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Douglas County cans idea to allow ‘minimalist camping’ at Sandstone Ranch

By Noah Festenstein July 23, 2025 | updated 6 days ago

063018 Staff Best June 008.JPG (copy)

FILE PHOTO: Afternoon clouds rollover some of the redrock formations Thursday, June 20, 2018, at the 2,038-acre Sandstone Ranch outside Larkspur , Colo. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)

Christian Murdock/The Gazette

Following stakeholder backlash over wildfire concerns, Douglas County commissioners dropped an idea to allow “minimalist camping” at Sandstone Ranch in Larkspur.

Commissioners, however, have expressed interest in allowing camping elsewhere in a county that is 51% open space.

“Following community feedback and further fire risk analysis, (commissioners) decided not to pursue camping at Sandstone Ranch any further,” Douglas County officials said in a news release on Tuesday night.

The idea was never formally proposed.

During a business meeting on Tuesday, commissioners approved a resolution dropping the idea.

“Dispersed camping is prohibited on Sandstone Ranch Open Space,” the resolution said, adding that “county staff is directed to evaluate wildfire risk and establish high wildfire risk boundaries to provide an overlay for future camping.”

Officials in the town of Larkspur — which surrounds the 2,000-acre Sandstone Ranch — opposed the idea. Fire officials, including the town’s council and surrounding residents, decried wildfire risks in open space that is of high risk.

Earlier this year, Douglas County commissioners raised an idea to allow for five-to-10 “minimalist camping” sites within Sandstone Ranch.

Minimalist camping follows the “leave no trace” protocols, which also includes a stipulation not allowing campfires. There is no running water. No electricity. Just a designated campsite.

Sandstone Ranch, which is identified as unincorporated open space, neighbors the Perry Park neighborhood with about 700 homes. Residents, especially in the Perry Park neighborhood, criticized the camping-in-Sandstone-Ranch proposal as a threat to public safety.

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“We have heard from citizens that it is necessary we find a balance between providing recreation amenities in Douglas County while also prioritizing public safety,” Commissioner Abe Laydon said in a statement.

“At this time,” he added, “our community is not in a position to take risks around wildfire.”

Laydon, who leads the Douglas County Wildfire Action Collaborative, previously said he would oppose any proposal that “increases fire risk for our citizens.”

The approved resolution said that county staff will work with a “stakeholder task force” to further explore any future demand for camping in Douglas County.

No public dollars, just staff hours, were used while studying impacts of open space camping, according to county spokesperson Caroline Frizell.

“Though we were told there would be no campfires or other sources of open flame, we question whether the county will have the resources or commitment to enforce this prohibition,” Larkspur Fire Protection District officials previously said in a statement.

Much of Larkspur is a Level 4 fire danger zone, while residents surrounding Sandstone live in a Level 5 danger zone — meaning the fire department is always on high alert, according to Larkspur Fire Chief Tim McCawley.

Known as the “crown jewel” of Douglas County open space, Sandstone Ranch offers hiking and biking trails, jagged red rocks, wildlife and a mountainous backdrop.

The county has also considered camping opportunities at Prairie Canyon Ranch, Nelson Ranch Open Space, Red Mesa, and Mountain Ranch Open Space.

“The board wants to continue to engage in the best use of open spaces, including Sandstone and the more than a dozen other open spaces the county owns and maintains,” officials said in Tuesday’s news release.

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Noah Festenstein

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