High Line Canal Conservancy

Summer is heating up, and so is the fun along the Canal! ☀️

Last month, the Canal community made the most of the season by exploring the Canal's rich history at our first Canal Lore Open House of the year, splashing into hands-on environmental learning with our friends at Sand Creek Greenway, and removing more than 860 pounds of trash and weeds from the Canal in Aurora. We topped it all off by getting outside to stretch, walk and run before celebrating together at our annual Summer Scamper, 5K for All, presented by Land Title Guarantee Company.

There's even more to look forward to this July. Join us for opportunities to connect with nature, stay active and enjoy everything the Canal has to offer.

Find your next adventure at highlinecanal.org/events.

Did you know that you’re a High Line Hero?

High Line Heroes are everywhere! On the trail, in our neighborhoods and across the communities that care for the Canal. From volunteers in the Canal Conservation Corps to researchers, partners and everyday trail users, our Canal community is broad.

No matter how you enjoy your time on the High Line Canal, you’re part of something bigger: a shared commitment to protect and celebrate this incredible resource.

Around here, everyone who loves the Canal helps shape its future. Share your photos and experiences with us, we love highlighting community stories. Follow us to hear more from the people who make the Canal what it is!

The Colorado Gold Rush of 1859 didn’t just bring people west — it dramatically changed the Front Range landscape and accelerated settlement across lands long inhabited by Indigenous peoples and communities.

As new communities grew, settlers expanded agriculture to support the rising population. But there was one major challenge… water 💧

Many newcomers, influenced by the greener landscapes of the East Coast, didn’t fully understand how dry Colorado really is. They began building canals and irrigation systems to redirect water and reshape the plains into something more familiar to them.

Those early decisions still shape conversations about water, growth, and the environment across the region today.

Learn more about the Canal’s history and its lasting impact on the region at highlinecanal.org/history