Highlands Ranch Outdoor Movies 2026 — Backcountry Series
Nine Saturday-night movies at Backcountry Base Camp in the Highlands Ranch Backcountry Wilderness Area — pull up in your car, set up chairs and blankets in front of a 33-foot outdoor screen, and watch under the stars. $30 per vehicle. Gates 8 PM, film at sunset. Nine films from June 13 through August 29, 2026, plus three Nature Night Out add-ons.
Part of the Summer of Fun: Douglas County 2026 guide.
Series at a glance
- When
- 9 Saturdays
June 13 – August 29, 2026 - Time
- Gates 8 PM, film at sunset
- Where
- Backcountry Base Camp
6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, CO 80125 - Cost
- $30 per vehicle (one ticket per car)
- Capacity
- 45 vehicles per night — popular films sell out
- Bring
- Camp chairs, blankets, picnic dinner, popcorn
- Screen
- 33-foot outdoor screen
- Presented by
- HRCA & Backcountry Wilderness Area
Full 2026 lineup
Nine Saturday nights, nine different movies — a mix of family classics, kid favorites, and the brand-new 2026 Pixar release Hoppers. All at Backcountry Base Camp. The series skips Jul 4, Aug 1, and Aug 15 holiday weekends. Verified against the official HRCA Backcountry page.
1. The Goonies+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, June 13Series opener — Goonies never say die.
2. The Wild Robot+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, June 20The 2024 DreamWorks hit, perfect for younger kids.
3. The Sandlot+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, June 27Forever and ever — the all-time summer classic.
4. Jurassic Park+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, July 11Real dinosaurs (the live-animal kind) at the Nature Night Out add-on before the film.
5. Hoppers+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, July 182026 Pixar release — pair it with the Nature Night Out bundle.
6. Zootopia 2
Saturday, July 25Movie Only — this is the one date in the series with no Nature Night Out bundle option.
7. School of Rock+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, August 88. How to Train Your Dragon (Live Action)+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, August 22Live-action remake of the DreamWorks original.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl+ Nature Night Out
Saturday, August 29Series finale.
Nature Night Out — the pre-movie add-on
Nature Night Out is a paid add-on bundle available for 8 of the 9 2026 dates — every movie except Jul 25 (Zootopia 2), which is sold as Movie Only. Each bundle pairs the movie ticket with a pre-show live-animal presentation, a chance to learn about local flora and fauna in the Backcountry Wilderness Area, and time to play and explore before settling in for the film.
Each bundle is sold as a separate product in the HRCA PerfectMind store — search for “Nature Night Out & [Movie Title].” Registration is per car. The bundle is cheaper than buying the movie ticket and a nature program separately.
Why the pairing works: the Backcountry Wilderness Area is HR’s flagship outdoor amenity, and the combos give kids (and adults) a real-animal moment before they sit down for the film. It’s the kind of thing you can’t replicate at a regular cineplex.
What to bring & when to arrive
- Pack for a backyard movie: camp chairs, picnic blankets, picnic dinner, popcorn, and a cooler if you want one. HRCA pictures it as a family-movie- night-by-the-car kind of evening, not a strict drive-in.
- Arrive at gates open (8 PM): 45 vehicles max means front-of-screen parking goes first. Films start at sunset — anywhere from 8:30 to 9:00 PM depending on the date.
- One ticket per vehicle: $30 covers your whole car. Tickets sell through the HRCA PerfectMind store. Bundle multiple nights for a discount.
- Bring layers: the Backcountry sits high. Summer evenings cool off fast once the sun drops.
- Plan for kids: films are family-friendly. The Nature Night Out add-on adds a live-animal hook to three of the dates — worth the upgrade if you have kids.
More Highlands Ranch this summer
- Highlands Ranch Summer Concerts 2026 — HRCA Series + Aug 22 Sunset + drone show — Eight Thursday concerts at Highland Heritage Park, plus the season-closing Sunset Concert at Civic Green Park.
- Free Summer Concerts in Douglas County 2026 — countywide
- Parker Summer Concerts — Discovery Park (Thursdays Jun 4 – Jul 23)
- Castle Pines Summer Concert Series — Elk Ridge Park
- Everything else: Summer of Fun: Douglas County 2026 (pillar)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 HRCA Backcountry Outdoor Movie Series?+
Nine Saturday-night movies run from June 13 through August 29, 2026 at Backcountry Base Camp in Highlands Ranch. The series skips the holiday weekends of Jul 4 and Aug 1, plus Aug 15. Gates open at 8:00 p.m. each night; the film starts at sunset.
What movies are playing at Backcountry Base Camp in 2026?+
The verified 2026 lineup, per the official HRCA Backcountry page: The Goonies (Jun 13), The Wild Robot (Jun 20), The Sandlot (Jun 27), Jurassic Park (Jul 11), Hoppers (Jul 18 — 2026 Pixar release), Zootopia 2 (Jul 25), School of Rock (Aug 8), How to Train Your Dragon Live Action (Aug 22), and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (Aug 29).
How much do tickets cost?+
$30 per vehicle, and one ticket admits one vehicle. Maximum 45 vehicles per night — popular films (Hoppers, Jurassic Park) tend to sell out. Bundle pricing is available if you book multiple nights together.
Where is Backcountry Base Camp?+
6005 Ron King Trail, Littleton, CO 80125 — inside the Highlands Ranch Backcountry Wilderness Area. It is the same site HRCA uses for the Backcountry Half Marathon, Bigfoot Bash, and other Wilderness Area programming.
What time do the movies start?+
Gates open at 8:00 p.m. each Saturday. The film starts at sunset — which means roughly 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. depending on the date (later for June shows, earlier for August). Arrive at gates open to get a good spot in front of the 33-foot outdoor screen.
What should I bring to the Backcountry Outdoor Movies?+
HRCA recommends: picnic dinner, popcorn, camp chairs, and cozy blankets. You'll park your car and set up in front of the 33-foot outdoor screen — it's a hybrid drive-in / lawn experience.
What is "Nature Night Out" at the Backcountry Movies?+
Nature Night Out is a paid add-on bundled with 8 of the 9 2026 dates — every movie except Jul 25 (Zootopia 2), which is sold as Movie Only. The bundle includes a live-animal presentation and a short program about local flora and fauna in the Backcountry Wilderness Area before the movie starts, plus time to play and explore. Book the Nature Night Out + Movie combo ticket in HRCA's PerfectMind store.
What happens if it rains?+
Per HRCA policy: if a movie is canceled before it begins due to weather, tickets are transferred to another date. If the movie is more than 30 minutes in when weather forces a stop, no refunds or transfers are issued. Staff decisions are final.
Do I need an HRCA membership to attend?+
No. The Backcountry Outdoor Movies are ticketed individually and open to anyone — you don't need to be an HRCA member. Tickets are sold through the HRCA PerfectMind store.
Where do I buy tickets?+
Through the HRCA PerfectMind store at highlandsranchcommunityassociation.perfectmind.com/Store/Product. Search the catalog for "Backcountry Outdoor Movies" or the specific film title.
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Subscribe free →Sources: hrcaonline.org Backcountry Outdoor Movie Series (full 9-film 2026 lineup, venue, $30/vehicle pricing, gates 8 PM, film at sunset, what to bring); hrcaonline.org Hoppers event detail (capacity 45 vehicles, weather/refund policy); HRCA PerfectMind store (Nature Night Out combo bundles for Jul 11, Jul 18, Aug 29).