Castle Rock, Colorado

Looking for the best photography in Castle Rock? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Castle Rock. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Photography Spots in and near Castle Rock

  • Divide, Colorado

    Summit The Crags

    4.6
    7.9 mi / 1379 ft gain
    As you drive past Mueller state park (on the right), about 1/4 mile down the road you will see a small wooden sign for "The Crags" You will take a left there and follow the road about 1.5 miles, past the first stop, which is the Raspberry Mountain Trailhead, until you come to a fork in the road a...
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  • Manitou Springs, Colorado

    Hike Palmer Trail Loop at Section 16

    5.5 mi / 1400 ft gain
    The Section 16 trailhead can be found on lower Gold Camp Road. Almost immediately, the trail begins to rise in elevation. The grade is gentle at first but soon becomes a steep steady climb for about a mile and a half, until you reach the ridge.  Along the way, you will see many intersecting trail...
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  • Golden, Colorado

    Elk Range Trail

    2.5
    6.42 mi / 952.1 ft gain
    Elk Range Trail is an incredible and beautiful hike that is just off of Route 6 but feels a million miles away. Drive up Douglas Mountain Road for the west park access (and I do mean UP - it's a quick elevation gain), and you'll run right into the Centennial Cone Park entrance. There is a bathroo...
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  • Golden, Colorado

    Sawmill to Maverick Loop

    4.3
    2.51 mi / 459.54 ft gain
    For this adventure, you'll be completing the Sawmill to Maverick loop. It is a short, but gentle trail that will take you through open meadows, to pine forests, and great views of Denver and Golden. Starting from the west parking area, cross the road and hit the Sawmill Trail. This trail starts ...
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  • Florissant, Colorado

    See the Stars at Florrisant Fossil Beds

    While Florrisant is known mostly for its history and collection of fossils, it is also one of the darkest places in the Colorado Springs area.  While the park closes daily at dusk, it has Night Sky Programs monthly which allows visitors to view the stars with the help of the Colorado Springs Astr...
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  • Jefferson, Colorado

    Trek through Granite Pillars on Bison Peak

    11.88 mi / 3854.99 ft gain
    Bison peak sits 2 hours from Denver in the mountains of the Lost Creek Wilderness. To reach the 12,431 ft. summit you'll start in low density ponderosa forest at 8,750 ft on crushed granite trail. Early starts are recommended in the summer months as the trail's high albedo can make for an extreme...
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  • Calhan, Colorado

    Photograph Colorado's Paint Mines

    4.9
    0.25 mi
    About an hour from Colorado's busy Garden of the Gods is a multi-colored hoodoo valley called, The Paint Mines. Similar in appearance to Utah's popular Goblin Valley, The Paint Mines offer colorful hoodoo formations making your photography here even more awe inspiring.Getting to the park is easy,...
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  • Calhan, Colorado

    Hike the Paint Mines Interpretive Space Loop

    4.5
    4 mi / 200 ft gain
    The site is an easy drive from Colorado Springs on US Route 24. There are three parking areas: the west and south parking areas are trailheads, and there is additional parking on the west side for a scenic overlook. The overlook does not attach to any trails.Through several loops, there are up to...
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  • Divide, Colorado

    Snowshoeing to Sentinel Point

    8 mi
    Sentinel Point is an appropriately-named 12,527-foot rockpile standing watch over the broad shoulder of the Pikes Peak massif. Rarely visited, especially in winter, you are almost guaranteed solitude on this high mountain snowshoeing adventure.Beginning at the Horsethief Park trailhead off CO Ro...
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  • Cripple Creek, Colorado

    Horsethief Falls and Pancake Rocks

    4.8
    7.31 mi / 1863.52 ft gain
    Horsethief Falls and Pancake Rocks can be found on the west side of Pikes Peak, so if you want to get away from the crowds and the city, put this trail on your to do list. Most of the trail runs through the forest, which makes this an excellent candidate for hiking in July and August when the su...
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  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Mt. Cutler Trail

    5.0
    1.79 mi / 561 ft gain
    This is a quick hike to add to the list if you're making a trip to the Cheyenne Canon area. Parking is limited to about 15 cars and fills up fast so be sure to start early or the first part of your hike might start from a further parking or pull-off along the road. This is the same parking lot a...
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  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Mt. Muscoco Trail

    4.8
    3.66 mi / 1453 ft gain
    The Basics: Mt. Muscoco (8020 ft.) is one of the easier summits in the Colorado Springs Front Range area, and you are quickly rewarded with 360 degree views after climbing 1.8 miles and 1,400 feet. The path is well-defined and maintained after it was reconstructed in 2015. Pack water and a light ...
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  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Seven Bridges Trail

    4.0
    3.31 mi / 889 ft gain
    Follow North Cheyenne Creek through the canyon as it forms several cascades along the way. Due to water levels, spring is an especially good time for this hike. Most turn around just past the seventh bridge, where the trail starts to disappear.
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  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Hike the Saint Mary's Falls Trail

    5.0
    6 mi / 1500 ft gain
    This moderately difficult hike is a total of 6 miles, with a 1500' incline. You start from the parking lot off Gold Camp Road that intersects with High Drive, and start hiking up the part of Gold Camp Road that is closed off to vehicles. You will see a few trails stemming off from this main road,...
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  • Colorado Springs, Colorado

    Helen Hunt Falls & Silver Cascades

    4.0
    0.65 mi / 272 ft gain
    Park at the log-cabin visitor's center on North Cheyenne Canyon Rd just before it turns into Gold Camp Rd. I definitely recommend arriving early, as the parking lot fills up quickly. Helen Hunt Falls is in sight of the parking area, and another 1/3 mile past that you'll run into Silver Cascades. ...
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  • Idaho Springs, Colorado

    Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout

    4.0
    3.92 mi / 791 ft gain
    Come check out the Mestaa’ėhehe Mountain Fire Lookout (formerly known as Squaw Mountain), a historic spot located in the Mount Evans Wilderness Area of Colorado, and one of the highest lookout towers in the country, at an elevation of 11,486 ft. Just a short drive from the Front Range corridor, y...
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