In 2014, Castle Rock opened an outdoor destination to meet the growing population between Colorado’s biggest cities. Philip S. Miller Park would have something for everyone.

There would be Challenge Hill — the vertical 200 steps resembling a much smaller Manitou Incline. There would be a turf field for sports and a state-of-the-art playground. There would be zip lines running between the hills encircling the 300-acre park. And across that terrain, there would be trails for the pure outdoor lover.

The roughly 8-mile network is particularly beloved by mountain bikers who have formed their favorite laps. The network is a series of connected loops exploring the park’s valleys and high points.

The loops are named for colors: red, green, purple and gold. Gold sounded most enticing on our latest visit.

Parking by the amphitheater and Mill House event center, a sidewalk stretches past the event center’s pond. It meets two prongs of the Gold Loop; we started by going right.

The trail rises through oak low enough for one to overlook the park below. After about a half-mile, it comes to a four-way junction with the Purple Loop; Gold continues left with views of Castle Rock’s namesake outcrop.

The next stretch is a fast, flowy ride for bikers, as the trail drops and weaves below knolls on the edge of a neighborhood. The trail then rises to a flatter, splendid stretch: views include the promontory called Devil’s Head and, on clear days, Pikes Peak to the south and other 14,000-foot mountains to the west.

The trail descends back to the parking lot.

Trip log: 2.1 miles round trip, 200 feet elevation gain

Getting there: Philip S. Miller Park is at 1375 W. Plum Creek Parkway in Castle Rock. From Interstate 25, take exit 181 for Plum Creek Parkway and follow west to the park’s entrance. Continue through the park to the lot at the amphitheater.

FYI: Park open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. Trails open to hikers and bikers, dogs on leash. Trails closed when muddy. Check conditions at crgov.com/trailconditions. More information: crgov.com/2051/philip-s-miller-park

SETH BOSTER, THE GAZETTE