Ridgeline Open Space facts for kids

Ridgeline Open Space is a fun public park located in the Meadows neighborhood of Castle Rock, Colorado. It's right along the beautiful Front Range of the Rocky Mountains! This amazing outdoor area is about 6,607 feet (2,014 meters) high. It covers a huge 370 acres (1.5 square kilometers) of land set aside for nature and outdoor fun. You can explore over eight miles (13 km) of trails here. From the trails, you'll get incredible views of the Rocky Mountains and the town of Castle Rock below.

Discover Animals and Plants at Ridgeline

Ridgeline Open Space is home to many different kinds of animals and plants. It's a great place to see wildlife in their natural home.

Mammals You Might See

Many furry creatures live in this open space. Keep an eye out for these mammals:

• The American badger, which is a strong digger.
• The American black bear, a large and powerful animal.
• The sneaky bobcat, a wild cat with tufted ears.
• The clever coyote, known for its howls.
• The tiny Colorado chipmunk, often seen scurrying around.
• Both the gray fox and the red fox, known for their bushy tails.
• The quick mountain cottontail rabbit.
• The powerful mountain lion, also called a cougar.
• The graceful mule deer, easy to spot with their large ears.
• The small pocket gopher, which lives underground.
• The prickly porcupine, covered in sharp quills.
• And the smelly skunk, known for its spray!

Birds Soaring Above

The skies above Ridgeline Open Space are busy with many types of birds. Look up to see:

• The majestic golden eagle, a very large bird of prey.
• The super-fast peregrine falcon, one of the fastest birds in the world.
• The agile sharp-shinned hawk.
• The smart black-billed magpie, known for its long tail.
• The common red-tailed hawk, often seen circling high above.
• The social pinyon jay.
• And the colorful western tanager.

Trees and Plants Growing Here

The landscape at Ridgeline Open Space is filled with different kinds of trees and plants. These plants provide food and shelter for the animals. You'll find:

• The Gambel oak, also called scrub oak or oak brush.
• The tall ponderosa pine.
• And the unique pinyon pine, which produces edible pine nuts.

Images for kids

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  Two mule deer grazing

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  Red fox

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  Red fox (during its black pelt color phase)