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Castlewood Canyon - Rimrock to Creek Bottom Loop

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Intermediate
 4.4 (61)
  1. Areas
  2. CO
  3. …Front Range
  4. …Castle Rock
  5. Castlewood Canyon State Park
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“A fun, rolling trail with a sense of seclusion, great geology, and historical sites. ”

JC Condon
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Map Key

4.6

Miles

7.4

KM

Loop

6,561' 2,000 m

High

6,163' 1,879 m

Low

610' 186 m

Up

612' 187 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

21%

Max Grade (12°)

Dogs Leashed

Features Cave · Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Waterfall · Wildlife

  • Colorado State Parks' Pass or a day pass required at parking areas.
  • The park is open from sunrise to sunset.

Overview

This is a great 4-mile loop that you can explore year round. This loop will take you up close to caves, cliffs, homestead sites, abandoned dams and along the creek bottom. Located so close to the hustle and bustle of the front range, this is a great spot to find some quiet.

Description

From the Homestead trailhead follow the Homestead Trail which is a short, flat, and beginner-friendly trip to the homestead ruins. Continue around the ruins to the first junction.

Go left passing the Cherry Creek Trail and head up the hill to the mesa. Stay left at the junction with the Creek Bottom Trail and then follow the cairns on the Rimrock Trail as it makes its way south. Here you'll get great views of Cherry Creek down below. After the trail descends steeply, you'll arrive at the old dam site which is worth a stop to check out.

Make your way west around the dam to reach the Inner Canyon/Lake Gulch/ Creek Bottom Trail junction. Head north, taking a right at the junction to join the Creek Bottom Trail which is a mellow, rolling trail along Cherry Creek with views of the cliffs and caves. Enjoy the view from below the cliffs as the trail winds its way back to the Homestead Trail, and take a left to get back to the parking lot.

Contacts

Land Manager: Colorado Parks and Wildlife - Castlewood Canyon State Park

Shared By:

JC Condon with improvements by Kenny DeRose
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.4 from 61 votes

#1

in Castlewood Canyon State Park

#159

Overall
  4.4 from 61 votes
5 Star
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4 Star
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3 Star
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2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Castlewood Canyon Stat…

#45

in Colorado

#159

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Photos

Cherry Creek Falls
Aug 1, 2015 near Castle…, CO
Remnants of the Castlewood Canyon dam.
Jul 4, 2016 near Castle…, CO
Castlewood Canyon waterfall.
Jul 4, 2016 near Castle…, CO
Castlewood Canyon, Colorado
Aug 5, 2015 near Castle…, CO
Rim Rock Trail overlooking the Dam to the south
Oct 7, 2018 near Castle…, CO
Amazing steps from the bottom of the canyon up Rimrock Trail.
Aug 23, 2020 near Castle…, CO

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

Minor Issues 61 days ago
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Check-Ins

Feb 19, 2023
Markus T
Dec 26, 2022
Jeff S
Post Christmas hike with mom. 5 deer — 2h 00m
Oct 8, 2022
Philip Roddenberry
4.6mi — 2h 45m
Jul 3, 2022
Val Schwebach
Awesome hike with Dana and Katie 4.6mi
Jan 30, 2022
Ari R.
Sep 22, 2021
Dorothy Krebill
Apr 3, 2021
Evan Strick
4.6mi — 4h 05m
Feb 28, 2021
Taylor West
Did solo. Very muddy in some places and frozen in others. Cool, non-mountainous hike. Good for Thomas when he gets older.

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