I had a great hike at Dawson Butte Ranch the past Sunday (Oct 11, 2020) with my friend and highly…read morerecommend this place for a hike with your friends/family/pooch! This is a spacious place that only has a loop (about 5 miles all the way from the start to finish) so you will never get lost there. It's got some shades so despite the name you will be able to rest and catch some breath in a shaded area if you don't want to be in the sun. The trail is moderate and is mainly sandy which I liked; it's not too burdensome for your knees if you have knee problem. We also saw people with horses and donkeys so there should be some horse/donkey riding place where they offer such service (watch out for their droppings on the trail!) It also offers beautiful views of nearby buttes and you will be able to take great pictures there. Can't wait to go back there again!

Many parts of this hike are desolate & near the road. During this stretch no trees so it's HOT!…read moreMany people here with horses don't have to clean up after but if you have your dog you do!

Much better trail conditions than our last time attempting to hike here, when it was a swampy mess…read more Trail is now completely dry. Tons and tons of bikers and hikers out on a clear Saturday morning. It's not the most exciting trail, but it's close if you live in Castle Rock, and the views of the front range are decent.

Don't go on a hot day. There is no shade. But beautiful views, needed breezes one is at the top…read morenear the water tanks

Absolutely wonderful trail for biking with great signage along the way. Beautiful scenery and…read morewildlife. Definitely would recommend this trail.

I love rollerblading on this trail I also love walking and…read morebiking here It's beautiful and safe

Awesome park with a variety of activities for families and friends! They have a mountain bike park…read morefor beginners and experienced levels to practice in; disc golf, several kids' playground, public bathrooms, and sports field for soccer and baseball. Great spot to spend the day with family and friends! Definitely coming back here!

The Village Greens mountain bike trail is a great place for beginners and I'm sure some of the more…read moreexperienced riders, although I wouldn't be able to speak to that since I'm not one. Did you have a mix of easy and more moderate obstacles. We parked at the Dayton station rtd parking lot which seems to be closer for toddlers to make it over to the park compared to the other parking lot. I had great fun as a beginner mountain biker and the kids on their strider as well as my almost 5-year-old had a ton of fun. It got hot fast so I would definitely recommend bringing water and maybe snacks.

We did a 6 or so mile hike. The views were okay, but what I liked the most were the rocks on the…read moretrail (smaller ones that were red, orange, yellow, clear, and metallic). We did this in the snow, so wearing spikes helped. The trail was shaded a lot, which would be great in the summer.

Some nice Trails although not the most challenging…read more Easy to get to from Denver. Great facilities for parking and bathrooms. Rawhide trail is a very pleasant trail to enjoy.

Beautiful trails are 100% paved, and they boast beautiful views of natural areas, plenty of sitting…read moreand connections to all across town. At night the trail is well-lit when needed and very peaceful as well! After using trails for 1.5 years I have never felt unsafe.

Beautiful trail! We love to bring our puppy so he can get all of the smells, and it's usually not…read morevery congested, especially if you go in mid morning

I wanted some vibes like Garden of the gods but did not want the crowds so I checked out Red Rock…read moreCanyon Open Space! I was really impressed with this open space. Parking was easy, they had plenty of spots while I was visiting. They've got something for everyone! Hiking trails, bike park/paths, rock climbing (permit needed), an off leash dog park. I specifically went for the hiking trails. They were great for my 4 year old. When I go with him I try to look for trails under 3 miles. My only complaint is I wish they had real bathrooms by the parking lot. The porta potty was pretty gross. P.s. you can see garden of the gods from this park! They are pretty close to each other!

Colorado is the healthiest state in the US (this is fact, you can look this up on the CDC website)…read moreand I can see why. With such amazing hiking available, that is free to residents and visitors, all over the state, it encourages you to get outside and enjoy what mother nature has to offer. Red Rock Canyon Open Space has a series of canyons and ridges sculpted by erosion of the area's uplifted rock strata. The ridges and canyons offer beautiful views that are photo worthy for those wanting to post to their social media (or hey, just keeping these photo keepsakes in your own camera roll is also fine too). Red Rock Canyon Open Space is dog friendly, with some off leash areas (where noted), and 11 trails that you can hike. The trails are anywhere from 1.7 miles to 5.4 miles, with a lot of pretty easy trails for those that are not as active but still want to partake in the journey. You can also see views of Garden of the Gods, which is nearby. Red Rock Canyon Open Space is not nearly as busy as Garden of the Gods (but highly recommend a visit there too, which is also dog friendly). From May 1 and Oct. 31, you can enter Red Rock Canyon Open Space between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m.; during the rest of the year, the park closes at 9 p.m. There is free parking available and also one porta potty at the beginning of the trail (but I did not use it) and also trash cans (I did not see trash cans anywhere else in this open space). My husband and I visited Red Rock Canyon Open Space with our little girl dog. We came on a Sunday afternoon, a little after 1 pm. It was an overcast day, which was nice. But it was rather busy but not crowded. We were able to find a parking spot without any trouble. We only did 2 light trails but enjoyed the views. The trails we had were pretty easy for the most part. We also did see a handful of dogs during our visit. Please note that there is hardly any shade so make sure you plan accordingly (hat to shade your face, plenty of water, etc).

Spruce Mountain is a popular trail running, hiking and dog walking spot just outside the city…read morelimits of Palmer Lake in Larkspur. The appeal is based on ease of access and trail layout. Miles can be accumulated depending on your fancy. Ever since the reservoir trail banned dogs this has become a super popular destination. That is the downfall, IMO. The parking lot fills up quick and the amount of dog walkers populates the trail. Having said that, it is a perfect spot to spread your wings and get active. The lower loop is less crowded and wide open. The upper boasts of better views, but more people. Get up and get movin!

This piece of county-maintained open space is a beautiful mix of forest and high meadow or pasture…read moretrails. The upper route winds through tall pines with great overlooks. The lower meadow trail opens into peaceful grasslands. Had an unforgettable moment on the high meadow. Spotted a mountain lion 700 or so hundred feet away croached near a melting snow berm. Then, I rounded a bend in the distance and it disappeared behind a thicket. I walked backward for 30 minutes with a snapped-off branch of scrub oak. Wild. Beautiful. Humbling. Colorado at its best.