In 1994, Douglas County voters approved a 0.17% sales tax to collect funds for buying and preserving land. Thirty years later, outdoor enthusiasts have reaped the benefits of open spaces between Colorado Springs and Denver.

Here’s a look at some to enjoy:

Dawson Butte Ranch Open Space 

Dawson Butte is a craggy promontory looming over the west side of Interstate 25 between Larkspur and Castle Rock. A 5-mile trail loops around its base, weaving through low oak, tall pine forests and wide-open, wavy meadows looking out to Rampart Range and Pikes Peak. The trailhead parking lot is friendly to horse trailers. Equestrians roam off the loop for extra trail mileage and dozens of jumps built for them.

Greenland Open Space 

The land and sky seem endless here right off I-25. It’s a nostalgic step back in time; a schoolhouse and general store help tell the story of a once-bustling stop along the railroad. Now dog walkers, runners, cyclists and equestrians converge at the head of a trail system sprawling 11 miles through the gently rolling grassland. Some travel about 5 miles on Greenland Trail to Palmer Lake.

Lincoln Mountain Open Space

You don’t expect a mountaintop experience out on the plains northeast of Monument. And then this mesa emerges, welcoming you with a modest ascent to its summit near 7,400 feet. Lincoln Mountain Trail is a “lollipop” loop of 4-plus miles, with views out to Longs Peak on a clear day. Rhyolite decorates the upper trail, while more geologic intrigue awaits along the Palmer Divide Ranch Trail. Runners, bikers and equestrians combine a figure-eight route close to 8 1/2 miles.

Nelson Ranch Open Space

Compared with other county open spaces, this one is more of a remote, foothills experience. And it requires more of an adventure. Tucked behind the hogbacks and red rocks of Roxborough State Park, Nelson Ranch is explored via the looping Swallowtail Trail. That trail is reached by foot and horse on the 4.6-mile Sharptail Trail, or a shorter hike via the state park’s Carpenter Peak Trail and County Road 5.

Sandstone Ranch Open Space

Upon opening for recreation in 2020, it was celebrated as “the crown jewel” of Douglas County’s open space portfolio. Hiding out against Pike National Forest on the western outskirts of Larkspur, the 2,038 acres encompass meadows, oak and juniper, red rock formations and relics of a proud farming era. And plenty of trails to explore it all. Take your pick of loop options spread across the 12-mile network.

Spruce Mountain Open Space

While many Douglas County open spaces could be called hidden gems, this one cannot. The parking lot is known to fill. Yes, the rock-rimmed mesa calls to the masses. They venture to the top with sweeping views of the Palmer Divide and loop back down through an evergreen forest in a round trip of 5 1/2 miles. Or from the trailhead, one might stay on Eagle Pass Trail to a hilltop gravesite. Adjacent Spruce Meadows Open Space is another option (where horse trailers must park).