Spruce Mountain Open Space - Douglas County

Tis was an occasion where I joined this photography/hiking meetup group. It was at 8am on a beautiful Sunday and about 10 of us gathered at the beautiful hiking trail for a quick hike with our SLRs (for mw, it was my iPhone !!!) to take stunning photos. Sounded like my kind of thing so I joined. And I'm glad that I did.It had been very pleasant when it came to the temperatures for the last week or two in Colorado. None of us were prepared for the snow covered trails so definitely bring your spikes or chains to wear on your shoes or it might be a bit dangerous to hike this trail during cold(er) months; it was very slippery. The hike is pretty moderate so this is a great place for beginners and families with small kids. But this is not to say that the hike doesn't contain stunning views; with that being said, this is a hidden gem. Per the organizer, he and his wife sometimes get up early in the morning like 3am(!!) to catch the sunrise as this is one of the best places for it. I guess I will try that in the near future but I honestly don't know if I'd get up at 3am!!The trail is well maintained and very easy to navigate. This is a popular spot for people who live in Castle Rock or Sedalia but it's also for someone like me who live in Denver; it's about 30/35 minutes away from it. Not bad!

Second time here but first to review. Trail is in good condition, assuming you can dodge the piles of horse poop. Good number of bikes and people with dogs, but everyone was courteous. Port-a-potties and trash cans at the trailhead. Decent views with a few different areas to step out and see more.

Great hike for those not used to altitude/elevation. There are spectacular views of mountains (Pikes Peak) and many rocky outcrops. We hiked mid February so there were a few people on this beautiful day..snow and some ice on the trail but nothing too bad. We made the mistake of parking at the Spruce Meadows Trail and hiking over to the Spruce Mountain Trailhead..wouldn't be too bad but had to "post hole" it through the field before we got to where we wanted to go. Be sure to take a camera because it's pretty! It's a great place to take children and those that don't like to climb in elevation during a hike.

This is a nice easy hike. So if you have younger children or guests in town who maybe aren't up for a big change in elevation, this is a good choice.We took the shorter trail to the top - you go left right as it splits at the trailhead. I think it's called Oak trail. Then it's approx 1.2 miles to the top where you can do a loop up top. Then you returned on the same trail you went up. Total of approximately 4.9 miles. There are some nice views of the mountains and some east as well. You even get some views of the snow capped mountains further north. There is a port a potty in the parking lot.A good choice if you want an easy hike.

5 star hike for everyone. Great for families and people of all ages. A little challenging in the beginning but smooths out once you're on top as it's a plateau. There is a prairie hike which goes around the base of Spruce Mountain if you'd rather just go for a pleasant, fairly level walk. Just past the parking area you can straight or left. This is the bottom loop. To go up the mountain, go straight and once you pass that junction look for a small trail veering to the left. You'll go through scrub oak and then into tall evergreens.Lots of switchbacks as this is the steepest section. It will be easy for regular hikers but may be somewhat challenging for those new to the altitude or terrain. There is a break area with a log bench about half way up.At the top where it levels out there is another rest area with great views, great pic opportunities and log bench. Veer to the right to continue the top trail. You'll come to another rest area after some time and can either turn back or continue to do the whole top loop which rewards you with breathtaking views towards Pikes Peak while you overlook Spruce Ranch complete with cattle and ponds.Be aware, on the trail may be mountain bikers, horseback riders and I've even seen people training with their donkeys for Burro racing! Leashed dogs welcome.

What a wonderful hidden gem. The mountain top trails are nice and wide and clearly marked at each junction. There's not much elevation gain so this is a great place to take the kids. Most of the mountain trail is through trees so you get some shade. The overlooks are fun and give you a nice view looking east. My three year old can't make the full 5 mile hike and I was able to push her in a trail stroller just fine on these trails. I only had to carry the stroller in about 3 short spots over rocks.I give it 4 stars instead of 5 just because you have dodge horse poop and on regular basis, but not enough to keep me from coming back.

A highland open space on the Palmer Divide about five miles south of Larkspur, this often overlooked open space encompasses rocky buttes, rolling high prairie, scrub forest and pines. Its a great place to enjoy the Colorado foothills and feast ont the semiarid land turns from cacti and dry grass to sparse forest. Lots of wildlife, from bigger mammals such as deer to tiny critters like the endangered jumping mouse. Lots of birds of prey in the spring soaring overhead and the Rocky Mountain front range as back drop.Dogs area allowed, but no motorized vehicles. The trails are fairly easy, but long ...there's a standard 5.5 mile loop , and some that are much longer...and the high elevation - about 6800 feet, may leave some breathless. But its the views that will leave everyone gasping.

Tires knifed at Spruce Mountain Open Space trailhead.Two tires were knifed on my buddies SUV at Spruce Mountain Open Spacetrailhead. Both passenger side tires were punctured. Sometime between06:30 and 08:00 this morning.No clue why. When we got to the trailhead, there was no one else in the lot.

Great hike and clean trails! We went to the top and back about 5.4 miles. Constant small climb for about 2.8 miles. Several switchbacks and in and out of the trees. Good for all that can go 5+miles. Good views and several places to relax and take in the day.Got a couple hours it's worth the drive and your time!

Such a simple , beautiful hike. Do pay attention to signs or your gps. We took the path most traveled which wasn't actually the path we wanted. We missed the signs. Weather set in and we didn't see areas we wanted, but overall a really nice area.