Backcountry Outdoor Center

Base Camp is the home of Camp Backcountry, our barnyard animals, and is the starting place for most programs. The Ponderosa stands, grasslands, and foothills provide for a dynamic setting for learning about and exploring the natural world, all while staying close to home. Base Camp is the gateway to adventure in the Backcountry Wilderness Area.  

Please Note: Base Camp is not open for public visits. Register for a program to visit. 

The Horse Corrals are the starting point for ALL horse programs including horse camp, riding lessons, trail rides, pony programs, horsemanship classes, and saddle club. There are five different arenas and two round-pens utilized for lessons and programs, along with a trail for horseback rides.

There are three archery ranges at the Backcountry Outdoor Center: a Sight-In Range, a Lesson Range, and a 3D Archery Range. The Sight-In Range offers bag targets from 10 to 100 yards. The Lesson Range is separated from the Sight-In Range so that lessons can run concurrently with the public range and not interfere. The new 3D range consists of a one-mile loop trail with flat, uphill, and downhill shots ranging from 10 to 90 yards at targets including elk, deer, bear, turkey, sheep, and goat. Purchase your archery pass.

From the North: From C-470 and Santa Fe, head south on Santa Fe (CO-85) 7 miles and turn left on Ron King Trail. 

From the South: From I-25 and Founders Parkway, head west on Founders Parkway 0.4 miles, and turn right onto North bound CO-85.Proceed 9.7 miles North on CO-85 and turn right onto Ron King Trail. 

Once on Ron King Trail, go about 0.1 miles through the arch that says Highlands Ranch Law Enforcement Facility then follow our Backcountry Wilderness Area elk head logo signs to your destination.

The Horse Corrals are shortly after you go under the arch and will be on your left. Park in the Horse Corrals lot and walk West towards the riding arenas.

The Archery Ranges are less than a mile down Ron King Trail and will be on your left. Park in the Archery lot and walk to the range.

Base Camp is down Ron King Trail the furthest. FOLLOW the logo signs and take the dirt road that veers southeast of the Law Enforcement Facility. DO NOT turn left into the Law Enforcement Facility or continue straight into the large paved parking lot. There is a large cement blockage that points toward the dirt road to Base Camp. Once at Base Camp, follow signs to park perpendicular to the East-West running fence.

Note: If your mapping system tries to take you to the Backcountry Outdoor Center via Grigs Road, it is wrong. You must enter from Santa Fe.