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Rules, Plans, and Studies
Open Space & Parks Use Rules
Ken-Caryl Ranch attracts many people with the beauty of its open space and parks. The following rules govern our open space and parks’ use in an effort to maintain ecological integrity and to provide a positive recreational experience for everyone. These rules apply to all users of the open space, parks, and accompanying parking lots.
Rules & Regulations
Set of rules governing open space and parks’ use in an effort to maintain ecological integrity and to provide a positive recreational experience for everyone.
Trail Use Guidelines
The Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space Committee developed trail use guidelines to help establish proper behavior when using trails.
Large Group Events
Policies and application for a large group to use Open Space for an event.
Open Space Restrictions
Supplemental Restrictions to assure that the Recreation and Open Spaces owned by the Association retain their natural, scenic, historic, agricultural, forested and Open Space condition.
Landscape Policies
Policy designed to address landscape improvements by homeowners that encroach on property owned by the Master Association.
Geocaching/Letterbox Guidelines
Guidelines for geocaching and letterbox placement have been established to protect our trails and natural resources.
Open Space Committee Conduct of Meeting Policy
Procedures to establish a uniform and systematic protocol for conducting Committee meetings. Open Space Committee meetings will follow the adopted Master Association Conduct of Meetings policy.
Open Space Plans & Studies
Wildcat Ridge Biological Cultural Resource Survey
ERO Resources Corporation (ERO) conducted an archaeological reconnaissance survey of the Ken-Caryl Ranch Master Association’s (Association) Wildcat Ridge Open Space area (study area) to identify cultural resources in the proposed trails and to obtain a sense of cultural resource density in the surrounding area. The gathered information will allow the Association to make more informed management and stewardship decisions about their cultural resources. The proposed trail alignments would connect to the Docmann Loop Trail in Docmann Gulch and climb ridges and hillslopes to the southeast before looping back on a slope’s northeast face. Much of the trail is confined to slopes that are covered in dense stands of Gambel oak, but portions of the proposed trail extend on to highpoints and ridgelines.
The survey’s main goal was to identify cultural resources in the study area and to provide the Association with management recommendations. ERO targeted high potential areas inside and outside the proposed trail alignments for new cultural resources and provide archaeological context for the previously unsurveyed area.
Stove Prairie Proposed Realignment
Stove Prairie Current Alignment to Remain
After a lengthy public process to gather feedback, the Stove Prairie Trail reroute will not move forward. Stove Prairie is an existing trail in the North Ranch that runs from Bradford Trail to Manor House Trail.
The proposed realignment was recommended to the Board by the Open Space Committee and was developed by the Volunteer Trail Coordinators. The Board heard extensive feedback from residents on both sides of the issue. Ultimately, the motion to reroute the trail was defeated with a 2-2 vote, which means the motion failed due to lack of majority. Board members Scotty Martin and Dave Seagraves voted against the reroute, and Board members Tom Bratschun and Chris Schroeder voted in favor of the reroute. Board member Philip Varley was not in attendance at the meeting.
Annual Trails Plan
As part of the annual budget preparation process, staff, with involvement of the Open Space Committee, will review the trail system and develop an Annual Trails Report with recommendations for specific projects for the upcoming year.
Beehives
Ken-Caryl resident Ed Galisewski installed beehives in the North Hogback Open Space in spring 2017. If you have any questions, contact Open Space Manager Sean Warren at seanw@kcranch.org or 303-979-1876, ext. 463.
Biological Surveys
Biological surveys are done prior to trail construction to evaluate any potential impact trail construction would have on natural resources in open space.
Brannon Gearhart Park and Wood Sorrel/Buckthorn Access Trails
The trail re-routes will take out steep sections of trail and move the alignment out of shaded areas to improve trail user safety during the winter months. The low-water crossings will be rebuilt to better facilitate emergency and maintenance access and improve user safety.
Brannon Gearhart Park Task Force
The Brannon Gearhart Park Task Force reviewed the current condition of Brannon Gearhart Park to make short- and long-term recommendations to the Master Association Board regarding the future of its infrastructure and amenities.
Open Space Comprehensive Management Plan
Detailed policies and procedures for managing the Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space resources. The plan was updated and adopted by the Master Association and Metropolitan District Boards in December 2017.
Cougar Trail Information
The Upper Cougar Trail is located in the southwest corner of Ken-Caryl Ranch Private Open Space. The new trail when combined with Lower Cougar Trail added nearly five miles of new trail to our existing trail system.
Docmann Loop Trail Information
The Docmann Trail will go from the Cougar Trail, up Docmann Gulch and connect to the Question Mark Peak Trail. At its Oct. 10, 2017 meeting, the Ken-Caryl Ranch Master Association Board approved the alignment of the Docmann Trail. Funding was approved at the Dec. 12, 2017 meeting. On July 10, 2018, Jefferson County approved the Natural Surface Trail permit for Docmann Trail. Corridor clearing for the Docmann Trail was completed in August 2018, and trail construction began the week of Sept. 10, 2018.
Drainageway Hazard Assessment
The Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space Drainageway Hazard Assessment, written by Muller Engineering Company, is the guiding document used by staff to address problems in the stream channels and tributaries of Massey Draw and Dutch Creek located in the Valley Open Space of Ken-Caryl Ranch.
East Plum Thicket/Manzanita Trail Plan
There are a number of existing social trails between Mountain Laurel, Manzanita and Woodruff Streets. In the Trails Master Plan (TMP), these are identified for upgrading and incorporation into the recognized and sanctioned trail system.
Forest Stewardship Plan
A 10-year plan that calls for thinning of overgrown forests and shrublands to improve overall forest health and to remove excessive wildfire fuels. Updated in 2015.
Massey Draw Trail Maintenance Plan
Massey Draw Canyon was identified as a high-priority maintenance issue in the 2016 Trails Maintenance Plan.
Native Mowing Plan
The Native Mowing Plan (aka-Rough Mowing Plan) includes a variety of sites, mostly in the Valley, where un-irrigated, open space grasses intersect roadsides, trails and other facilities. These sites are mowed at least three times during growing season by the ranger staff. Mowing is done to improve visibility and sightlines, to reduce the potential for fire to spread and for general safety and aesthetics.
Field Surveys
These reports summarize findings from field surveys to identify and document biological and cultural resources on Parcel A. This property is located north of Dutch Creek and east of the Willowbrook subdivision and is known for its prominent hogback ridge. The property is owned by Jefferson County Open Space and managed by the Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space Department. These reports will help staff and community leaders develop a management plan to protect important and sensitive open space resources contained on the site. The surveys and reports were provided and paid for by Jefferson County Open Space.
Prairie Dog Policy
The Prairie Dog Relocation Agreement was set up for the relocation of the Manor House prairie dog colony.
Purple Ash Trail Improvements
The Ken-Caryl Ranch Open Space Committee will review planned improvements to the Purple Ash Trail at their monthly meeting on May 27, 2020.
Trails Maintenance Plan
The Master Association Board adopted this Trails Maintenance Plan February 2016. Map of Trail System to accompany maintenance plan.
Trails Master Plan
Provides a strategic guide for the implementation and maintenance of a community wide trail system. Adopted in 2009.
Trails Implementation
Provides a multi‐year implementation strategy for the Ken‐Caryl Ranch Trail System consistent with the approved Trails Master Plan.
Volunteer Trail Program
The Master Association Board adopted this Volunteer Trail Coordinator Program in 2019.