Home > CO > Castle Rock > Experiences & Adventures > Activities Abound in Castle Rock, CO

Activities Abound in Castle Rock, CO

Looking for fun things to do in Castle Rock? Check out these great outdoor adventures.

By Rebecca Treon on September 27, 2023

Enjoy the numerous outdoor activities in Castle Rock, CO
Colin Shreffler

Even though Castle Rock, CO, is located off Interstate 25 and less than an hour from downtown Denver, it offers plenty of ways to explore the outdoors.

After all, that’s why so many people flock to Colorado – the ability to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes of one of the most scenic states in the country.

Castle Rock’s distinct advantage is that you don’t need to drive for hours to hike, mountain bike or even zipline. Being active is a part of everyday life.

Ty Seufer is a Colorado native who owns The EDGE Ziplines & Adventures in Castle Rock as well as Cañon City whitewater rafting outfit Royal Gorge Rafting. As a self-described adrenaline junkie and outdoorsman, Seufer highlights his favorite outdoor things to do in Castle Rock.

“It’s super gorgeous up there – you can see everything from Pikes Peak all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s truly amazing.”

Ty Seufer, Colorado native

Explore Rock Park

Castle Rock, the town’s namesake butte, has an easy 1.4-mile loop that leads hikers to the base of the rock. Though you can’t climb the actual remaining 40-ish feet of the butte itself, the view at the top of the trail is more than satisfying.

“It’s super gorgeous up there – you can see everything from Pikes Peak all the way to Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s truly amazing,” Seufer says.

Since it’s the city’s main landmark, hiking the trail to the top is a must-do activity for every newcomer and longtime local alike.

While there are plenty of great outdoor activities in Castle Rock, one must-do is climbing the 200 steps at Challenge Hill (the views are worth it!).
Nathan Lambrecht

Climb Challenge Hill

Challenge Hill – locally referred to as “The Incline” – is located at Philip S. Miller Park, a hub of Castle Rock activity. The incline offers a steep, roughly 200-foot elevation gain with unforgettable panoramic views at the summit.

Across the street from Challenge Hill, the park is also home to FitGround, an outdoor fitness area with body-weight and free-form tools for performing resistance exercises.

“There are multiple different stations for adults to get in shape – everything from a pull up bar to a push up bar to ropes. It’s like a well-built mini outdoor gym, where people can do all sorts of cool exercises,” Seufer says.

Explore the trails of Castle Rock, CO
Colin Shreffler

Traverse the Trails

With the abundance of paved or single-track gravel trails in Castle Rock, finding a place to ride is easy to do. Rhyolite Regional Park is a 55-acre recreation area that features a bike park, with miles of challenging bike-only trails, multiuse trails and a 2-mile cyclocross course.

Ridgeline Open Space has 370 protected acres designated for public use, including more than 13 miles of paved and unpaved multiuse trails with several short and long loop single-track rides. Philip S. Miller Park also features an 8-mile network of single-track trails divided into four different but interconnected loops.

“There are just endless miles of single-track, off-road style mountain biking trails, and they connect everything from Philip S. Miller Park to downtown, up and down Plum Creek and over to Festival Park,” Seufer says.

Take a Hike or Make a Splash

Like mountain biking, hiking is easy to access in Castle Rock. While there are miles of multiuse trails throughout town, another local resource is Castlewood Canyon State Park. Located just 10 minutes from town, it offers numerous trails, a canyon, waterfalls and the remains of a dam.

Closer to town, the Rueter-Hess Reservoir has an incline challenge plus a reservoir open seasonally for paddleboarding, kayaking and canoeing. 

Go rock climbing and zip lining in Castle Rock, CO
The Edge Ziplines & Adventures

Venture Through the Sky

Those in Castle Rock in search of an adrenaline rush don’t have to go far. The EDGE Ziplines & Adventures has 10 ziplines that together stretch more than 2 miles and 110 feet above Philip S. Miller Park, offering stellar panoramic views zipping through the air.

Sky Trek is an aerial trekking course with three levels and 110 challenge elements that’s like a jungle gym for all ages. The Adventure Tower offers a 50-foot climbing wall to summit and rappel off, and the Ninja Course offers six challenges (featured on the American Ninja Warrior reality show).

“The great thing is we have all these different challenges that are absolutely awesome for kids and adults alike to get outside and just have a really, really good time,” Seufer says. “Everybody in the town of Castle Rock is so lucky to have this group of people that are so passionate about building amazing parks everyone can enjoy.”

Possibilities Playground in Castle Rock, CO
Town of Castle Rock

Discover Endless Possibilities

When it came time to update and renovate the 30-year-old Butterfield Crossing Park, Castle Rock’s Parks and Recreation Department decided to do something that had never been done before: Instead of replacing the playground, parks officials partnered with the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation to design an inclusive playground for children of all abilities.

Possibilities Playground opened in summer 2023, adding to the roster of parks throughout the city.

“When the Parks and Rec Department did a survey, about 65% of residents said they wanted an inclusive playground,” says Marne Hansen, executive director of the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation. “It was out of budget for municipal funds, so we partnered with them and have done fundraising of almost $1.3 million in the community to make it happen – the town got really involved.”

The new playground will serve families not only in Castle Rock but surrounding communities in need of a place where their children can play together, whether they have a disability or not, enhancing the community’s overall quality of life. Among the new play features are a sensory wall with tactile elements, a roller table, numerous swings, a we-go-round and musical instruments. 

“It’s really neat that everyone will be included, and this will be right in our backyard,” Hansen says. “I think one thing that gets missed in this story, too, is for families whose kids don’t have disabilities to be able to be at the playground with kids who are different than them – the growth in your mind of being able to play side by side with people who are different than them is pretty impressive.”

Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )
Array ( )

Newsletter Sign Up

Keep up to date with our latest rankings and articles!
Enter your email to be added to our mailing list.