Hildebrand Ranch Open Space Park - Littleton, CO
N 39° 33.138 W 105° 06.637
13S E 490496 N 4378074
Hildebrand Ranch Park stretches from the plains across the hogback, and offers a five mile loop trail based recreation in the southwestern metro area.
Waymark Code: WMETY8
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 07/07/2012
Views: 6
A sister park to Deer Creek Canyon and South Valley Parks, the Hildebrand Ranch Park vision of a regional amenity continues to be pursued while protecting resources and honoring private property rights. Park visitors are encouraged to be good neighbors, please do not trespass on private property.
Natural Resources -
The major natural resource attributes of Hildebrand Ranch Park include the Foothills-Canyon Riparian communities of Deer Creek and Mill Creek, the Foothills-Shrubland, Foothills-Meadow and Ponderosa Pine Savannah communities. The environment supports several raptors, prairie dogs, mule deer, elk, bear, mountain lion and burrowing owls. The Dakota, Lyons and Niobrara hogbacks are dominant landforms in the park.
History -
In 1866 Frank Hildebrand settled in Deer Creek. Although records about Hildebrand's acquisition of the land are somewhat contradictory, the ownership was undisputed. Grazing cattle was the predominant activity, but some crops provided winter feed. In 1950 a plan was authorized for a flood-control reservoir in southern Jefferson County to protect Denver, but funds were not appropriated. In 1965, torrential rains on upper Plum Creek brought massive flooding along the South Platte River, killing 13 and leaving millions of dollars in damage. In 1971, the U.S. Secretary of the Army condemned over 300 acres of the Hildebrand Ranch for Chatfield Reservoir. In 2001, Jefferson County acquired the remaining 1,450 acres of the Hildebrand family holdings for the park.
Trailhead/trail website: [Web Link]
Trail allowances or restrictions:
Allowances: leashed dogs, horses, bicycles
Restrictions: hunting, off-road vehicles, camping, fires, collection of natural resources
Trail type: Hard-packed dirt, cement trails
Parking: Not Listed
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Visit Instructions:
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