Officials are considering allowing camping in one of Douglas County’s most coveted open spaces, saying the move would expand recreational opportunities for residents.

The town of Larkspur — which surrounds the Sandstone Ranch — opposes the idea, raising worries about wildfires. 

The idea is to allow “minimalist camping,“ a plan that could eventually open the door to also allow open space camping throughout a county that is 50% open space.

If approved, the county would spend $379,400 a year to fund a new ranger and camp host position.That includes fronting development and planning costs for designating camping sites at Sandstone, according to county officials.

Sandstone is unincorporated open space land located in southern Douglas County and surrounded by Larkspur, roughly 40 miles south of Denver.

Douglas County Commissioner Abe Laydon raised the idea of how a “pilot minimalist camping program“ at Sandstone Ranch could expand the county’sopen space usage.

“Staff has had an ongoing conversation about the Sandstone Ranch master plan. They’ve been working very hard on developing some recommendations,” Laydon told The Denver Gazette. “It’s all of us at the county, having these conversations and trying to advance greater recreational opportunities for our citizens.” 

Micki Clark, who led an open space initiative in 1994, said the idea was too risky.

“I think that one of the important things to keep in mind is if we are going to assess where camping might be, we must assess the risks that come with camping,” said Clark. “The county is doing an excellent job in taking care of the land.”

“There’s many other places to camp,” she said. 

What is ‘minimalist camping’?

What Douglas County officials have in mind is a pilot program that allows five to 10 campsites to operate within a small area northwest of the Sandstone Ranch, close to the Perry Park neighborhood that roughly comprises about 700 homes.

The county said commissioners are exploring the idea after hearing from people expressing a desire for public access of the Sandstone Ranch.

Under the idea, campfires would be strictly prohibited and to be allowed to camp, individuals must get a permit and pass a “Leave no Trace“ training program.

There will be no running water or electricity, just designated campsites.

The idea hasn’tbeen formally proposed.

The county has also considered camping opportunities at Prairie Canyon Ranch, Nelson Ranch Open Space, Red Mesa, and Mountain Ranch Open Space.

Sandstone Ranch, known as Douglas County’s “crown jewel” of open spaces, encompasses more than 2,000 acres landscaped with bright red rocks, sprawling hills and a mountain backdrop home to an abundance of wildlife. It is located directly south of the Perry Park neighborhood. It is situated to the west of downtown Larkspur and is a neighbor to The Pike National Forest.

Recreationalists typically utilize the open space for hiking, biking, and sightseeing.

Douglas County acquired Sandstone Ranch for $20 million.

Fears of wildfire

When Perry Park resident Gary Dunning learned of the idea, he said he launched an online petition that has so far garnered more than 1,500 signatures to oppose it.

What he fears, he told The Denver Gazette, “is that some people will bring camp equipment, like a camp stove and light a fire on a no burn day, a red flag day.”

Pamela Wood, a Perry Park resident, shares that worry.

Wood said her family evacuated her home twice during the destructive Hayman Fire in June and July 2002.

“If one of these fires broke out,” she said, “we already have limited access to get out of Perry Park in case of fire.”

“During the summer, when people camp for six weeks, we have the Renaissance Festival every weekend. That’s an issue,” Wood said. “The other thing our insurance prices up here have kind of gone crazy because we’re in a Level 5 fire danger zone.”

Today, she always has a to-go bag that is packed, like many others in her neighborhood do, just in case of evacuation, Wood said.

Laydon, who leads the Douglas County Wildfire Action Collaborative, said he, too, would oppose any proposal that “increases fire risk for our citizens.”

“We have never had such a concentrated focus on wildfires like we have in the most recent years,“ he said. 

But Laydon said this idea allows staffers to assess its risks and feasibility.It could include strict policies against building fires, for example, he said.

Officials from the Larkspur Fire Protection District are skeptical whether such policies, no matter how strict, could be enforced.  

“Though we were told there would be no campfires or other sources of open flame, we question whether the county will have the resources or commitment to enforce this prohibition,” the fire officials said in a statement.

Much of Larkspur is a Level 4 fire danger zone, while residents surrounding Sandstone live in a Level 5 danger zone, meaning the fire department is always on high alert, according to Larkspur Fire Chief Tim McCawley.

Larkpur’s fire district board of directors adopted a resolution opposing open space camping, arguing fire risks in several subdivisions are high and neighborhoods are “often surrounded by and consist of drought-impacted pines, scrub oak, and a vast understory.”

The fire district also argued that the idea would mean an unfunded mandate since it doesn’t receive funding or resources to combat fires at Sandstone Ranch.

Earlier this month, the Larkspur Town Council also passed a resolution opposing the idea, Larkspur Mayor Sherilyn West told The Denver Gazette. The town’s resolution isn’t just a focus against camping in Sandstone Ranch but camping in all other open spaces in the town and county.

In neighboring Jefferson County, camping permits are required to camp on two of its open-space properties. The county strictly prohibits the use of campfires.

The other two Douglas County commissioners said they, too, won’t consider anything further until a formal proposal is in front of them.

“Ihaven’t seen anything come forward,“ Commissioner Kevin Van Winkle told residents last Tuesday after hearing concerns. “If it did, I would then, at that point, start asking lots of questions, the same way you have as residents.”

County officials said they plan to release another countywide survey in the spring about people’s stance on open space camping.

“There is no hurry to move forward on this,“ said Commissioner George Teal.

“Maybe we won’t,“ he said. “It would be something that I think we need to ask a whole lot of questions.”