About Castle Rock - Visit Castle Rock

With a reputation for small town hospitality, this charming community has received recognition by numerous national publications as one of the best towns to live, work, dine and play.

With roots in mining and railroads, this affluent town offers an updated taste of the Old West. It boasts an historic downtown area, 6000 acres of open space, 50 developed parks, and 87 miles of trails. Castle Rock, easily accessible by Interstate 25, is home to the Outlets at Castle Rock (the largest open-air outlet center in the State) and is the seat of Douglas County. The town encompasses 33 square miles and sits in the East Plum Creek Valley at the base of the Rocky Mountains at an elevation of 6,202 feet. Once again, Castle Rock has made the SafeHome.org list as one of the safest cities in the state. In the 2020 report, Castle Rock ranked No. 6 in Colorado.

Some of the Town’s most beautiful and prominent features are its open spaces, parks and trails. Take a hike with the kids, enjoy the great outdoors or sneak a peak at local wildlife. The Town truly has something for everyone. Most residents agree, Castle Rock has some of the most gorgeous open space and trails in all of Colorado. Download a map, and get out there and explore. The Town boasts more than 50 developed parks and is always looking for ways to increase amenities for the public.

Each year, residents enjoy family-friendly events, concerts, festivals, fundraisers, races and environmental education and cultural programs throughout Castle Rock’s parks. Each year is more exciting from the last due in part to the the Town’s reimagined Festival Park and the 300-acre Philip S. Miller regional park which provides its own plethora of events to the community.

Downtown Parking Map

While skiing, mountain biking, and rock climbing are fabulous forms of active and healthy travel, altitude sickness could ruin your mile-high vacation. Castle Rock offers year round events, be sure to subscribe to our Castle Rock Events Calendar to stay up to day with the latest happenings. View tips for Altitude Sickness Treatment and Prevention.

It’s easy to see how Castle Rock got its name when one spies the castle-shaped butte towering high above the town center. The town’s history is also easily visible in the original, well-preserved homes, cafés and churches throughout the area. Many of these were built using the unusual rhyolite stone that originally attracted the settlers who founded the town in the mid-to-late 18th century. Prior to their arrival, the area was occupied by Cheyenne and Arapahoe Indian tribes. Today, nearly 72,0000 people call Castle Rock home.

With over 300 days of sunshine each year, Castle Rock is a safe and welcoming place to enjoy the brisk Colorado air year ‘round.

You can browse in the many shops, galleries or museums around town, and then enjoy a bite to eat at one of our diverse and popular restaurants, bistros or coffee houses. Whether you’re here to enjoy the very walk able downtown area or looking for a restorative bite to eat after hiking “the Rock,” something to please any palate is always just around the corner. If you’re here for a longer stay, you’ll find activities for all ages, including our award-winning library system, state-of-the-art recreation center, golf, art, movies, music, and more.