Douglas County's Sandstone Ranch Offers Trails, Red Rocks, and Backcountry Access

Sandstone Ranch Open Space sits at 9605 S. Perry Park Road in Larkspur, roughly equidistant between Castle Rock and Colorado Springs on the Front Range's eastern slope, and it is exactly the kind of place that disappears the moment you stop protecting it. Before Douglas County finalized its acquisition on December 27, 2017, the entire 2,038-acre property was slated to become a high-end housing development. Today it is free, open every day, and drawing enough weekend visitors to fill a parking lot that trail reviewers consistently describe as "immense."

County officials call Sandstone Ranch the crown jewel of the Douglas County open space system. That description is accurate in some ways and aspirational in others. What follows is what you actually need to know before you drive out there.

Getting There: Two Routes, One Gravel Driveway

From I-25 northbound or southbound, you have two realistic approaches. The simpler option is Larkspur Exit 173: drive south on Perry Park Road (also signed as S. Perry Park Road/Highway 105) approximately six miles; the large gravel parking lot appears on your right. The alternate approach uses Castle Rock Exit 182: turn right (west) onto Wolfensberger Road, follow it to its end, turn left (south) onto Highway 105, continue south about eight miles to the Perry Park entrance area, then continue to the intersection of Highway 105 and Perry Park Avenue. The trailhead is approximately 0.6 miles from that intersection on the right (west) side of the highway; follow the gravel driveway roughly a third of a mile to the lot.

The parking area is unpaved, large enough to accommodate horse trailers, and free. It includes porta-potties and covered picnic tables near the trailhead kiosk. There are no designated stalls. The Colorado Mountain Club notes bluntly that, despite its size, the lot fills up quickly on weekends and holidays. Arrive before 9 a.m. on spring and fall weekends if you want a straightforward entry. The property is open daily from one hour before sunrise to one hour after sunset.

Trail Loops by Time and Ability

There are three named loops to choose from: the Gambel Oak Loop at 0.8 miles, the Juniper Valley Loop at 3.2 miles, and the Sandstone Meadow Trail Loop at 3.7 miles. These can be hiked independently or combined.

For families with young children or anyone wanting a quick outing of under an hour, the Gambel Oak Loop is the obvious starting point. The Juniper Valley Loop covers the northern part of the ranch, is considered easier, and works well for most skill levels including children. Equestrians favor it specifically because it offers soft footing and no gates to navigate.

The Sandstone Meadow Trail Loop covers the southern half of the property and passes the closest viewpoints of the historic ranch buildings and red-rock formations. Adding the Ranch Overlook spur brings the total to about 4.7 miles with roughly 250 feet of elevation gain — the most rewarding version of the loop for hikers who want a payoff view without a demanding climb. The Colorado Mountain Club describes a figure-eight configuration of 5.8 miles with a total elevation gain of 500 feet that links both halves of the property and hits the best vantage points overlooking the Palmer Divide.

The Sandstone Ridge Trail climbs into ponderosa forest and sandstone outcrops with sweeping views of Pikes Peak. For more experienced users ready to extend into backcountry, Sandstone Ranch borders Pike National Forest on its eastern edge, and ranch roads approach the boundary where county trails may connect to national forest routes as trail expansion continues.

Safety Before You Go

Carry plenty of water: there are no facilities along the trails. The terrain is semi-arid, shade is limited, and the exposed meadow sections get direct sun for most of the day. Sun protection and a hat are not optional in late spring and summer.

Trails can be icy in winter and muddy in spring; plan footwear accordingly. Post-rain visits in April and May can mean slick clay sections on the meadow loop.

This is classic Colorado foothills habitat: rocky outcrops, dry grasses, and shrubland that supports rattlesnakes during warmer months. Stay on trail, watch where you step around rocks, and keep dogs close. The property also supports larger wildlife. Numerous wildlife call Sandstone Ranch home, including elk, bears, and mountain lion, in addition to many other species.

Cell service is limited in several sections of the ranch, particularly on the eastern ridge approaches. If you are hiking alone, download an offline map before you leave home. The county's open space interactive map offers GPS waypoints, and statewide trail portals also carry downloadable route files. If you encounter active smoke or fire on the property, call 911 immediately; do not attempt to investigate or self-evacuate through unfamiliar terrain. Note that Stage 1 fire restrictions are currently in place for Douglas County, prohibiting open burning of any kind on public lands. Check the Douglas County Sheriff's Office website for current restriction levels before any visit during dry or windy conditions.

Rules, Closures, and Active Ranch Operations

Dogs must remain on leash at all times. The 12-mile trail network is designated for non-motorized use only: hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing are all permitted; no motorized vehicles.

Because Sandstone Ranch continues to operate as a working cattle ranch, sections of the property remain active agricultural land. Visitors are asked to respect fences, stay on marked trails, and observe posted closures related to grazing rotations or wildfire mitigation work. Forest-health projects may produce dust and require temporary trail reroutes; follow posted instructions at the trailhead kiosk, which is updated seasonally.

The Crown Jewel vs. What Visitors Actually Encounter

The county's "crown jewel" framing is well-earned on the scenic merits. Sandstone Ranch Open Space features nearly 12 miles of multi-use trails, picnic areas, and interpretive signage that give the property more infrastructure than many comparable Front Range open spaces of its size. Trail condition reviews on AllTrails describe well-marked trails and pleasant picnic facilities at the trailhead.

The gap between the marketing and the reality shows up in three areas: parking pressure, limited shade, and on-trail facilities. The parking lot, while large, was not built for the weekend crowds the property now draws. Trail reviewers note muddy spots after rain as a recurring maintenance issue on the meadow sections. And once you leave the trailhead kiosk area, you are on your own for water, shade, and restrooms for the entire route. For a property the county describes as its showcase acquisition, visitors consistently flag these basics as underbuilt relative to the experience the trails themselves deliver.

How the Ranch Is Funded, and How You Can Report Trail Issues

Great Outdoors Colorado provided $3.5 million to assist with the Sandstone Ranch acquisition, allowing the county to replenish its conservation funds for future work. The county also pursued a potential $6 million funding partnership with the Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company as part of the broader acquisition deal. GOCO funding comes from Colorado Lottery proceeds; to date, GOCO has invested more than $44.8 million in projects in Douglas County and conserved more than 36,500 acres of land there.

Ongoing maintenance and operations are funded through a voter-approved Parks, Trails, Historic Resources and Open Space Fund supported by Douglas County sales and use tax. That fund covers trail maintenance across the county's entire open space network, including Sandstone Ranch, Spruce Mountain, Rueter-Hess Reservoir, Sharptail Ridge, and other properties.

To report a downed sign, eroded tread, hazardous condition, or drainage problem at Sandstone Ranch, use the Douglas County Open Space website's contact form or call the Douglas County Open Space and Natural Resources division directly. The county's interactive map also allows users to flag locations with condition notes. Stewardship volunteer events are organized periodically by local trail groups and offer a more direct way to contribute to maintenance; check the county's open space calendar for upcoming dates.

The Sandstone Ranch property was operated as a working ranch for more than 150 years before Douglas County secured it for conservation; the historic ranch headquarters remains on the property. The red angus cattle herd that still grazes the meadows is not a relic or a display: it is a deliberate management choice to honor that history while keeping the land in active agricultural use. That tension between preservation, public access, and working-ranch operations is exactly what makes Sandstone Ranch worth the drive out Perry Park Road and, when something needs fixing, worth the phone call to make sure it stays that way.