Castlewood Canyon State Park is a little-known spot that is sure to please any wildlife and nature enthusiast. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It’s south of Denver in Castlewood Canyon State Park. Castlewood Canyon State Park, Franktown Picture: a waterfall along the river - Check out Tripadvisor members' 157 candid photos and videos of Castlewood Canyon State Park The East Canyon Trail can be accessed from the Bridge Canyon Overlook parking area, located just beyond Castlewood Canyon State Park’s east (main) entrance station. More. Was very cool. From the Homestead trailhead, follow the Cherry Creek … It is one of the few hikes that we enjoy that is not actually in the mountains. Castlewood Canyon is infamously known for a significant event in 1933 when the Castlewood Canyon Dam burst, releasing a 15-foot wave of water big enough to flood downtown Denver. This is a great area for hiking near the city with the opportunity to wander down into the canyon to explore. Here are over 25 of our favorite winter trails near Denver scouted by your local guides at Dayhikes Near Denver. Waterfall hike at castlewood canyon state park this may be the most accessible waterfall near denver. Trail lengths range from 1 to 4 miles; view the Castlewood Canyon park map to see how to combine trails for longer hikes. You can also reach it by driving south from Denver on the same highway, or east from Castlerock on Plum Creek Pkwy, connecting with South Lake Gulch Rd, then north on Hwy 85. Love this view from Castlewood Canyon … Bartruff-Bihlmeyer Ranch. Discover Castlewood Canyon Dam Ruins in Franktown, Colorado: The remains of the dam that unleashed a 15-foot wall of water on Denver. There are a few different waterfalls outside of Denver. 5mi Feb 27, 2018 Carolyn Jungels. Trail profiles provide driving directions, trail maps, and hiking tips Castlewood Canyon State Park is a favorite hiking destination. Want to know something cool? Seven Falls made … It lies E of I-25, north of Castle Rock, south of Denver. This Endurance Run is Uber Technical and has gorgeous views from the high canyon rims, challenging steep rocky ascents/descents, Castlewood Dam Ruins, Historical Sites, Waterfalls, Boulder Bridge Crossings, … Luckily, this also means this is a less popular side of the park, making for less crowded trails and easier parking! Posted by usharadh on April 25, 2017 April 25, 2017. At the north end of the canyon, the trail drops down to the creek bed and returns south along Creek Bottom Trail. Castlewood Canyon truly is a beautiful park with quite a variety of features: old homestead ruins, a waterfall, the remains of a dam that burst in 1933, and of course miles of hiking trails and beautiful views. Interesting little canyon with cool rocks and a small waterfall. Park Fees: All vehicles entering the Park must have a valid Colorado State Parks pass. Visitors to the park will enjoy views of the river, an … Activities and Amenities (within Facility): Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado Natural Area providing great wildlife, plant communities and geological viewing opportunities. Share. Some photos below. I have parked at the main parking area both times. ", Shelf Creek Falls in Rocky Mountain National Park, 1/4 mile Round Trip (see trail options below), Cherry Creek, waterfall, interesting geology, canyon views, ruins, Rock climbing, hiking, picnic areas, birdwatching, wildlife viewing. The park retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. A sunset view at Castlewood Canyon State Park outside of Denver. This will add close to 1 mile to your hike. Cherry Creeks falls is found in Castlewood Canyon State Park. Where Denver's Cherry Creek Ran Wild Inner Canyon Loop Trail. This week’s hike is another one closer to the City. Castlewood Canyon Cherry Creek Falls, Colorado. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. castlewood canyon waterfall. Castlewood Canyon State Park (Franktown) Yelp. South of Denver, this is in the Castlewood Canyon State Park. On our first visit, which took place last summer, we parked at the main parking lot off Highway 83 and did a few miles of hiking to the dam and waterfall. Sadly, these are not soft-baked, double-chocolate chunk cookies. One is off of CO-83, and this can lead you to Cherry Creek Falls. Castlewood Canyon View. The trail is great for kids with lots of opportunities to climb around on the rocks in the upper part of the creek (Inner Canyon Trail). East Park Entrance Castlewood Canyon - Rimrock to Creek Bottom Loop RECOMMENDED ROUTE. Saved by Julie Koska-Hittle. The creek is an important source of water for the farms and ranches between Castlerock and Denver, and eventually flows into the Cherry Creek Reservoir on Denver's east side. There are a few different waterfalls outside of Denver. They called it Wildcat Canyon. This is a great area for hiking near the city with the opportunity to wander down into the canyon to explore. Driving Directions: There are two entrances to the park- … The hike combines the two main canyon loops into one big daddy of a hike. Castlewood Canyon State Park trails are available for daily sightseeing, hiking, photography and nature study. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Castlewood Canyon State Park (cont.) This is a great area for hiking near the city with the opportunity to wander down into the canyon to explore. An Adventure Projects staff member will review this and take an appropriate action, but we generally don't reply. Homestead Trail at Castlewood Canyon … 2005.06.10.0008. Another Castlewood Canyon Waterfall. dam ruins,side view. Castlewood Canyon State Park encompasses 2,300 acres offering hiking that traverses four ecosystems – Grasslands, Montane Shrublands, Montane Forest and Riparian. Colorado Waterfall Pictures Outdoor Outdoors Waterfalls Outdoor Life Resim Clip Art. "The north entrance is easy to sneak in and much faster to see water falls!" Pike's Peak. There are two different entrances into the park. Castlewood Canyon is somewhat of an anomaly on the plains SE of Denver. There are two different entrances into the park. A view of the canyon valley and amazing bridge at Castlewood Canyon State Park, just outside of Denver. A view of the canyon valley and amazing bridge at Castlewood Canyon State Park, just outside of Denver. 243-foot "Bridge to Nowhere" on CO 83, c1946, 2003. Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown, Colorado. It’s south of Denver in Castlewood Canyon State Park. Get trail maps, driving directions, and detailed trail profiles for each of each hike. Colorado is not necessarily known for its caves, but at Castlewood Canyon, just an hour from Denver, there are an abundance of them hiding throughout the underrated 2,136-acre state park. One hundred twenty years ago, in 1890, local farmers arranged to have a dam built across the creek for irrigation purposes. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Falls spur trail head is on the backside of Castlewood Canyon, off a backroad, not main entry off 83. State Park View . Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash. Explore the most popular waterfall trails in Castlewood Canyon State Park with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. moderate (522) Length: 5.8 mi • Est. castlewood canyon falls. This road winds toward the park entrance. Description: This easy … Regardless, ice will form at a small waterfall along the Cherry Creek and along the north bank of the creek just downstream from this fall. A sunset view at Castlewood Canyon State Park outside of Denver. From the Homestead trailhead, follow the Cherry Creek trail to the right. Click on the red link above to go to the waterfall hike trail profile page. Once in the park, the parking on the left of the road aligns to the same trail so depending on how far you want to hike park accordingly. Castlewood Canyon State Park: Great Hike, Great Views - See 191 traveller reviews, 136 candid photos, and great deals for Franktown, CO, at Tripadvisor. Logging and gold brought the first white settlers to the Castlewood Canyon area in the 1860s. Then you can loop back via the Cherry Creek Trail for a total of about 2 miles. It is a cleft in the plains east of us and sports the ruins of an old homestead, a waterfall, lots of great boulders for rock scrambling, and what’s left of Castlewood Dam. I decided to give it another try and explore another trail. There are also the ruins of a dam built in 1890 that broke in Aug of 1933. 243-foot "Bridge to Nowhere" on CO 83, c1946, 2003. Went to a state park called Castlewood Canyon. It doesn't get anymore magnificent than this privately owned, 181-foot tall series of waterfalls. © Copyright 2010-2020 Dayhikes Near Denver LLC, We use cookies to give you the best experience on our website. #1 - Inner Canyon Loop Trail. It’s a great hike for families as kids can make the trip easily. Castlewood Canyon State Park trails are available for daily sightseeing, hiking, photography and nature study. Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst in 1933. If you want a longer path, you could combine two trails to make it longer or a loop. Stella Nutella and I have run here once and I need to make a point of doing it again. Elizabeth,CO. The park features gorgeous views of the canyon which is mottled with scrub oak and large, massive rounded boulders, pine trees and the occasional cluster of wild flowers. Castlewood Canyon truly is a beautiful park with quite a variety of features: old homestead ruins, a waterfall, the remains of a dam that burst in 1933, and of course miles of hiking trails and beautiful views. It is one of the few hikes that we enjoy that is not actually in the mountains. Similar Photos See All. Trail lengths range from 1 to 4 miles; view the Castlewood Canyon park map to see how to combine trails for longer hikes. One is off of CO-83, and this can lead you to Cherry Creek Falls. The park retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. Keeping Watch. May 8, 2017 / waterfallrecord / Leave a comment. Castlewood canyon state park 2989 s state highway 83 franktown co 80116. The Castlewood Canyon Dam was built in 1890 to attract settlers with a reliable water source, but its construction was fraught with issues and the leaks began immediately. Local Attractions: Town of Castle Rock, Town of Parker No Camping: Castlewood Canyon State Park is a year-round, day-use park. The trail is good for all skill levels and is primarily used for hiking, walking, and bird watching. Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst in 1933. Castlewood Canyon State Park, Franktown Picture: a waterfall along the river - Check out Tripadvisor members' 158 candid photos and videos. It is a good park for birdwatching too, although I know very little … Jun 29, 2011 - Spent this past weekend in the Denver, CO area. (If you're facing it from the parking lot.) Join our Community. Thanks to Elsie Henderson's quick action many lives were saved, as people responded to her telephone call and pulled their families out of the torrent's path. Remnants of geologic and local history combine when the then Castlewood Dam burst in 1933, sending a 15-foot-high wave of water into Denver. Castlewood Canyon State Park is located south of Franktown, in Douglas County Colorado. We spent the good part of the day playing in Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown, CO. It’s a great family hike, plenty of trails (some trails are paved for good wheelchair access). ... A beautiful view of a waterfall and surrounding landscape in a colorado state park. Trail: Excellent, well marked trail. If you live near castlewood canyon you are in luck. If you hit the right parking lot, it’s a 10 minute hike.So, grab a park brochure and find the Northernmost trailhead for the Creek Bottom Trail (Homestead Trailhead). Cherry Creek Falls Area 2 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 2 / 0 / 1 / 0 / 3 Upper Canyon 1 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 ... South of Denver, this is in the Castlewood Canyon State Park. All wildlife should be viewed from a safe distance and not disturbed. Credit: Chris Waits (Flickr) Chris Waits. This is a great area for hiking near the city with the opportunity to wander down into the canyon to explore. Castlewood Canyon Falls Trail is a 1.1 mile loop trail located near Franktown, Colorado that features a waterfall. Home; Uncategorized; castlewood canyon waterfall; Posted on October 11, 2020; In Uncategorized Uncategorized Cherry Creek is a creek in The Pinery, CO in Stroh Ranch Soccer Park, Cherry Creek Greenway, Castlewood Canyon State Park, Cherry Creek State Park, Rocky Mountains. Ruins of the original ill-fated dam and the historic homestead still exist for hikers to see. One of the easiest to get to is probably Cherry Creek Falls. Come join the Sasquatch Running Company as we host the 2nd Annual Castlewood Canyon Endurance Run on Saturday May 22, 2021 at the Castlewood Canyon State Park in Franktown, Colorado. - See 193 traveler reviews, 143 candid photos, and great deals for Franktown, CO, at Tripadvisor. This Douglas County state park, located south of Parker off Colorado Highway 83, is home to not only some of Colorado’s most magnificent plants and wildlife, but provides families with recreational opportunities. The rock varies from crumbly shale to conglomerate sandstone and quartz. Rimrock Trail to Creek Bottom Trail, Castlewood Canyon State Park near Castle Rock. It is a cleft in the plains east of us and sports the ruins of an old homestead, a waterfall, lots of great boulders for rock scrambling, and what’s left of Castlewood Dam. Seven Falls (Colorado Springs) Wikimedia Commons. On 3 August 1933, the dam broke, sending a 15 ft high wall of water into downtown Denver. May 12, 2015 - See 13 photos and 3 tips from 117 visitors to Castlewood Canyon State Park. Cliff & Climbers Trail at Castlewood Canyon State Park – A short but more demanding hike in Castlewood Canyon where you can explore the crags along the cliffs of the park. The track begins by dropping down to the shore of what was formerly the lake created by the dam. 43 years later, the dam cracked during a storm and sent 1.7 billion gallons of water toward Denver, killing two and causing extensive damage. Distance: 5.9 miles (loop). Hiked past the frozen waterfall to a old broken dam. The West entrance gives access to many of the rock climbing areas. View a … Waterfall Hike at Castlewood Canyon State Park – This may be the most accessible waterfall near Denver. Castlewood Canyon Waterfall can be reached by a short, easy hike down a flat trail, so it’s one of the easiest waterfalls to visit near Denver. The West Side of Castlewood Canyon is the more "rugged" side of the park, it has a dirt road, gravel parking lots, and only vault toilets. This may be the most accessible waterfall near Denver. One of the first hikes that I did when I started my journey was at Castlewood Canyon and you can see some more pictures by following this link. Castlewood Canyon State Park is a favorite hiking destination. Aaron Johnson has been hiking in Colorado for over 20 years. A short .17 mile hike from the trailhead. Download the Castlewood Canyon Dam brochure for its full history. Visitors to the park will enjoy views of the river, an old bridge, a small waterfall, and mountains in the distance. Image Editor Save Comp. No membership needed. The owner and editor of Dayhikes Near Denver, Aaron writes every trail profile as a local guide who has hiked hundreds of miles of trails along the Front Range and deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Official Park Link. )Follow signs pointing toward the overlook. ... Playground, Rock Climbing, Visitor Center, Water (Creek), Waterfall, Wedding Venue, Wildlife Viewing Altitude: Altitudes at the Park range from approximately 6175 to 6620. Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown, Colorado. The Cherry Creek River cut out the shallow canyon. Starting out. The event sent a 15-foot (5 m) wave of water all the way to downtown Denver resulting in a flood. The hike begins on a concrete, wheelchair-accessible path leading to the viewpoint. You can get some decent miles in connecting some of the trails together for a great medley run. Castlewood canyon state park - download this royalty free Stock Photo in seconds. Season: Year round.There may occasionally be some snow on the trail during the winter months. Leashed pets are welcome on all trails, except the East Canyon Preservation trail. After the trail crosses the creek again, you'll return to the trailhead via Inner Canyon Trail along the north side of the creek. Castlewood Canyon … Before you reach Franktown, make a right (south) on Castlewood Canyon Road and take it into the park. It also gives access to some of the more popular trails as well as photo opportunities like the falls area. Some Trails In Castlewood Canyon. Explore this set of 5 Hikes in Castlewood Canyon State Park. The headwaters of Cherry Creek lie in the low hill country about 35 miles south of Denver. Dogs are permitted, provided they stay leashed. We were only car at the trailhead when we arrived, there were maybe a dozen cars when we … Castlewood Canyon State Park: Falls spur trail - See 192 traveler reviews, 140 candid photos, and great deals for Franktown, CO, at Tripadvisor. I am happy to say that it was much easier this time! The hike which caught our eye was the one with the falls and dam. The Castlewood Dam Ruins. One of the easiest to get to is probably Cherry Creek Falls. View hourly site map, availability, and reserve online with ReserveAmerica. Located in Castle Rock is this State park with various short hikes. Hike about a half-mile on the Dam Trail to see the ruins of the dam and the historic homestead. Built in 1890 and leaking for years after that, the Castlewood Canyon dam collapsed on August 3, 1933. Dogs are allowed in this part of the park on a leash. Castlewood Canyon. If they were, we would rename this website "paradise. Castlewood Canyon. 3) Castlewood Canyon State Park waterfall Start: Homestead trailhead End: waterfall One-way distance: about 1.6 miles Difficulty level: easy to moderate Approximate one-way hiking time: 30 minutes. West side view of Britanie Ridge. Walking time: 3 1/2 hours Elevations: 690 ft. loss/gain Lake Gulch Trailhead (start): 6,610 ft Castlewood Canyon Dam: 6,350 ft. Visitors to the park will enjoy views of the river, an old bridge, a small waterfall, and mountains in the distance. See photos, get driving directions, and trail map on our full trail profile of this waterfall hike in Castlewood Canyon. Then it crosses Cherry Creek just south of the dam and follows the Rimrock Trail up the east side of the canyon. There are no camping facilities at Castlewood Canyon State Park. Over 100 bird species nest and raise their young at Castlewood Canyon State Park. Get the Hiking Guide and our Trail Dispatch for hiking tips and new trails. (Note: From Franktown, drive south five miles on Highway 86, then turn right to enter the park. 3) Castlewood Canyon State Park waterfall Start: Homestead trailhead End: waterfall One-way distance: about 1.6 miles Difficulty level: easy to moderate Approximate one-way hiking time: 30 minutes.