Castlewood Canyon State Park

Background | Criteria | Northwest Colorado | Northeast Colorado
Southwest Colorado | Southeast Colorado

Castlewood Canyon State Park
Douglas County

Size: 1631 acres

Elevation: 6150 - 6600 feet

Habitats: Primary – cliff/rock, grassland, mixed conifer, ponderosa pine

Secondary – lowland riparian, mountain shrubland

Ownership: State (CO State Parks)

Land Use: Primary – recreation/tourism, nature and wildlife conservation

IBA Criterion: 2

Site description

Location: Castlewood Canyon State Park is located in the Black Forest of central Colorado, approximately 30 miles south of Denver.

Vegetative/natural features: The site occupies an ecotone between plains grassland and Front Range forest communities. Cherry Creek flows through the canyon, creating a year-round riparian corridor of willows, chokecherry, and wild plum. The canyon contains a mix of ponderosa pine/Douglas-fir woodland and scrub oak shrubland. A collage of montane and shortgrass prairie species inhabit the grasslands on either side of the canyon. Preble’s meadow jumping mouse and three plant species of special concern occur within the park.

Historic features: The site includes the ruins of the Castlewood Dam, which is listed on the State Historic Register.

Ornithological Importance

Castlewood Canyon hosts a high assemblage of "high conservation priority" breeding bird species. There is a small heronry located in ponderosa pines surrounded by Douglas-fir, which is unique to Colorado based on the habitat type. The site hosts the largest summer roost of Turkey Vultures (50-100) in Colorado.

Breeding species:	Average #	Maximum #
Golden Eagle	1 pair
Prairie Falcon	1-2 pairs
Common Poorwill	10-20 pairs	20-40 pairs
Cordilleran Flycatcher	20-30 pairs	30-50 pairs
Virginia’s Warbler	25-50 pairs	40-75 pairs
Western Tanager	10-20 pairs	15-30 pairs
Great Blue Heron	12	25
Turkey Vulture	50	100

Research and educational activities: The park operates a visitors center that provides interpretive displays on the park’s ecosystems and historical significance. A full-time interpreter coordinates a crew of 81 volunteer naturalists who provide educational programs to schools and the public. In 1999, researchers studied two sites in the park for the Birds in Forested Landscapes project sponsored by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.

Conservation/Management Issues

Minor threats:
1. invasive/non-native plants.

Potential threats:
1. development along the park’s borders.

Efforts to address threats:
To buffer the canyon from the impacts of surrounding development, the state acquired 400 acres of grassland. In addition, the park has participated in securing conservation easements on adjacent properties. With approximately 150,000 people visiting the park each year, park managers have taken steps to lessen human impact: park regulations permit only foot traffic, and prohibit hunting and fishing.

Management details:
Castlewood Canyon State Park is a designated Colorado Natural Area and a Watchable Wildlife site.