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Castle Pines
A Douglas County city on I-25 just south of Lone Tree. Subdivisions from the 1980s on sit west of the highway, Shea Homes is still building out The Canyons, and nearly 60 miles of trails tie it together, with Daniels Park and a public golf course at the edges.
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Winter sun
Which driveways stay iced in December and which back yards keep the afternoon. Worth knowing before you fall for a house.
See how the winter sun falls on Castle Pines (opens in new tab)
Living in Castle Pines
Castle Pines is its own city in Douglas County, on I-25 south of Lone Tree and north of Castle Rock. The Village at Castle Pines, a separate gated area, sits just south of the city limits. The city covers a little under 10 square miles of rolling ground at about 6,559 feet.
A new city with an older name
Voters approved incorporating the City of Castle Pines North on November 6, 2007, by roughly four to one, and dropped "North" from the name in 2010. The name is older than the city. Castle Pines Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus course, opened in 1981, and the gated village around it stayed unincorporated when the city to its north formed.
West of I-25, east of I-25
The original Castle Pines North sits west of the highway. Its metro district was set up in 1984 and still runs water and sewer for about 4,000 connections. East of I-25, Parker Water and Sanitation District takes over, so the side of the highway a house is on decides who sends the water bill.
The Canyons is the newer piece: a 1,270-acre Shea Homes development with about a third of the land planned as parks and open space, roughly 15 miles of trail and a 74-acre regional park for the city. The houses are new ranch and two-story builds, in styles running from Modern Prairie to Craftsman, and the Canyon House clubhouse has fitness studios, a fire-pit patio and a restaurant. Buying new means working through a builder's contract and timeline. Ask early which metropolitan district a lot sits in, since that district's taxes and fees come on top of the mortgage.
The gated village next door
The Village at Castle Pines is a separate place: an unincorporated, gated area of about 2,850 acres, governed by Douglas County, with a homes association dating to 1981. It is built around Castle Pines Golf Club and the Country Club at Castle Pines, and the PGA Tour played The International there from 1986 to 2006. It took its current name in 2018 to set itself apart from neighboring areas. Check which Castle Pines a listing means, since a Village house answers to the county and its homes association, not to the city.
Trails, a public course and Daniels Park
The city counts nearly 60 miles of trails, 122 acres of parks and more than 1,850 acres of open space. Elk Ridge Park has two pavilions, and Coyote Ridge Park is slated for improvements. The Ridge at Castle Pines North, at 1414 Castle Pines Parkway, is a public course that opened in 1997. Troon manages it, and its four sets of tees run from about 5,000 yards to more than 7,000.
Daniels Park, just outside the city, belongs to Denver's mountain park system. Florence Martin bought the ranch in 1919 and gave land to Denver in 1920 and 1937. Bison have lived there since 1938, and the overlooks take in the Front Range from Pikes Peak to Longs Peak.
Rueter-Hess Reservoir, where Castle Pines is one of six partner agencies, allows paddleboards, canoes and kayaks and has 6.5 miles of soft-surface trail. Parking is limited and needs a reservation.
Village Square and The Exchange
City Hall sits on Village Square Drive, and the dining is clustered around Village Square Lane. Duke's Steakhouse, at 363 Village Square Lane, is a casual steakhouse and sports bar rated 4.4 out of 5 stars on Restaurantji. In The Canyons, The Exchange Coffee House at 1415 Westbridge Drive is the development's coffee stop.
Getting to Denver
I-25 runs right through the city, so most trips north start there. Light rail ends one city up, at RidgeGate Parkway station in Lone Tree, which opened in 2019 with a 1,300-space garage. The E Line runs from there north to Union Station.
FAQ
Is Castle Pines part of Denver?
No. It's its own city in Douglas County, on I-25 south of Lone Tree.
What's the difference between Castle Pines and the Village at Castle Pines?
Voters approved the City of Castle Pines in 2007. The Village at Castle Pines is an unincorporated, gated area just south of it, governed by Douglas County, with its own homes association.
Who provides water in Castle Pines?
West of I-25, the Castle Pines North Metropolitan District. East of I-25, Parker Water and Sanitation District.
What is The Canyons?
A 1,270-acre Shea Homes development with new ranch and two-story houses, about 15 miles of trail, a clubhouse and The Exchange Coffee House.
Is there a public golf course?
Yes. The Ridge at Castle Pines North, on Castle Pines Parkway, opened in 1997 and is open to the public. The Village has its own courses, Castle Pines Golf Club and the Country Club at Castle Pines.
Can you take the train to Denver from Castle Pines?
Not from inside the city. The closest station is RidgeGate Parkway in Lone Tree, where the E Line starts its run to Union Station.
Where can you see the bison?
Daniels Park, a Denver mountain park just outside the city, has had a bison herd since 1938.