Douglas: Hiking Trails Between Meadows and Rock Formations

Douglas offers a variety of ways to experience nature: former farmland at East Plum Creek, trails through forests and meadows, high prairie, rock formations, and expansive views. The open spaces differ in trail length, route, and additional features. When planning an outing, you can consider not only your preferred distance but also the landscape, picnic facilities, or historic farm buildings.

Between Farmland, Meadows, and High Prairie

At Columbine Open Space and Trail, the trail crosses former farmland at East Plum Creek. There are picnic facilities and historic farm buildings. This combination offers two distinct features to enjoy on an outing: a break outdoors and traces of earlier agricultural use. The combination of its creekside location and farming history gives Columbine its own character.

Dawson Butte Open Space and Trail follows the natural contours of the land and passes through wooded areas and meadows. This makes it a contrast to Columbine when choosing an outing: there, the former farmland and location at East Plum Creek shape the landscape, while here the terrain and vegetation take center stage.

At Glendale Farm Open Space and Trail, a 1.6-mile loop winds through oak groves to the high prairie and viewpoints overlooking rock outcrops. The loop combines dense groups of trees with open landscapes and striking views of rock formations. Its length and loop format give you a clear reference point if you want to include a named loop in your plans.

Hidden Mesa Open Space covers 1,200 acres and offers a picnic shelter and a commercial orchard. The trail network includes Rocky Pass, Pleasant Pass, and the Mesa Run loop. A range of features can be found across this large area: trails, a spot for a picnic break, and an orchard used for production.

Lincoln Mountain Open Space and Trail offers views of Pikes Peak, the Rampart Range, and the eastern plains of Douglas County. These different vistas provide a broad landscape setting for an outing in nature. The focus here is on views of mountain ranges and plains.

Trail Distances and Landscape Profiles

Sandstone Ranch has a 12-mile non-motorized trail for hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. It passes through hay meadows, red rock formations, and wildlife habitats. In addition to the trail's length, you can also take its intended uses and changing landscape into account when planning your outing.

The trails at Spruce Meadows and Spruce Mountain Open Space and Trail offer a direct comparison: both are 8.5 miles long. At Spruce Mountain, the wooded trail climbs gradually to a plateau surrounded by rock ledges. Both trails have the same stated length; Spruce Mountain also has a clearly defined landscape profile, with a climb and a plateau.

Nelson Ranch Open Space, with the Swallowtail Trail, protects a range of wildlife habitats. The Ringtail trail connection runs from Nelson Ranch through Pike Hill to Pike National Forest. This route between named locations adds another option to the selection of trails that differ in length, vegetation, or loop format.

Discover more destinations: Castle Rock, Parker, Meridian, Lone Tree, Westcreek, Pitkin, Montezuma County, Adams.

For the main travel overview: Colorado.