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Hidden Mesa Open Space
4.6 ★★★★★ 226 Google reviews · Running trail in Franktown, Colorado · Posted hours
Runner's snapshot
- Surface
- Mixed
- Loop distance
- Not reported
- Shape
- Loop
- Shade
- Not reported
- Access
- Posted hours
Confirmed from Hidden Mesa Open Space's own listing, the park or land manager's website, and runner reviews. Blank cells mean we could not verify that fact — we would rather say "not reported" than invent one. There is no Easy / Moderate / Hard rating on this page on purpose: a one-word difficulty score tells you nothing about whether a trail suits your run. Surface, distance, shade and hours do.
Kid-friendly park featuring 7.5 miles of trails for biking, hiking and horseback riding, plus scenery.
What runners say about Hidden Mesa Open Space
“Great view from up top, beautiful rock formations, great scenery all around, just the right distance for an easy hike.”
“Great view from up top, beautiful rock formations, great scenery all around, just the right distance for an easy hike.”
Awesome running/biking/hiking trails close to Castle Rock and Parker. Beautiful at all times of the year. It's never very crowded and offers pretty good views from the top. If you start from Parker road you get several hundred feet of elevation gain which is great if you're trying to get a quick workout in.
Super close to my house and it's never crowded. Lots of bikers so watch the trails. The loop we do is about 5.5 miles long. Great for the dogs as not any stairs and it's pretty flat.
Beautiful space and great outdoor area. Would have preferred better walking paths and almost twisted my ankle a few times, but the openness of it made it worthwhile.
If you're hiking be aware that there's plenty of mountain bike traffic here. A vast majority of the bikers are courteous, but don't be surprised if you encounter an occasional inattentive tool. Overall, though, this is a good place for an easy, intermediate length hike with decent views from the top of the mesa.
Trail conditions & character
“Overall, though, this is a good place for an easy, intermediate length hike with decent views from the top of the mesa.”
“Lots of options to choose from, can be an easy ride with some uphill and smooth single track or take the optional obstacles for a little more excitement!”
“Definitely saw some horse poop as advertised, and near the end, we saw people with their dogs off-leash, which is not something I ever enjoy seeing.”
“If you start from Parker road you get several hundred feet of elevation gain which is great if you're trying to get a quick workout in.”
“Rocky and loose gravel in some areas.”
“If you start from the parking lot off Highway 83 and hike the whole mesa loop you'll log about 7-7.”
“If you start from the parking lot off Highway 83 and hike the whole mesa loop you'll log about 7-7.”
Plan your run at Hidden Mesa Open Space
The practical stuff
- AccessPosted hours — posted hours below; park gates sometimes close earlier than the listing says
- SurfaceMixed — more than one surface along the route, so check the segment you plan to run
- DistanceNot reported. Trail systems often quote total path mileage rather than a single loop, so measure the route you actually want before you drive out.
- ShadeNot reported. Assume some of it is exposed and carry water in summer.
- At the trailheadparking — reported by runners
- DogsWelcome, per reviewers. Leash rules vary by park — the trailhead sign is the authority.
- Websitecrgov.com
- Phone+1 303-660-7495
Hours
| Monday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Tuesday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Wednesday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Thursday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Friday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Saturday | 5 am–11 pm |
| Sunday | 5 am–11 pm |
Running trails near Franktown
Other trails within easy driving distance — useful when this one is flooded, gated, or just not the run you had in mind today.
Gateway Mesa Open Space
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Castlewood Canyon State Park
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