This summer, Castle Rock hikers will have another piece of trail to tread. Phase one of the trail along Hangman’s Gulch – from the Castle Rock Recreation Center to Front Street – has been completed two months ahead of schedule.

The original deadline for the project was Aug. 31, but favorable weather conditions helped crews complete the project ahead of schedule.

This phase is the first of two for the project. The second phase will continue the trail and channel improvements from Front Street, under Interstate 25 to the East Plum Creek Trail along the Hangman’s Gulch channel. Construction on phase two will begin this fall.

This project is part of a much larger effort – the Colorado Front Range Trail, which will connect a series of trails along the Front Range from Wyoming to New Mexico.

Castle Rock is unique in that it forms the crossroads of the Front Range Trail at Hangman’s Gulch. Eventually, the trails will take hikers to Chatfield State Park via the East Plum Creek Trail or to Cherry Creek State Park and existing Woodlands trail system along Hangman’s Gulch.

This two-phase project is a joint effort between the Town’s Utilities and Parks and Recreation departments. The project’s total budget is $915,755. A Great Outdoors Colorado grant of $200,000 is helping offset trail construction costs.

More information about this and other Castle Rock trails is online, CRgov.com/trails