Castlewood Canyon State Park

Castlewood Canyon State Park 13 miles of hiking trails, steep canyon walls, big sky views, historic ruins, and wildlife. Casual groups and families enjoy the picnic areas at both entrances.

Visitors of all ages enjoy environmental diversity on several hiking trails ranging from mild to moderate. The trails range from .5 to 4 miles and can be combined for longer journeys. The winding Cherry Creek flowing along the canyon floor provides wonderful rest stops. ​Pets, on a leash, are welcome on all trails other than in the East Canyon Preservation Area (the portion of the park east of Highway 83). The natural amphitheater and the Bridge Canyon Overlook gazebo perched on the edge of the canyon are unique places for weddings or other outdoor ceremonies. Remnants of geologic and local history combine when the then Castlewood Dam burst in 1933, sending a 15-foot-high wave of water into Denver. Ruins of the original ill-fated dam and a historic homestead still exist for hikers to see.

09/12/2026
08/24/2026

Heavy rainshowers passed through Douglas County on Saturday and caused enough flooding and erosion at a state park to force some major closures.

08/24/2026

High above Cherry Creek in the heart of Castlewood Canyon, a concrete arch has connected nearby communities for more than 75 years. It carries CO 83 and a piece of Colorado's history.

08/23/2026

Castlewood Canyon State Park Reopened!!!

Yesterday, the area received several inches of rain within a single hour, causing the creek to rise four feet in just two hours.

Our staff spent the morning inspecting the trails; while they remain extremely muddy, they are now traversable. Additionally, all bridges remain intact.

We would like to extend our thanks to Douglas County Road and Bridge for their prompt assistance this morning in assessing and grading Castlewood Canyon Road, which has also been reopened.

🌧️ Cherry Creek came roaring through! 🌊The recent storm brought a significant amount of water through Castlewood Canyon,...
08/15/2026

🌧️ Cherry Creek came roaring through! 🌊

The recent storm brought a significant amount of water through Castlewood Canyon, causing Cherry Creek to rise from approximately 2 feet to nearly 7 feet.

With that much water moving through the canyon, several of our trails and bridges have been impacted, and some areas will need a little TLC before they’re ready for visitors again.

We’re asking everyone to please give the park time to recover and our crews the space they need to assess damage, make repairs, and get trails safely reopened. Please respect all closures and posted signs — they’re there for your safety and to help prevent further damage.

Mother Nature definitely reminded us who’s in charge! 🌧️🌊

Thank you for your patience and for helping us take care of Castlewood Canyon. 💚

🎉 And that’s a wrap on another incredible Dam Day! 🌊✨We are so grateful to everyone who came out and made this year’s ev...
08/13/2026

🎉 And that’s a wrap on another incredible Dam Day! 🌊✨

We are so grateful to everyone who came out and made this year’s event such a resounding success. A huge shoutout to:

Our Amazing Volunteers: You are the heart and soul of this event! From setup to teardown, your hard work and bright energy kept everything running smoothly.

Our Hardworking Staff: Thank you for the endless planning, dedication, and behind-the-scenes magic to make today seamless and fun for everyone.

Some Sweet Day 🎶: Y'all absolutely brought the house down! Thank you for providing the perfect soundtrack to a fantastic day.

The Rocky Mountain Model A Ford Club 🚗: Thank you for bringing out those beautiful classic cars! They were an absolute crowd favorite and added so much character to the event.

Most importantly, thank YOU to our awesome community for showing up and celebrating with us.

To thank U.S. military members for their dedicated service and sacrifices, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is continui...
08/01/2026

To thank U.S. military members for their dedicated service and sacrifices, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is continuing to offer free admission to all Colorado state parks for active-duty military, veterans, and National Guard members during the month of August.

Come on by the park with the acceptable forms of identification (listed below) to claim your August Pass!

https://cpw.state.co.us/news/07312025/cpw-offers-free-entry-colorado-state-parks-august-active-duty-military-veterans-and

Our newest door greeter 🐸🐸•It’s just his face, we promise he is excited to welcome you to the Visitor Center!
07/23/2026

Our newest door greeter 🐸🐸
•
It’s just his face, we promise he is excited to welcome you to the Visitor Center!

Address

2989 S Highway 83
Franktown, CO
80116

Telephone

(303) 688-5242

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