High creek flow washes out bridges at Castlewood Canyon State Park
Kara Van Hoose
June 27, 2023
High creek flow washes out all bridges at Castlewood Canyon State Park
FRANKTOWN, Colo. – Recent heavy rainfall has destroyed all bridge crossings over Cherry Creek in Castlewood Canyon State Park. Colorado Parks and Wildlife is warning visitors there is no path to cross the creek in the park at this time. Hikers should consider any loop trails to be out-and-backs. Creek Bottom Trail also suffered significant damage.
Bridge repair work will take weeks and may not be complete before August. Park staff cannot begin construction until water levels recede.
Castlewood Canyon has received 14.01 inches of rain since January 1, according to the National Weather Service. Creek levels are two feet above normal operating levels. The high level mark was recorded last Thursday at 9.5 feet, with normal creek levels considered to be between two to three feet.
Updates on construction and trail conditions will be posted to the park’s Facebook page and the CPW Northeast Region Twitter account.
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PHOTO CUTLINES:
Left: Cherry Creek is two feet above normal operating levels through Castlewood Canyon.
Right: Only stairs remain from a bridge washed away by heavy rainfall and high creek flows.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is an enterprise agency, relying primarily on license sales, state parks fees and registration fees to support its operations, including: 43 state parks and more than 350 wildlife areas covering approximately 900,000 acres, management of fishing and hunting, wildlife watching, camping, motorized and non-motorized trails, boating and outdoor education. CPW's work contributes approximately $6 billion in total economic impact annually throughout Colorado.