Castlewood Canyon State Park

Closed — Open year-round for day use only from sunrise to sunset. No camping facilities available. Visitor center open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

About

Castlewood Canyon State Park is a day-use only park located in the Black Forest region of Colorado, preserving 2,628 acres of unique natural landscape carved by Cherry Creek through Castle Rock Conglomerate and Dawson Formation. The park offers 12 miles of trails for all skill levels, from easy paved paths to challenging canyon hikes, with spectacular panoramic views of the Front Range and Pikes Peak. The park features two separate entrances. The main east entrance off Highway 83 provides access to a visitor center, flush restrooms, event facilities, picnic areas with grills, and a paved roadway. The less-developed west entrance, accessed from Castlewood Canyon Road off Highway 86, offers a more rustic experience with gravel roads, vault toilets, and fewer facilities. Rock climbers are drawn to the park's 60-foot climbing walls, and the area is designated as a Leave No Trace Gold Standard site. Rich in history and natural heritage, the park protects archaeological sites dating back 5,000 years and the ruins of the historic Castlewood Dam, which catastrophically failed in 1933, flooding Denver. Visitors can observe over 100 species of birds, mule deer, coyotes, and diverse plant communities ranging from mixed foothill shrublands to unique grotto wetlands. The park operates from sunrise to sunset year-round, with the visitor center open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Directions

From I-25, take the Founders Parkway exit to Highway 86 in Castle Rock. Follow Highway 86 east to Franktown. At the stoplight in Franktown, turn south onto Highway 83 and continue five miles to the park's main entrance on the east side. An alternate west entrance is accessible from Castlewood Canyon Road off Highway 86.

Nearby Campgrounds