area have great Rock features that can be seen for miles. There is one…read morewaterfall that I know of with a river going into the other parks. Great hiking for sure in all seasons! The wildlife is amazing! You can see turkeys, river otters, squirrels, rabbits, rattlesnakes, bear, elk, deer, the white mountain goats...Once I saw wild donkeys and a moose on the loose! Many varieties of birds but my special favorite are crows, Ravens, and magpies. So much to do well run parks please follow the rules especially with the dogs, which I love, but they are only allowed in certain places contact the park before you go. Highly recommend!!!

One of the most beautiful red sandstone parks of the metro area rivals red rocks easily with far…read morefewer people

Thanks to the Conservation Corps for building this highway (Trail) from Heaven. It's not a 4WD…read moreTrail but if you have an off road vehicle the Trail that runs next to it is awesome. The views are nothing but spectacular. Camping, hiking, MXing and 4WDing all to be done.

Used to be an awesome area, but went to complete sh_t the last 10 years. BLM got so sick of it…read morethey finally made it fee camping. Yet we drove through there and see piles of trash left behind that they just leave there for the next camper???? WTF? On our last visit we passed up 3 sites due to this. Lots of people running generators, driving their atv's illegally on the main road, ignoring the dozens of signs which clearly state you cannot do that. Where are the Rangers? Step up your game BLM.

This is a cool walking area with a small creek right in the downtown of Castle Rock. There are a…read moreton of things to do nearby in terms of food and shopping. The park connects to additional paths, has a splash pad, an area for music/seating, and more.

The Christmas craft festival was on and we came down to check it out. Parked in the garage close by…read moreand walked over. He saw the granite slabs across the creek so we walked on the to the other side. How fun! The steps up are taller than my short legs :) but I made it. The stalls were arranged in the park and we wandered down them. So many things to look at. Some talented people and cool food items. Peanuts cooked right in their shells, hot sauces, cookies and meat products. Great stocking stuffer and gift ideas. Jewelry and clothing items, household decor and music. Everyone was so nice and I even got to meet someone I follow on instagram and try her cookies. I enjoy this park and discover new things when I come. This time it was a little library. I love those as I like borrowing a book and bringing one to give.

This piece of county-maintained open space is a beautiful mix of forest and high meadow or pasture…read moretrails. The upper route winds through tall pines with great overlooks. The lower meadow trail opens into peaceful grasslands. Had an unforgettable moment on the high meadow. Spotted a mountain lion 700 or so hundred feet away croached near a melting snow berm. Then, I rounded a bend in the distance and it disappeared behind a thicket. I walked backward for 30 minutes with a snapped-off branch of scrub oak. Wild. Beautiful. Humbling. Colorado at its best.

Spruce Mountain is a popular trail running, hiking and dog walking spot just outside the city…read morelimits of Palmer Lake in Larkspur. The appeal is based on ease of access and trail layout. Miles can be accumulated depending on your fancy. Ever since the reservoir trail banned dogs this has become a super popular destination. That is the downfall, IMO. The parking lot fills up quick and the amount of dog walkers populates the trail. Having said that, it is a perfect spot to spread your wings and get active. The lower loop is less crowded and wide open. The upper boasts of better views, but more people. Get up and get movin!