Spruce Mountain Open Space - Douglas County

Spruce Mountain Open Space sits in Larkspur, Colorado, right in the heart of Douglas County where the Front Range meets wide open grasslands and pine-covered ridges. Managed by Douglas County, this open space earns a 4.7 rating from 13 reviewers who consistently praise the scenery and trail conditions. It's one of the few multi-use open spaces in the region that genuinely welcomes equestrians, hikers, and mountain bikers on the same trail system. For riders in the Denver metro or Colorado Springs corridor, it's a convenient place to get real outdoor miles under saddle.

Equestrians can access several miles of designated horseback riding trails that wind through ponderosa pine forests and across open meadows with views of Pikes Peak and the surrounding mountains. Hikers share portions of the trail network, so riders need to be comfortable with mixed-use conditions. Mountain biking is also permitted on specific routes, making it important to know which trails are designated for horse traffic before you head out. The open space has parking areas with trailer-friendly pull-through spaces, making it practical for hauling horses from nearby communities.

Spruce Mountain Open Space is located in Larkspur, Colorado, making it accessible to riders from Castle Rock, Monument, and Colorado Springs to the south, as well as those coming down from the Denver metro area to the north. The site sits just off I-25, which puts it within a reasonable haul for equestrians throughout Douglas and El Paso counties.