Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space Is Now Open in Castle Rock
By Connor Tien, DougCo Social
I got out to Lost Canyon Ranch on a hike last July, back before it was open to the public. That gate above is what everybody else got.
As of Monday, July 13, 2026, anyone can walk in.
The property is 681 acres on the southeast edge of town. Willow Creek cut the wide Lost Canyon straight through it, with side canyons formed by spring-fed drainages branching off. The ground runs from rolling grassland to mature coniferous forest to exposed hoodoo rock formations to dramatic canyon cliffs. The Town says the views echo the adjacent Castlewood Canyon State Park, which sits right next door and now connects to it by trail.
The basics
Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space is 681 acres, and it is the largest open space the Town of Castle Rock has ever bought. There are 10 miles of hiking trails open right now, with another 5 miles under construction. The finished network will be 15 miles.
The Town is calling this a phased opening, which is their way of saying the place is open but the work is not done. Construction continues through the summer on the remaining trails, permanent signage and other improvements. Parts of the property are still an active construction site, so yield to the crews.
Read this part before you drive out there
No dogs. No horses. No pets of any kind, anywhere on the property.
This is not a leash rule, it is a ban. The Town's stated reason is straightforward: "To help protect sensitive natural resources and wildlife habitat, pets, including dogs and horses, are not permitted on the property, and bikes are permitted only on roadways."
If you show up with your dog, you are turning around. Take them to Castlewood Canyon State Park instead, where leashed dogs are welcome.
A few more things the Town wants you to know, and they are not boilerplate:
- There is no drinking water on site. Bring more than you think you need.
- Cell service is limited throughout the property. Pick your route before you lose signal.
- Black bears, mountain lions and rattlesnakes are all active out there. That is the Town's own warning, and I would take the rattlesnake part seriously: neighbors who live near the property told me on the hike last summer that they are absolutely out there.
- Bikes are allowed on the roadways only. Never on the trails. Park them at the racks at either trailhead.
- Portable restrooms are available at both trailheads.
- Temporary trail signage is up while the permanent signs are fabricated.
The trails
The property is built as color-coded loops linked by shorter connecting trails. The Town says the trail names were chosen to honor the site's natural and cultural resources and its history, and some of them line up with what actually lives out there: the Town lists golden eagles and wild turkeys among the wildlife highlights, and you get a Golden Eagle Loop, a Turkey Track Loop and a Gobbler's Pass.
Most loops are moderate to difficult. Expect elevation change, uneven ground, narrow passages, overhangs, rock steps and cliff edges. Surfaces are unpaved, or what the Town calls "crusher fines," which is packed fine gravel, the firm smooth stuff you get on a rail trail rather than loose rock.
| Trail | Distance | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bootlegger's Loop | 2.6 mi | Open | The long one. Runs between the trailheads. |
| Big Bear Hollow | 1.7 mi | Open | North side. |
| Gobbler's Pass | 1.1 mi | Open | West end, near Creekside. |
| Lost Moccasin Trail | 0.8 mi | Open | Northeast, near the Overlook. |
| Echoes of Ancestors Trail | 0.8 mi | Open | Carries the connection into Castlewood Canyon State Park. |
| Turkey Track Loop | 0.6 mi | Open | Short loop by Creekside. |
| Pronghorn Path | 0.6 mi | Open | Packed gravel, level and easy. |
| Willow Creek Path | — | Open | Packed gravel, level and easy. |
| Rustler's Ridge Loop | 2.2 mi | Under construction | Closed. Stay out. |
| Golden Eagle Loop | 1.8 mi | Under construction | Closed. Stay out. |
If you want the easier outing, the Town points you to Willow Creek Path or Pronghorn Path. Those two are the packed-gravel ones, level and far more forgiving than the loops.
The one that stands out on the map is Echoes of Ancestors Trail, because it carries the State Trail Connection and is the only trail here that walks you directly into Castlewood Canyon State Park.
The two trailheads
Creekside Trailhead is the first one you reach after entering the property.
- 19 parking spaces, plus limited roadside parking where signed
- Closest to: Turkey Track Loop, Gobbler's Pass, Willow Creek Path, Big Bear Hollow, and the lower access to Bootlegger's Loop
Cattleman's Trailhead is further east, up the main road past Creekside.
- 125 parking spaces
- Closest to: Pronghorn Path, Echoes of Ancestors Trail (including the Castlewood Canyon connection), Lost Moccasin Trail, and the upper end of Bootlegger's Loop
Practical advice: Creekside has 19 spaces. On a summer weekend, that is nothing. Cattleman's has 125.
Where it is and how to get there
Lost Canyon Ranch sits on the southeast edge of Castle Rock, right up against Castlewood Canyon State Park. It is not somewhere you stumble across. You have to go looking for it, and the last stretch is a residential road.
6581 Lost Canyon Ranch Road, Castle Rock, CO 80104
Here are the Town's own directions from I-25:
- Take the Plum Creek Parkway exit, Exit 181
- Turn east at the ramp and follow Plum Creek Parkway for 3 miles
- Turn right at the roundabout onto Ridge Road, continue 1/2 mile
- Turn left on Mikelson Boulevard, continue 1/4 mile
- Turn right on Lantern Trail, continue 1/2 mile
- Turn right on Lost Canyon Ranch Road, continue 1/4 mile
Once you are through the entry gate, keep going. Creekside Trailhead is the first lot you hit, and it only holds 19 cars. Cattleman's Trailhead is further east up the main road and holds 125. On a weekend, drive on to Cattleman's.
Hours
- Summer (May 1 to Aug. 31): 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Spring/Fall (Mar. 1 to Apr. 30, Sept. 1 to Oct. 31): 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Winter (Nov. 1 to Feb. 28): 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
The entrance road runs past homes. Drive slowly, do not park in the neighborhoods, and park only in designated areas.
You may also run into a Trail Ambassador at a trailhead, usually on weekends. They are volunteers, and they have maps.
The 35 acres, and the deal that got away
There is a part of this story that has not been resolved, and I have not been able to get an update on it.
When the Town first evaluated Lost Canyon Ranch back in 2023, a 35-acre parcel on the southeast edge was part of that assessment. The Town could not get it. A Town memo says it plainly: "Acquisition efforts were not successful at that time." The parcel was then purchased by the Guardian Angel Trust.
That parcel matters. The memo describes it as having "notable natural resource value and potential archaeological interest," and it contains Horse Thief Cave.
Then, in January 2026, the Trust agreed to sell. Town Council unanimously approved pursuing the purchase for $1.1 million. Council toured the land first.
"We've already bought the Ferrari, let's put some tires on it," Councilmember Max Brooks said after the vote.
The Town anticipated closing on April 1, 2026, pending due diligence.
It is now July, and the Town still describes the open space as 681 acres, which is the size of the original 2024 purchase. I have not seen confirmation either way on whether that 35-acre deal closed. We will update this story when we know.
How Castle Rock got it in the first place
The acquisition ran about $15 million and it took a coalition:
- Great Outdoors Colorado awarded a historic $3 million Centennial Grant in September 2023, the largest single funding allocation for any project in Town history
- Douglas County pledged $5.5 million
- The Conservation Fund negotiated the purchase on behalf of the Town and County and kicked in $200,000 of private donations
- Douglas Land Conservancy holds the permanent conservation easement, and has to approve future land use decisions
The Conservation Fund bought the property in late April 2024 and placed the easement on it, then sold it, along with the groundwater rights, to the Town in May 2024. The master plan was built with Wenk and Associates and finished in summer 2025. Crews started building trails that fall.
With Lost Canyon Ranch, more than 6,900 acres, roughly one third of all the land in Castle Rock, is now preserved as open space.
"Open space is one of the defining features of Castle Rock's quality of life," said Mayor Jason Gray. "Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space reflects our community's commitment to preserving extraordinary places through long-term investment and strong partnerships so they can be enjoyed for generations to come."
It used to cost $85 to get in here
While the gate was still closed to the public, one of the few ways onto this property was to buy a ticket.
In 2025, Get Outdoors Castle Rock ran a fundraising series called Discover Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space, and it was not cheap. Sunrise Yoga was $85 a head, held 6 to 8:30 a.m. at a private overlook on the property. There were guided hikes, a full-moon hike, and stargazing at $30. More recently they ran a Beginner Bird Watching morning out here in May 2026.
As of Monday, getting in is free. You drive up and walk in.
What's still coming
Twilight on the Trails is being held at Lost Canyon Ranch on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, run by Get Outdoors Castle Rock.
They also run Tunes for Trails, a free concert series at the Miller Park Amphitheater that raises money for exactly this kind of trail work:
- That Eighties Band — Thursday, July 16
- Santa Rios — Thursday, Aug. 20
- Ninety 90s — Thursday, Sept. 17
Go see it
Hours, trailhead parking and directions are on our Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space page. The Town's official trail map is at CRgov.com/LostCanyonRanch.
Bring water. Leave the dog.
Sources: Town of Castle Rock announcement; Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space project page; Lost Canyon Ranch trail map (PDF, as of 7/8/26); Castle Rock Town Council, January 2026. Reported by Connor Tien for DougCo Social.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space open to the public?
Yes. It opened Monday, July 13, 2026. It is free and no reservation is needed. The Town calls it a phased opening: 10 of the planned 15 miles of trail are open now, and construction continues through the summer on the rest.
Are dogs allowed at Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
No. Dogs and horses are not permitted anywhere on the property. This is not a leash rule, it is a ban, and the Town's stated reason is protecting sensitive natural resources and wildlife habitat. If you want to hike with your dog, Castlewood Canyon State Park is right next door and allows leashed dogs.
Where is Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space and how do you get there?
6581 Lost Canyon Ranch Road, Castle Rock, CO 80104, on the southeast edge of town next to Castlewood Canyon State Park. From I-25, take the Plum Creek Parkway exit (Exit 181), turn east and follow Plum Creek Parkway 3 miles, turn right at the roundabout onto Ridge Road for 1/2 mile, left on Mikelson Boulevard for 1/4 mile, right on Lantern Trail for 1/2 mile, then right on Lost Canyon Ranch Road.
Where do you park at Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
There are two trailheads. Creekside is the first lot you reach and holds only 19 cars. Cattleman's is further east up the main road and holds 125. On a summer weekend, drive past Creekside and go to Cattleman's.
How many trails are at Lost Canyon Ranch, and how hard are they?
About 10 miles of trail are open now across color-coded loops, with another 5 miles under construction. Most loops are rated moderate to difficult, with elevation change, uneven ground, narrow passages, rock steps and cliff edges. Willow Creek Path and Pronghorn Path are the two easy ones: packed gravel and level.
Can you hike from Lost Canyon Ranch into Castlewood Canyon State Park?
Yes. Echoes of Ancestors Trail, 0.8 miles, carries the State Trail Connection and is the only trail at Lost Canyon Ranch that walks you directly into Castlewood Canyon State Park. It is closest to Cattleman's Trailhead.
What are Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space's hours?
Summer, May 1 to Aug. 31: 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Spring and fall, Mar. 1 to Apr. 30 and Sept. 1 to Oct. 31: 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Winter, Nov. 1 to Feb. 28: 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
How much does it cost to visit Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
Nothing. It is free and no reservation is required. Before it opened, about the only way onto the property was buying a ticket to a Get Outdoors Castle Rock fundraiser, and sunrise yoga out there ran $85 a head.
Are there restrooms and water at Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
There are portable restrooms at both trailheads. There is no drinking water anywhere on the property and cell service is limited, so bring more water than you think you need and pick your route before you lose signal.
Can you mountain bike at Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
Not on the trails. Bikes are permitted on the roadways only, never on the trails, and there are bike racks at both trailheads where you can leave them before you hike. If you are looking to ride singletrack in Castle Rock, this is not the spot.
Can you ride horses at Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space?
No. Horses are not permitted anywhere on the property, the same as dogs. The Town bans pets, including dogs and horses, to protect sensitive natural resources and wildlife habitat. There is no equestrian trail access and no horse trailer parking at either trailhead.
Which trails at Lost Canyon Ranch are still closed?
Rustler's Ridge Loop (2.2 miles) and Golden Eagle Loop (1.8 miles) are still under construction and closed. They are part of the 5 additional miles expected to open later in summer 2026.