Falls Spur

The Falls Spur is exactly what it sounds like, a short connector that drops to the waterfall on Cherry Creek inside Castlewood Canyon State Park near Franktown. It is not a standalone hike; you reach the falls by combining the spur with the park's Creek Bottom and Inner Canyon trails, usually off the park's quieter west-side access. Think of it as the final move that delivers you to the water, not a trail you drive to on its own.

The reason the falls are worth the walk is partly the water and partly the history above it. Just upstream stand the ruins of the Castlewood Dam, the irrigation dam that failed in the early hours of August 3, 1933 after heavy rain, sending a wall of water down Cherry Creek all the way into Denver. The ruins are still visible in the park, and walking to the falls below them is one of the more atmospheric short outings in Douglas County.

Castlewood Canyon is a Colorado Parks and Wildlife state park, so you need a parks pass: a daily vehicle pass runs roughly $10 to $12 on Colorado plates, or $4 for individuals on foot or bike, and the park is open sunrise to sunset. Leashed dogs are welcome on a leash no longer than six feet, though note that pets are banned on the East Canyon Trail elsewhere in the park.

Set expectations honestly. The falls flow is seasonal, strongest with spring snowmelt and rain and a trickle in a dry late summer, so time it accordingly. Poison ivy grows along the creek-bottom sections, so long pants are smart. And the lots fill on weekends at this popular Front Range park, so arrive early. Linked into the canyon loop, the Falls Spur is the payoff stretch of one of the best short hikes in the county.