Deer Creek Canyon Open Space Park - Ken Caryl, CO
N 39° 32.590 W 105° 09.121
13S E 486937 N 4377066
Multi-use and hiker only trails provide many options for park visitors.
Waymark Code: WMEDD0
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 05/11/2012
Views: 5
Of the diverse and natural environments of Deer Creek Canyon Park, perhaps the most striking is the scrub oak habitat. Uncommon in Jefferson County, Gambel oak provides important food and cover for wildlife including mule deer, elk, turkey, grouse, mountain lion and bear.
History -
Deer Creek Canyon Park had its beginnings as a campground for wandering bands of Ute and Arapahoe. The 1,881-acre Open Space park was first homesteaded in 1872 by a man from Plymouth, England, John Williamson. Back then, Deer Creek's rolling hills and fertile fields attracted both farmers and miners. John Williamson's famed Glen Plym Ranch, as well as the Couch and Clark Homesteads, all sat within the current park boundaries.
Other personalities that frequented the Deer Creek area included Alferd Packer, Jesse James, Chief Colorow and "Horse Thief" Thompson. Packer, Colorado's famous cannibal, moved to Critchell in 1901 after being paroled from the state penitentiary. He spent his last years in a cabin in Phillipsburg. Packer and others worked on Deer Creek's many ranches and mines. Local mines yielded a wealth of gold and silver, while the flatlands were known for producing abundant hay, wheat and corn crops.
Trailhead/trail website: [Web Link]
Trail allowances or restrictions:
Allowances: leashed dogs, horses, bicycles (please be aware of restricted trails)
Restrictions: hunting, off-road vehicles, camping, fires, collection of natural resources
Trail type: Hard-packed dirt, some rock outcroppings, reclaimed logging roads
Parking: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
To claim a log for this waymark, some proof of a visit is required. This proof could be a simple photo of their GPS at the trailhead, a photo of the person at the trailhead, or a photo of a signature item that a person uses for photographs, at the trailhead.
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