Colorado Front Range Trail

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Project Background

In 2003, with the support of many communities and stakeholders, Colorado State Parks initiated The Colorado Front Range Trail project. The multi-purpose trail would connect communities along the Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico. To date, approximately 300 miles have been completed. Ultimately, the trail will span over 800 miles through 15 cities, 14 counties and many smaller towns.

With Castle Rock as a major crossroads, its proposed trails will connect Colorado Springs to the south with the Cherry Creek Regional Trail and Chatfield State Park to the north. The last three segments of this statewide-envisioned trail network, all located in Castle Rock, will provide a complete connection for recreational users, hikers, cyclists and commuters. 

This project is supported through various partnerships. With Town staff taking the lead, the proposed team will also include Douglas County, Starwood Land Ventures, LLC (the developers of Terrain), Toll Brothers, Inc. (the developers of Montaine), the Douglas Land Conservancy and the Colorado Agricultural Leadership Foundation.

Project Timeline

This project was identified in the Castle Rock Parks and Recreation Master Plan (PDF). Since then, project updates have included the following:

  • 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.
  • July 16, 2019: Town Council approved Resolution No. 2019-08, supporting the grant application through GOCO’s Connect Initiative Grant Program and the completion of the Colorado Front Range Trail Project in Castle Rock.
  • July 21, 2020: Town Council approved a services agreement with Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. (SEH) to design a substantial portion of the Colorado Front Range Trail within Castle Rock. 

SEH will complete design engineering, surveying, environmental and geotechnical services for approximately five miles of trail. Final design is anticipated to be completed in fall 2021, with construction occurring throughout 2022. The design will be funded through the Conservation Trust Fund, while a $2 million grant awarded by the Great Outdoors Colorado Connect Initiative will help fund future project construction.

Colorado Front Range Trail at Castle Rock map

GOCO Connect InitiativeGOCO_Logo

In September 2019, the Town was awarded a $2,008,000 grant from GOCO through its 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. 

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.