CASTLE ROCK • Dozens of local officials, donors and advocates recently gathered atop a grassy mesa overlooking forests, rugged cliffs and distant mountains as far as the eye could see north to south. The gathering was about 10 minutes away from Interstate 25 but seemingly a world away. 

Castle Rock Parks Director Jeff Brauer stood before the group.

“Welcome to Lost Canyon Ranch,” he said. 

This was the opening celebration of the town’s next outdoor destination ー one of the most anticipated across the Front Range in recent memory. 

Two years after the largest open space acquisition in the town of Castle Rocks’ history, the gate has been lifted at Lost Canyon Ranch. About 10 miles of trail await hikers, with five more miles under construction. 

The stacked loop system explores tall forests and taller formations with rippling marks like waves of the ancient sea from which the rock rose. From the verdant, creek-fed floor, paths rise to bluffs and overlooks of Pikes Peak and land and sky beyond. Pronghorn prance in the uppermost prairie. Here, Echoes of Ancestors Trail connects to Castlewood Canyon State Park — the mosaic closely resembling Lost Canyon. 

Combined with that state park and adjacent open space, Lost Canyon Ranch’s 681 acres conserve more than 4,000 acres of contiguous land. Brauer called it “one of the most extraordinary landscapes in our region.” 

And all the more extraordinary for its close proximity to I-25, reached at the end of Lost Canyon Ranch Road through a neighborhood on the southeast edge of Castle Rock. 

“Always tucked behind the neighborhood, but you’d never know it,” said Assistant Parks Director Jeff Smullen. 

Not since the 2014 opening of Philip S. Miller Park has Castle Rock made such a splash on the outdoor recreation scene. Trails there weave through rolling, oak-covered or open hills — the kind of terrain defining much of the town’s open space.

“We have a lot of great open space, but none come close to this,” Smullen said as he led a tour through Lost Canyon’s alternating conifers, mossy hillsides and panoramic caprock. 

Added Matt Roth: “It’s bringing the mountains to your backyard.” 

As project manager with Parks, Roth has watched the trails go from pages on a master plan to the ground roamed by people for thousands of years. Echoes of Ancestors and Lost Moccasin trails harken to that deep history. Bootlegger’s and Rustler’s Ridge trails are named for Wild West chapters, while the upper Cattleman’s Trailhead refers to a prevailing use for generations. 

Family and friends rode horses and hunted here while homes steadily encroached. Castle Rock officials reviewed several proposals for development to continue through Lost Canyon Ranch. 

“This has been off and on thought about (as open space) for the last 20 years or so,” Smullen said. 

Justin Spring paid attention for much of that time as state director of The Conservation Fund. He waited for the opportunity that came in 2024, orchestrating the $15 million deal made possible with contributing funds from Douglas County and Great Outdoors Colorado. 

In all of his years overseeing such acquisitions in the state and across the Southwest, “it’s definitely top tier of the projects I’ve ever worked on,” Spring said. “Just for that combination of public access and wildlife habitat, and being in the immediate path of massive residential growth.” 

He called himself “in awe” of trails opening already, at the direction of Castle Rock’s Town Council. “It’s always been a top priority for the town,” Spring said. “Before we even closed on the property, they knew the public was clamoring to get on trails.” 

There might be some clamoring still.

The trails are hiking only — no dogs or bikes, as set by the master plan that emphasized a wilderness experience and a conservation easement held by Douglas Land Conservancy.  

Mountain bikers are “a little ruffled,” said Marne Hansen, executive director of Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation. Dog walkers are “crabby,” she said. 

She has tried to ease tensions while guiding hikes over the past year, on the lookout for elk, bears and mountain lions that have been spotted here. 

“I worry about dogs being off-leash when there’s so much wildlife that they could encounter,” Hansen said. “We’ve seen rattlesnakes almost every time we’ve been out here. So it’s for their own safety.” 

As for bikes, “we know we have constituents that would love to ride out here,” Smullen said. “But I think those that have been out here understand how special it is. We’re just trying to protect it and manage the property as best we can.” 

Maybe the limitations would limit the overall popularity. Or maybe Lost Canyon Ranch could prove an appetite for a rare hiking-only open space on the Front Range — “people who don’t want to be around bikes,” Smullen said. 

For people living along the road into the open space, traffic has been another concern. 

“But man, it’s gonna be a lot better than the traffic we would’ve seen from development,” Castle Rock Councilmember Max Brooks told fellow neighbors, speaking at the recent opening celebration. 

He called Lost Canyon “a crown jewel for the town and county.”

For people near and far, “I think that sense of surprise is gonna be pretty special,” said Roth, hiking alongside his colleague, Smullen. 

The two stopped at a sweeping overlook, where Smullen pointed to one surprise. 

“Hopefully you don’t even notice,” he said amid the wildness, looking over to a ridge and smiling. “There’s rooftops right over there.” 

If you go

Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space is located at 6581 Lost Canyon Ranch Road. Summer hours 5:30 a.m.-9 p.m. 

About 10 miles of trail are open to hikers only — no dogs and no bikes. Officials are also telling visitors to be aware of wildlife including rattlesnakes, to bring plenty of water and be advised cell service is limited.

For a trail map, directions and more information, go to CRgov.com/LostCanyonRanch