Frequently Asked Questions

Conservancy FAQs

The High Line Canal Conservancy (Conservancy) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Currently, the Canal is managed by Denver Water. In addition, each of the jurisdictions has a user agreement (IGA) to maintain the recreational trail portion of the corridor. There are seven agencies with recreation use agreements that are responsible for maintaining the High Line Canal Trail. These agencies are: Douglas County Parks, Trails and Building Grounds Division; Metro District of Highlands Ranch Parks and Open Space; South Suburban Parks and Recreation District; Greenwood Village Parks, Trails and Recreation Department; Cherry Hills Village Parks, Trails and Recreation Department; Denver Parks and Recreation Department; and Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department. Each of these entities is represented on the High Line Canal Working Group.

Denver Water along with the local jurisdictions have agreed to support the Conservancy as the organization leading the long term planning effort for the future of the High Line Canal. The Conservancy has the distinct role of building community leadership and commitment to preserving, protecting and enhancing the Canal. This public outreach and vision planning effort is its first major initiative. This initiative will provide a vision for the future of the Canal. The Conservancy will coordinate with other stakeholders and the High Line Canal Working Group members on its needs as it plans for and conducts the High Line Canal visioning process. Denver Water, the Conservancy and the partnership jurisdictions all share a common vision to secure the Canal as an asset for the future.

The 100 foot wide swath of land that travels the High Line Canal’s 71 mile reach presents tremendous opportunities for the Denver metro region. With the new reality of water in the West, the Canal has become a costly and wasteful means of delivering water. Denver Water reports that over 80 percent of the water diverted to the Canal seeps into the ground or evaporates prior to reaching a paying water customer. Today’s water scarcity and the leaky nature of the Canal demand reassessment and planning for new uses, while recognizing the important role that the Canal plays as a major recreational resource for the Denver.

Canal FAQs

The Canal is a 71-mile long canal channel, with a corresponding service road, that twists through the Denver metro region. The corridor is 100 feet wide in most sections and varies in landscape throughout its reach from Waterton Canyon in Douglas County to Green Valley Ranch in Northeast Denver.

The course of the Canal touches Douglas, Arapahoe, Denver and a small portion of Adams counties, passing through South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, Highlands Ranch Metro District, Littleton, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Cherry Hills Village, Denver and Aurora. The Canal runs from Southwest to Northeast.

The Conservancy has the distinct role of building community leadership and commitment to preserving, protecting and enhancing the Canal. This public outreach and vision planning effort is its first major initiative. This initiative will provide a vision for the future of the High Line Canal. The Conservancy will coordinate with other stakeholders and the High Line Canal Working Group members on its needs as it plans for and conducts the High Line Canal visioning process. Denver Water, Arapahoe County, the Conservancy and the partnership jurisdictions all share a common vision to secure the Canal as an asset for the future.

The 100 foot wide swath of land that travels the High Line Canal’s 71-mile reach presents tremendous opportunities for the Denver metro region. With the new reality of water in the West, the Canal has become a costly and wasteful means of delivering water. Denver Water reports that over 80 percent of the water diverted to the Canal seeps into the ground or evaporates prior to reaching a paying water customer. Today’s water scarcity and the leaky nature of the Canal demand reassessment and planning for new uses, while recognizing the important role that the Canal plays as a major recreational resource for the Denver metro area.

Denver Water intermittently operates the Canal from the spring through the fall to deliver water to contract holders for South Platte River water. The delivery of water, however, is also dependent on water priority as set by the State Engineer and water rights laws. Therefore, the Canal does not run continuously in the summer and spring and is dry in the fall and winter.

In addition, due to high waters this year, the diversion structure at Waterton Canyon has been compromised and is in need of repair before water can be released into the Canal.

Keep informed and up to date through our blog.The blog will provide you with details about the planning process and directions for getting involved. You can also sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page.

Due to the increase in mosquito activity, we know it has been a very challenging year for those who love to spend time outdoors. The warmer, humid weather brings outdoor fun and unfortunately breeds mosquitos.

At the Conservancy, we are concerned about the uptick in these pests. Our role is to pass concerns to the managing entity. Denver Water and local stormwater agencies perform Canal mosquito abatement throughout the summer using the larvicide Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally-occurring bacterium. It is deadly to mosquito larvae but does not impact other insects or aquatic life and remains active for up to 30 days. When the Conservancy receives an inquiry about mosquitos along the trail, we pass the information on to our partner agencies to assess if an area of the Canal is due for retreatment.

Mosquitoes generally remain active throughout the summer until nights cool to temperatures in the 40s. With the proper care, we can still enjoy our outdoor activities, whether on the High Line Canal or somewhere else in our beautiful state of Colorado! Here are a few tips:

  • Limit activity outdoors at dusk and dawn
  • Wear protective clothing like pants and long sleeves when outdoors
  • Wear mosquito repellant

Conservation Easement and Transition FAQs

  • The Canal is an outdated infrastructure for water delivery that has better uses today as a recreational, ecological and stormwater resource.
  • No longer needed for its original function as an irrigation delivery system as Denver Water has more water-smart ways to deliver water to customers.
  • The Conservancy, Arapahoe County and the local partners are well equipped to protect and preserve the Canal for the long-term future as it transitions from its historic function.
  • With county ownership and a conservation easement protecting it forever, the Canal is in good hands.

  • Arapahoe County will own 45 miles across Arapahoe, Denver, and Adams Counties.
  • Denver Water will continue to own nearly 20 miles of the Canal as the transformation process continues.
  • Arapahoe County is equipped to maintain and improve the Canal as an integral part of their established parks and recreation systems.

  • Management and governance of the Canal will be more streamlined with few owners. This will not change how the Canal is supported and maintained within local jurisdictions.
  • The local jurisdictions have been and will continue to be critical partners in caring for the Canal.

  • The Canal will continue to be cared for through a collaborative management model between the counties, the local jurisdictions and the High Line Canal Conservancy.
  • Your local jurisdiction will continue to maintain the trail as part of their local trail system and remain a resource for trail users and neighbors.

  • The Conservancy will be a central point of communication and resource for inquiries related to the Canal.
  • The Conservancy will coordinate any issues on the Canal related to trees, natural resources, trash, events and more.
  • The Conservancy will direct inquiries to the local jurisdictions when needed.
  • You can reach the Conservancy at 720-767-2452 or hello@highlinecanal.org.

  • A conservation easement is a property interest being deeded to the Conservancy and being placed on 45 miles of the Canal, the section being conveyed to Arapahoe County, to ensure its conservation values are preserved and protected.
  • A conservation easement is a voluntary, legal agreement that permanently limits uses of land in order to protect its conservation values and restrict certain uses forever.
  • The Canal conservation easement allows for certain types of uses of the Canal land in perpetuity and will ensure the Canal remains a natural, protected corridor for recreation and nature, but also allow important public beneficial use such as water works purposes and stormwater management.
  • The Conservancy will hold the conservation easement for the Canal and, through strong partnerships with the landowners, ensure successful stewardship of the easement and permanent protection of the Canal’s conservation values.

  • As a trail user, this transition will not affect your access to or use of the trail. It will remain open to the public and continue to be maintained for this purpose.

  • Denver Water will retain the right to use the Canal for water works purposes.
  • Denver Water will work in partnership with Arapahoe County on corridor maintenance through 2025 and remain a key partner for years to come.
  • Denver Water will continue to maintain the reaches of the Canal it owns until those reaches transition.

  • The transition of the Canal from an outdated irrigation delivery system to a stormwater management system is already underway.
  • Managing stormwater within the banks of the Canal offers new life and renewed utility to the Canal with multi-layered benefits for water quality, the natural environment and community health.
  • The High Line Canal Conservancy is working with Denver Water, Mile High Flood District and local jurisdictions through to advance stormwater solutions in the Canal for both existing and new conditions.
  • Visit highlinecanal.org/stormwater to learn more.

  • The Conservancy and Denver Water are working on high-priority natural resource restoration along all 71 miles of the Canal over the next two to three years as part of a comprehensive, long-term plan to strengthen the environmental health and resilience of the corridor.
  • This coordinated effort will improve trail user experience and environmental health by pruning and removing hazardous and dying trees, mitigating potential impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer, clearing debris from the Canal channel, removing invasive trees, and planting new vegetation.
  • To learn more, visit: Highlinecanal.org/trees.

Is your question not answered? Please contact us to get more information.

Hours + Rules

Hours: Open year round, dawn to dusk, subject to modification by recreation agencies.

Uses: walking, nature viewing, bicycling, hiking, horseback riding, picnicking.

For more information on rules and amenities in the specific jurisdictional reaches, please visit the following:

Share the Trail

The Canal is a shared trail. Learn about proper trail etiquette and more on jurisdictional regulations along the Canal.