Where You’ll Be:
Castlewood Canyon State Park, located southeast of the Denver Metro area, is known for its unique geology and connections to Colorado history. Trails crisscross the canyon’s rim and floor, offering hiking opportunities with views of the canyon, nearby mountains, and the rolling hills of Parker and Franktown.
What You’ll Do:
In recent years, Castlewood Canyon has faced challenges, including a 2023 flood that weakened the integrity of a key bridge in the east canyon and damaged the surrounding trail.
In 2024, increased beaver activity transformed the area into a wetland, as they built dams around the bridge. To protect the beaver habitat while improving the trail system, volunteers will replace and elevate the existing bridge, reroute the trail by about 10 yards, and strengthen the bridge to ensure long-term sustainability.
Breakfast and lunch are provided on Saturday and Sunday, along with dinner on Saturday.
Bring your own dinner for Friday night and enough snacks for the weekend.
Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and we recommend arriving at base camp before 8 pm on Friday.
Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper!
We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering — and we could use your help to make it happen!
View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up!
Why It Matters:
This project will keep the beaver population and habitat undisturbed while repairing and protecting some of the busiest trails that Castlewood has to offer. This will also help create a more defined trail, which will keep park users safe while protecting the surrounding ecosystem.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 16+
For overnight projects, all youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered moderate to difficult. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations: The worksite is roughly half a mile from the nearest trailhead.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: 2WD accessible, with parking available for volunteers.
Other Notes: Cell service is spotty in the canyon but improves just outside the area.
