Trail and climbing route closures in place at Castlewood Canyon State Park

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  Jason Clay
Northeast Region Public Information Officer
303-291-7234 / [email protected] 
@CPW_NE

FRANKTOWN, Colo. - Castlewood Canyon State Park currently has trail and climbing route closures in place to protect nesting raptors and other wildlife at the park. 

Park Rangers ask visitors to please stick to designated trails and obey trail closures to help assure a successful nesting season. Several raptors may be observed at the park, including golden eagles, Swainson’s hawk, Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawk and prairie falcon.

Golden eagles are protected by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service under authority of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Disturbing a golden eagle nest can carry a fine of up to $5,000 and one year in prison.

The following climbing route closures are currently in place.

• Morning Sun Wall is CLOSED March 1-July 31

• Porky’s Wall is CLOSED March 1 - July 31

• Vultures Wall is CLOSED March 1-May 31

• Shakespearean Theater is CLOSED March 1-May 31

• Mind Meld is CLOSED March 1-May 31

While route and trail closure signs are posted in many obvious places, there are many undesignated trails that crisscross areas leading up to the walls, which can bring hikers too close to nesting raptors.

“Please give nesting birds a chance,” said Park Manager Brent Lounsbury. “The season looks very promising and turkey vultures are on their way to the summer home in Castlewood.”

The East Canyon is also closed from Nov. 1 through May 1 due to the fragile nature of this area. After May 1 when the East Canyon opens up, the following regulations are strictly enforced:

• Visitors must remain on the designated trails.

• No dogs or other pets are permitted.

• No climbing, traversing or rappelling on or from rock formations.

Because the park sits between prairie and montane communities, a mixture of wildlife species representative of both ecotypes occurs at Castlewood. Mule deer, coyote, cottontail rabbit, porcupine, ground squirrel and red fox are commonly seen. Black bear, mountain lion and elk are not residents, but occasionally migrate through the area.

A few rattlesnake dens may exist, and several rattlesnake sightings are reported each summer. Other reptile and amphibian species include western terrestrial garter snake, eastern fence lizard and Woodhouse’s toad. Cherry Creek supports t​he warm-water fish species of longnose dace, fathead minnow and black bullhead. The park contains the primary habitat types for Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, a federally listed, threatened species and the state-listed northern leopard frog.

Over 100 bird species​ nest and raise their young in the park. Turkey vultures roost along the canyon rim, riding thermal updrafts created as the rocks warm each morning.

For many years a unique dry-land heronry occurred in the park, where great blue herons nested. The herons can still be found in the park.

Ground-nesting birds, such as western meadowlark, vesper sparrow and horned lark breed in the park. 

For more information on rock climbing, visit: http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Rock-Climbing.aspx. To learn about other climbing areas, and all of the activities available at Castlewood Canyon State Park, visit: https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/Parks/castlewoodcanyon.