It’ll be a 25-45 minute ride from DTC, depending on where in DTC you are. I also work in south DTC, so I’m judging from that experience.

There is an old broken dam that you can hike to very easily. Waterfall along the path if you hike from the highway 86 and Castlewood Canyon road entrance. 25 south to castle rock, left on Founder’s Parkway, right on Castlewood Canyon RD before you get to Franktown’s main intersection

https://dayhikesneardenver.com/castlewood-canyon-state-park-trails/

The hike itself is very simple and extremely well marked. Others will be hiking also. Not too crowded, not too isolated. And close.

A co-worker and I will try that--we can head out around 2 or 2:30 after we dump our stuff at the hotel.

I wish I could make my own travel arrangements--I'd get in earlier and take a tour to Rocky Mountain NP---but we don't have that kind of time

I've been dying to go.......turns out Widespread Panic is pretty good and popular out there. I had never heard of them, but a friend of mine in Delaware does know about them and is SUPER JEALOUS that I'm going to see them live. Checking the Red Rocks schedule was the first thing I did when I heard I was going back! This is WSP playing there not too long ago....

Here is a link to the park info --> https://cpw.state.co.us/placestogo/parks/roxborough

Thanks for the tip! Someday I'll have to visit Denver on my own terms---not rushing around to work things. I hate that they don't give us an option to pay for an extra day ourselves or something. I was there in February and stared at the distant mountains all day---soooo close, yet so far

But a beautiful area in a beautiful state!