By Rich Bangs
Judging from the reaction of visitors to Castle Rock’s most recent open space, Lost Canyon Ranch is going to be a favorite to many who visit the area.
The 681-acre open space, on the southeast corner of the town, opened to the public in early July with limited access. More areas will open as the town continues to develop the open space. Visitors are greeted with steep canyon walls, completed trails and good signage.
Here are some random observations from social media posts made by early visitors:
“I can already tell it’s going to be one of my favorite places in Douglas County! … The trails are easy to follow thanks to color-coded markers, there’s excellent signage, hiking maps at the two trailhead parking lots, plenty of route options, and some truly spectacular scenery.
“The views stretch across dramatic canyon walls, unique rock formations, forests and all the way to Pikes Peak on a clear day. I also appreciated the periodic shade along parts of the routes, especially near the creek.”
Another visitor proclaimed: “It’s got 10 miles of trails, from an easy walk near the trailhead to moderate and more challenging hikes, and views of grasslands, forests, canyon cliffs, and striking rock formations.”
And a third testimonial: “I ventured in to give Bootlegger’s Loop a go and found 3ish miles of beautiful forest paths that walked along cliffs, alongside streams, and up and over huge boulders.”
The parcel was annexed in 2024 after a fundraising partnership purchased the land and Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) accepted a conservation easement on the property. It is the largest open space acquired in the history of Castle Rock.
The town, in partnership with DLC, has developed the Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space plan to guide long-term stewardship, public access and protection for the property. Shaped through public review and community input, the plans balance habitat conservation, cultural resource protection and low-impact recreation.
The property is a blend of rolling grasslands, towering ponderosa pines and dramatic canyon cliffs — a landscape rich with history, diverse wildlife and sweeping scenic views that echo the beauty of nearby Castlewood Canyon State Park.
Lost Canyon Ranch was one of the last, large-acreage properties yet to be developed near Castle Rock. Its outstanding scenic vistas, cultural resources and potential recreational opportunities motivated the Town of Castle Rock, The Conservation Fund (TCF), Great Outdoors Colorado and Douglas County to partner to acquire the property, representing the largest one-time acquisition and protection of open space in Town history.
In late April 2024, TCF officially purchased Lost Canyon Ranch and placed a permanent conservation easement on the open space through the DLC, which limits the uses going forward and preserves the natural state of the land. In May of 2024, TCF sold the property and associated groundwater rights to the Town. The total cost for Lost Canyon Ranch Open Space was approximately $15 million.
The open space is located at 6581 Lost Canyon Ranch Road and is open daily year-round. Summer hours are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. through Aug. 31. Find more information, including trail maps, parking details and seasonal hours at https://www.crgov.com/3682/Lost-Canyon-Ranch-Open-Space.
photo: Michael Ryno