West of Littleton and Highland Ranch along the foothills are suburban communities that support herds of mule deer and elk. Majority of the public land has restrictions that prohibit hunting.

Landscape is created by foothills with numerous drainages and gulches, North Fork South Platte River, Cathedral Spires and a prominent Hogback.

Grasslands, oak brush, mountain mahogany, aspen and ponderosa pine forest. Cottonwoods and willows near creeks.

Hunting is not currently allowed on open space lands except on Jefferson County Open Space’s Centennial Cone property. The eastern part of the area is suburban. This area is experiencing an increase in residential and commercial development. Pike National Forest is about 4,000 acres distributed along the North Fork South Platte River Road from Cottonwood Gulch to Bailey.

Bailey and Conifer along US Highway 285 provides motels, cafes and gas. The communities of Highland Ranch and Littleton near Colorado Route 470 offer a wide variety of motels, hotels, restaurants, gas, diesel and medical facilities.