Spring Gulch Equestrian Area
Location9490, US-85, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
If you are coming from the north and using Google maps I would set your directions for the Church just south of the Spring Gulch turnoff. The turnoff is on the left side and it is tricky to turn left from Hwy 85. The Church has a round about that you can turn a trailer around in. From the church turn right back onto Hwy 85 then take the next immediate right into the Spring Gulch turnoff. Set google maps for: Grace Presbyterian Church 9720 US-85, Littleton, CO 80125 |
Websitehttp://highlandsranch.org/services/parks-open-space/spring-gulch-equestrian-area/
Spring Gulch is maintained by the Mesa ccc. Please check their website and facebook page for scheduled events that may cause the jumping area to be closed to the public. https://www.facebook.com/springgulchhorsetrials/ http://msea-ccc.org/spring-gulch-xc-schooling-info/ |
PDF Map
There is no official PDF map or map of all the jumps. Google satellite works pretty well. The park is maintained by the CCC and friends of Spring Gulch.
Trail Map
Park Fees
As you enter the park there is a pull-off to the left with a self-serve box. Take an envelop, insert your $5 or $25 and put it in the box. Write your address on the envelop to get an annual pass in the mail for $25.
Daily Pass $5
Annual Pass $25
Annual Passes Available for purchase at:
Metro District Parks, Recreation & Open Space Service Center
3280 Redstone Park Cir., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
(Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)or Annual passes may also be purchased at the pay station with the envelopes provided. The pass will be mailed to the purchaser.
Annual Pass $25
Annual Passes Available for purchase at:
Metro District Parks, Recreation & Open Space Service Center
3280 Redstone Park Cir., Highlands Ranch, CO 80129
(Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.)or Annual passes may also be purchased at the pay station with the envelopes provided. The pass will be mailed to the purchaser.
Trailer Parking
There is an automatic gate as you enter the equestrian area. This made me feel safe as soon as we entered. The whole equestrian area is fenced. The parking lot is immense.
Bathrooms |
Water |
Mounting
There were several picnic tables to use to mount. The picture below was taken by the picnic table looking down at the flat arena-like schooling area.
Footing
There is a soft sand trail that circles the whole equestrian area. The sand trail goes up and down some hills and by a creek. The footing by the jumps is soft dirt. Sam lost a shoe after our very first jump so we jumped the rest of the time with one front shoe! Luckily the footing was soft enough Sam still felt comfortable.
Horse Hazards
This is an equestrian area so very little hazards. Going around the first corner past the creek you look up at the East-West trail (Spring Gulch Trail in map below) that borders the housing development. There were lots of walkers, bikers and dogs on this trail that Sam took a good look at. At this point the East-West trail was above Sam's eye-line which can make horses more nervous.
Chosen Trail
Trail Experience
Reaching the top of the hill an assortment of jumps lay before us. We walked around and looked at all the jumps trying to find the baby-jump area or the smallest jumps we could possibly find.
We found some baby jumps in the top North-West corner of the park. My favorite jumping circle is in purple.
We started with the Caterpillar jump. Sam really jumped BIG the first time....then he got an apple slice....and he understood the game. Then the real fun began.
Sam was pretty awesome. We are not jumpers and I do not need Sam to be a jumper, but it is fun to just trot some really small jumps. Sam and I have a system, we jump a jump then stop and get an apple slice, them maybe stretch out and hold up our hoof for a treat, get scratches and repeat. We did this loop of jumps about 3-4 times, getting treats after each jump.
We did not jump any of these...... The water jump is usually fenced off and is filled up only for events.
We rode down the hill, through the ditch then up the other side to hook back up with the arena area. After 20 minutes of jumping we trot/cantered around the park.
Rating
Amazing! Just driving into the parking lot I thought, "Why have I not ever been here before!" This place is heaven if you like to jump, trail-ride or just be in a safe enclosed area that is only for horses!