Mount Falcon Park is a rewarding gateway from the plains to the mountains, offering panoramas that stretch from snowy peaks to Red Rocks Park to the Denver cityscape. A captivating history tops off the park experience, symbolized by the ruins of a broken dream. Those seeking a hiker and equestrian-only experience enjoy 1.7-mile Turkey Trot Trail. The remaining 11 park miles are multi-use. The 2,000-foot elevation gain of the Castle Trail, a steep climb from the east, provides a vigorous workout and a 14er training ground. Picnic tables, shelters and restrooms are accessible from both entry roads. Short trail forays from the west reveal the rags-to-riches-to-rags story of visionary John Brisben Walker. Remnants include stone walls of his early-1900s home and the cornerstone of a would-be summer White House for U.S. Presidents. Later the Kirchhof family built a wooden tower, situated along Tower Trail, which visitors can climb to survey wonders of the landscape that never cease to amaze.