Alert
In observance of Christmas, all Douglas County offices will close at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24, and be closed for the entire day on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024. Offices will reopen at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26, for normal business. Offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in observance of New Year’s Day and reopen at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 2, for normal business.
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Open Space

Dawson Butte Open Space and Trail

CURRENT TRAIL CLOSURE

If you visit Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space for activities like hiking, horseback riding or cross-country skiing, please plan ahead for a trail closure at the southwest end of the open space through the month of December. Beginning, Monday, Dec. 2 an approximate half-mile portion of the trail will be closed 24/7 for up to 4 weeks for forest management work. All other portions of the trail system will remain open.

View a map of the trail closure. 

Please be aware of fall/winter Forestry Operations at Dawson Butte. Beginning in October 2024 crews will be working on forest maintenance projects on the property. Trail users will not be impacted during the early phase of this work. Please take note of message boards at Dawson Butte for updated safety information. 

Dawson Butte is peaceful and inspiring to visitors, with an open, flowy, curvy trail that follows the natural contours of the land and takes people on adventures through forested areas and meadows. The trail is popular year-round due to the mix of shade and sun throughout the trail.

View the Interactive Map.

Hours

Open one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.

Address

1753 Tomah Road
Castle Rock, CO 80109

Directions

Trail Information

  • 7.7 miles (5-mile loop and 2.7 miles of extra horse paths with over 60 jumps)
  • Hiking; horseback riding; mountain biking and snowshoeing.
  • Pets are allowed on leashes.
  • No motorized vehicles.
  • No water is available on the trail.
  • Dawson Butte trail map

Amenities

  • Handicapped accessible picnic tables
  • Restroom
  • Benches
  • Unpaved parking lot for cars and up to 20 horse trailers
  • Fencing rails
  • No water is available.

Wildlife

  • Respect Wildlife – elk, bears, mountain lions, and many other wildlife species call this land home.