Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown, Colorado. The park retains a unique part of Colorado's history, the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam. Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst in 1933. The event sent a 15-foot (5 m) wave of water all the way to downtown Denver resulting in a flood. Also contained within the park is the historic Cherry Creek Bridge.
This park hosts a multitude of hiking/running trails, handicapped access trails and rock climbing opportunities, as well as a nature preservation area on the eastern side that is home to wildlife and interesting geological features.[1] Located within the northernmost extension of the Black Forest, Castle Wood Canyon encompasses 2,136 acres (9 km2) with elevations ranging from 6,200 to 6,600 feet (2,010 m). Many urban dwellers come for the picnic opportunity away from the city (group picnic facilities can be reserved), others visit the park because of the unusual geology, particularly the caprock features.
Castlewood Canyon is on the edge of the Palmer Divide, a geologically upraised area that results in more moisture falling than is normal in eastern Colorado, watering the Black Forest.
Castlewood Dam Trails
Historyedit
The Castlewood Dam in Castlewood Canyon, built in 1890, suffered an utter collapse following heavy rains at 1 am on 3 August 1933, resulting in a 15-foot wall of water rushing down Cherry Creek to Denver, some 15 miles away. Warnings to the city by 4 am allowed most people to move out of the way of the flood waters.[2][3][4]
Castlewood State Park was formed in 1964, following an 87 acre land purchase in 1961 and an additional 792 acre purchase in the late 1970s.[3]
. Colorado State Parks. Archived from the original on July 6, 2007.
. Colorado State Parks. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
October 27, 2023
castlewood, canyon, state, park, colorado, state, park, near, franktown, colorado, park, retains, unique, part, colorado, history, remains, castlewood, canyon, visitors, still, remnants, damage, from, that, which, burst, 1933, event, sent, foot, wave, water, d. Castlewood Canyon State Park is a Colorado state park near Franktown Colorado The park retains a unique part of Colorado s history the remains of Castlewood Canyon Dam Visitors can still see the remnants and damage from that dam which burst in 1933 The event sent a 15 foot 5 m wave of water all the way to downtown Denver resulting in a flood Also contained within the park is the historic Cherry Creek Bridge Castlewood Canyon State ParkRemnants of Castlewood DamColoradoLocationDouglas County Colorado USANearest cityCastle Rock COCoordinates39 19 47 N 104 44 19 W 39 32972 N 104 73861 W 39 32972 104 73861Area2 621 acres 10 61 km2 Established1964Governing bodyColorado Parks and Wildlife Contents 1 Recreation 2 Wildlife ecology and geography 3 History 4 See also 5 ReferencesRecreation editThis park hosts a multitude of hiking running trails handicapped access trails and rock climbing opportunities as well as a nature preservation area on the eastern side that is home to wildlife and interesting geological features 1 Located within the northernmost extension of the Black Forest Castle Wood Canyon encompasses 2 136 acres 9 km2 with elevations ranging from 6 200 to 6 600 feet 2 010 m Many urban dwellers come for the picnic opportunity away from the city group picnic facilities can be reserved others visit the park because of the unusual geology particularly the caprock features Wildlife ecology and geography editAmong the many species living in the park are coyote cottontail rabbit red fox black bear prairie rattlesnake mountain lion meadow jumping mouse turkey vulture golden eagle prairie falcon virile crayfish Woodhouse s toad and the northern leopard frog Ecosystem Zones in the park are grasslands shrublands riparian foothills conifer and caprock Castlewood Canyon is on the edge of the Palmer Divide a geologically upraised area that results in more moisture falling than is normal in eastern Colorado watering the Black Forest nbsp Castlewood Dam TrailsHistory editThe Castlewood Dam in Castlewood Canyon built in 1890 suffered an utter collapse following heavy rains at 1 am on 3 August 1933 resulting in a 15 foot wall of water rushing down Cherry Creek to Denver some 15 miles away Warnings to the city by 4 am allowed most people to move out of the way of the flood waters 2 3 4 Castlewood State Park was formed in 1964 following an 87 acre land purchase in 1961 and an additional 792 acre purchase in the late 1970s 3 See also editCherry Creek RockshelterReferences edit Brachfeld Aaron The other Castlewood Canyon State Park a phototour the Meadowlark Herald No August 2015 Retrieved August 3 2015 Cherry Creek Flood 1933 Denver Public Library Western History and Genealogy Division 2015 a b Castlewood Canyon State Park A brief history Colorado Parks and Wildlife State of Colorado 2007 Disaster Nearly Drowns Denver In 1933 Ion Colorado 1 February 2019 Castlewood Canyon State Park Colorado State Parks Archived from the original on July 6 2007 Plants at Castlewood Canyon State Park Colorado State Parks Archived from the original on July 20 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Castlewood Canyon State Park amp oldid 1168191865, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
