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Colorado Front Range Trail
In 2003, with the support of many communities and stakeholders, Colorado State Parks initiated The Colorado Front Range Trail project. The envisioned network would offer a multi-purpose trail connecting communities along the Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico. To date, approximately 300 miles have been completed. Ultimately, the trail will span approximately 800 miles through 15 cities, 14 counties and many smaller towns.
The Town will function as the southern crossroads for the trail The East Plum Creek, Hangman’s Gulch, Woodlands and McMurdo Gulch trails will eventually link travelers from Chatfield State Park to the west with the Cherry Creek trail to the east, and Denver to the north with Colorado Springs to the south.
GOCO connect Initiative Grant-Connecting the Community
It’s one of the most-used trails in Castle Rock and provides connectivity from Denver to south Douglas County. The last three segments of the statewide Colorado Front Range Trail through Castle Rock would provide a complete connection for recreational users, hikers, cyclists and commuters.
The Town is partnering with Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources, Douglas Land Conservancy, Colorado Agriculture Leadership Foundation and two private residential development companies (Terrain-Starwood Ventures LLC and Toll Brothers Inc.) to complete those final segments.
Great News!
It’s official! The Town has been awarded a $2,008,000 grant from GOCO through the Connect Initiative. The program aims to increase access to the outdoors in Colorado communities by filling critical trail gaps, building new trails, and providing better walkable and bikeable access for youth and families.
Thank you to everyone who provided feedback to be included in the grant application. More than 80 percent of people in Colorado spend time on trails; closing gaps and increasing connectivity has long been a top priority for residents throughout the state.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
This project was identified in the 2015 Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
On March 27, 2019 the Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed that Town Council sign the Letter of Support as part of the Town’s Concept Paper submission to the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Connect Initiative Grant Program for the Colorado Front Range Trail Project in Castle Rock, item PRAC 2019-010.
On July 16, 2019 the Town Council approved Resolution No. 2019-08, supporting the grant application through Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Connect Initiative Grant Program and the completion of the Colorado Front Range Trail Project in Castle Rock.
2020 Updates
On July 15, 2020 endorsement was requested of the Parks and Recreation Commission for a Resolution (Attachment A) awarding a Design Services Agreement (Exhibit 1) to Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) for the design of the Colorado Front Range Trail at Castle Rock. The design project will be funded through the Conservation Trust Fund Account in the amount of $486,063, plus a 10% Town-managed contingency in the amount of $48,606 (total costs not to exceed $534,669).
The design will include approximately 5 miles of trail (Attachment B) located in three separate areas of Castle Rock in the Montane (Attachment C), Terrain (Attachment D) and Cobblestone Ranch (Attachment E) neighborhoods. This project will substantially complete the Town’s portion of the Colorado Front Range Trail in Castle Rock.
The scope of work will include design engineering, surveying, environmental and geotechnical services for the East Plum Creek and McMurdo Gulch Trail Design. Final design is anticipated to be complete by September 2021.
Project Background & Details
- The Colorado Front Range Trail (CFRT) network began in 2003 to offer a multi-purpose trail connecting communities along the Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico
- Castle Rock functions as an essential crossroads for the CFRT: East Plum Creek, Hangman’s Gulch, Woodlands and McMurdo Gulch trails will eventually link travelers from Chatfield State Park to the west with the Cherry Creek trail to the east, and Denver to the north with Colorado Springs to the south
- Project will complete three missing segments of the CFRT in Castle Rock: an extension of the concrete multi-use East Plum Creek Trail south to connect to the Douglas County trail system and two segments of the concrete multi-use McMurdo Gulch Trail east to connect to the Cherry Creek Trail
- Concrete trail will be open to hikers, walkers and bikers
- Grant request will be for the maximum amount of $2,000,000 through the Great Outdoors Colorado Connect Initiative program to partially fund the project that will be planned and constructed over the next three years with an approximate cost of $5,000,000. Remaining funding will come from Douglas County, land developers and funding already allocated for new trail construction projects.
- GOCO Connect Initiative focuses on connecting existing trail gaps, constructing new, highly demanded trail systems
Did you know?
GOCO grants have helped fund other projects in Castle Rock. Those projects include the acquisitions of the Gateway Mesa, Quarry Mesa and East Plum Creek open space areas; the construction of the East Plum Creek Trail between Meadows Parkway and Wolfensberger Road; the construction of the Adventure Playground at Philip S. Miller Park; and most recently, the construction of the East Plum Creek Trail Southern Extension.