This morning, I decided I would do something different. Instead of being cooped up in the house all day, I would head out to relax along one of our many trails here in Colorado. And today, the Philip S Miller Park in Castle Rock was a relaxing trip to be sure.

Don’t get me wrong, I burned more calories this morning than I normally do on the Xbox. But it was a serene and nice day for a hike in the hills.

Besides, I find walks in nature to be incredibly helpful to unwind and de-stress.

Relaxing in Castle Rock

One of the things I wanted to do this year was getting out and be more social and interactive. Thanks to the current state of the world and my own schedule, I wasn’t able to really get out and enjoy myself much.

So, when my friend asked if I wanted to go, I figured, “Absolutely!”

The Philip S Miller Park is a half-hour drive from Denver, but the trip was well worth the travel. It is a very pretty place, and I’m looking forward to going again.

It’s a bit higher in elevation, so it took a minute for me to acclimate. But, about half-way through the mild hike, I was breathing normally again.

I definitely need better hiking shoes, though. I was sliding all over the trails as my loafers have no real traction. Yes, I know, loafers on a hike? Well, I haven’t been able to buy real shoes yet.

Because I cannot handle heat all that well, leaving the house at around 6:30 am was a good time. As we were nearing the car at the end of the hike, I had to take off my shirt as I was starting to heat up.

Don’t worry, I still had my tank top on.

Why the Philip S Miller Park?

I’ve never been to the PS Miller Park in Castle Rock. I’ve driven past it a few times, but never really stopped. This time, I’m glad I decided to go.

Because it’s more than just a nice, nature-filled place to walk around. It has a lot of beautiful elements.

Lots of Trails to Choose From

The park is separated by a ton of trails of varying difficulty. You can climb 200 steps to the top of a peak, march up and down various paths, or push your limits by taking some of the more steep passageways.

The trail I took closely matched the amount of exercise I get when playing 30 minutes of the Xbox Kinect. Which is quite a bit as I’ll burn more calories playing Virtual Smash than many people will at the gym in the same amount of time.

The walk today was along those same lines…only more spread throughout the length of the walk, which took about an hour or so.

Great View of Castle Rock

I love being in the hills and mountains. Anything surrounding me with trees is a bonus. And the Philip S Miller Park met all of my requirements. Better yet, since we went in the morning, it wasn’t too hot.

Castle Rock is surrounded by decent-sized hills. The entire area is peaceful and amazing if you like to be out and about in nature.

I tried to take a snap of a passing deer, but he was moving away from us into the tree line.

Beautiful Area to Walk, Hike, Jog or Ride

As we made our way through the 2.5-mile trail, people of all kinds were out and about getting in some exercise. Cyclists, joggers, and hikers made their way around the paths.

Apparently, it’s quite a popular place if you’re looking for a relaxing location outdoors. This particular morning, there was also a fitness group at the amphitheater exercising.

I wanted to get a picture of the amphitheater, but I didn’t want to make the patrons feel uncomfortable.

Another element of the park is the Eagle Sky Trek. It looks like a pretty serious obstacle course above ground. This is aside from the zip line that is available as well.

Unfortunately, these areas are closed off due to COVID-19. Still, it’s something I wouldn’t mind trying once everything safely opens back up.

Great Small Waterfall Pond

I love water structures of all kinds. And although the waterfall at the PS Miller Park is kind of small, it still provides that serene and relaxing sound of rushing water.

Not to mention it is a nicely laid out pond. The top pool feeds into the large one below and creates a very nice atmosphere.

Since the trails wrap back around to the start, you can work up a nice sweat and then relax on a bench next to the pond. Though, it didn’t have the birds that I normally see in ponds here in Denver.

At home, we have an over-abundance of geese and ducks. Oddly, no waterfowl was visible on this trip.

Some Relaxing Content for ColoradoPlays.com

Since ColoradoPlays.com deals with playing in Colorado, it only made sense that we head out to Castle Rock for some content. Granted, I enjoyed the walk quite a bit. But, it should make for a nice post for the blog.

After all, that’s what I’m doing with this post.

This is just one of a plethora of things you can do in Colorado. So, until the viral thing is done, we’re going to show off more of the outdoor stuff you can do here.

Perhaps we’ll show off a few more relaxing trails or walks in the city as well. There’s a few in Denver that go around reservoirs, rivers, and lakes.

Do Some Relaxing of Your Own

It’s nice to get outside, especially if you’ve been cooped up for the past several months. I find walks like this to be incredibly relaxing and a way to help center myself in the world.

Look for ways to get out and breathe in nature. It can do wonders, especially for the bruised soul.

What are some ways you relax outside? Do you have some amazing trails you like to walk on in the wilderness? Let me know in the comments down below.