Castlewood State Park has a trail system that includes 13 miles of trails. By combining the Inner Canyon and Lake Gulch Trail, you can make an easy loop that will take you through some of the most beautiful parts of the park to an abandoned dam, which some people think may be haunted.

The Inner Canyon/Lake Gulch Trail Loop starts at the Canyon Point Parking Lot.
Lisa Blackwell/Alltrails
The loop trail is about 1.8 miles long, and the spur trail to the dam is another .3 miles. It's considered easy, and is suitable for most hikers.
The trail provides some spectacular views.
Patrice Kraly/Alltrails
It follows Cherry Creek, and you'll find hundreds of large boulders along its banks.
Ebony Transou/Alltrails
In several spots, the trail goes in-between two large boulders.
Timothy Bradford/Alltrails
Some boulders stand nearly twenty feet tall!
Bruce Vittetoe/Alltrails
You'll cross Cherry Creek a few times along the way, on small bridges that make the crossing simple.
Lisa Blackwell/Alltrails
The trail is mostly flat, but you will experience some small elevation gains.
Lisa Blackwell/Alltrails
Take your time on this trail, so you can explore the countryside and experience the tremendous scenery along the way.
Lisa Blackwell/Alltrails
About halfway through the Inner Canyon/Lake Gulch Loop trail, you'll come to a fork.
Todd Romero/Alltrails
You can see the dam from here. Keep to the left, toward the Creek Bottom Trail.
From the fork in the trail, it's just a short .3 miles to the dam ruins.
Eric Lumsden/flickr
The Castlewood Dam failed on August 3, 1933, which caused tremendous property damage and killed two people. Five others were injured.
David Donahue/Alltrails
A huge storm broke over Denver in the early morning hours, and by 2:38 am, officials were given the warning that the dam was failing. Police and firemen rushed to evacuate residents in the lowlands beneath the dam, and most people were able to evacuate in time before a 15-foot wall of water cascaded over everything in its path.

Unfortunately, two people died as a result of the flood. An 83-year-old man was frantically packing this things to evacuate when he fell in a hole and was unable to pull himself out before the rushing water flowed over him. A 24-year-old woman who was visiting from out of state fell into the flood waters and was swept away.
Some people believe that this area is haunted. They report feelings of uneasiness or being watched, and some have reported hearing cries and screams.
Eric Lumsden/flickr
That fateful day in August certainly caused a great deal of stress and fear amongst the people who lived downstream. While reports of the hauntings are sporadic, some speculate that the spirits of those who died haunt this place. Others believe that the spirts are of those who lived through the flood and died much later of natural causes, but never forgot the horror of the flood.

Have you hiked at Castlewood State Park? We’d love to hear about your experience there!

If you love exploring Denver’s natural beauty, take this horseback riding tour.

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