Resurrection Trail Guide

Experience the events of resurrection sunay with this interactive guide through a short trail at castlewood canyon state park in Franktown, CO.

With this guide, you can walk through a local trail and read through the biblical account of the resurrection of Jesus while being in a somewhat similar setting to the actual events! The portion of the trail that you will hike is less than 0.25 miles long, however it can be somewhat strenuous at times. Take your time, reflect on the passages, pray, and immerse yourself in the story of Easter Sunday!

Initial instructions

First, go to Castlewood Canyon State Park, just south of Parker near Franktown, Colorado. YOU’LL NEED TO GO IN THE WEST ENTRANCE, not the main entrance. The entrance is just off Highway 86, down Castlewood Canyon Road. There is a parking fee of $9 if you don’t have a park pass.

You’ll drive in on a dirt road, passing a historic house on the left (you’ll return to it on the way out for stop #5). Soon you’ll see three small parking lots in a row on the left, labeled “Westside Parking.” There are also bathrooms available there. Directly across the dirt road from the last parking lot on the left is the beginning of the trail. It’s called the “Cave Trail.”

As you begin:

Recall that Jesus was brutally crucified. His body was taken off the cross, and a man named Joseph of Arimathea requested permission to bury Jesus in a tomb he had bought nearby. Friday evening before sundown Jesus was hastily placed in the tomb, and it was sealed with a large stone. On Saturday, guards were placed at the tomb, and the disciples were sad and mourning in hiding. They were afraid and unsure of what would happen to them if they were discovered to be Jesus’ followers. They were absolutely heartbroken to have seen the one who could raise the dead die himself.

On Sunday, women walked the trail to the tomb in order to properly prepare Jesus’ body with wrappings and perfumes. They hadn’t been able to do it before he was buried because it was their Sabbath day.

*As you ascend the rocky and difficult path, meditate on their feelings of devastation and heartbreak. Walk quietly, thinking of their sadness and fear.*

Stop #1: The Big Rocks Near the Cave

Once you approach the cave at the foot of the canyon wall, notice the large stones around it. Imagine being a guard tasked with making sure nobody moved one of those. It should have been one of the easiest jobs ever! But somehow the guards failed.

Read Matthew 28:1-4

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”

The guards were terrified as a huge stone is tossed aside by an bright and shining angel! Then, the angel casually sits upon the stone.

*Take a moment and sit on the stone, maybe with a smirk on your face, like the satisfied angel. Maybe take a family picture with one person posing as the angel, and others posing as terrified guards!*

As the women approached the tomb on the day of Jesus’ resurrection, they also noticed that a large stone, far too heavy for them to move themselves, was rolled away from the entrance of the tomb!

Read Mark 16:1-5

“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.”

Upon seeing the stone moved and the grave empty, Mary Magdalene leaves the group to run and tell the disciples. The other women investigate further, and they hear the good news from an angel while Mary runs back down the trail.

Read Mark 16:6-8

“’Don’t be alarmed,’ he said. ‘You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, “He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”’ 8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.”

Stop #2: Back on the Path

As Mary Magdalene runs ahead, the other women also start back down the path to tell the disciples. Go down the path a little, maybe 30 steps, imagining their excitement and astonishment!

Read Matthew 28:8-10

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

If the angel wasn’t shocking enough, now the women (without Mary Magdalene) have seen Jesus Himself! They can’t contain their excitement and run all the way back to tell the disciples and others. Mary has already told them what she saw and is walking back toward the Tomb in sorrow. After hearing from the other women, Peter and John decide to go check things out. They are running, and likely passed Mary Magdalene on the way. John points out that he ran faster than Peter.

*Run back to the cave like Peter and John and see who is faster!*

Stop #3: The Cave Tomb

Notice the size of the cave and the earthy smell. Notice the shelf on the right side. Shelves much like that one would have been carved out of the Tomb where Jesus was laid for the bodies to be placed on them.

Read John 20:3-10

“So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.”

Just like this cave, Peter and John find the tomb to be empty, and the cloths that had wrapped Jesus’ body laying on the shelf. The cloth that had covered Jesus’ face is neatly folded. If grave robbers had done this, they wouldn’t have unwrapped the body and taken the time to neatly fold the cloth! This had to be something else, something miraculous! They now believe that what the women said is true! Jesus must be alive! So, they run to tell the others.

Finally, Mary Magdalene arrives back at the Tomb.

Read John 20:11-18

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

Mary finally knows the truth! She had missed the words of the angel, she missed Jesus on the path, and she missed Peter and John discovering Jesus’ empty wrappings. But now she sees her beloved Lord herself!

*As you walk back down the trail, imagine the difference in feelings. On the way up, there was only darkness and sorrow. On the way down it is all excitement and joy!*

Stop #4: The Road

Stop at the road near the Parking Lot. Later in the afternoon on that Sunday, Jesus appeared to two men walking along the road to Emmaus, about 7 miles north of Jerusalem.

Read Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

*After reading that story, hop back in the car and head back towards the historical house you passed on the way in. There is one more appearance from Jesus to discuss as you enter the old house!*

Stop #5: The Locked Room

The dirt floors and stone walls of this old house are somewhat similar to the room where the disciples were meeting. You can imagine how they were probably chatting or even arguing over the stories of Jesus being alive. How could this be? Can they really believe what the women and Peter and John have told them?

*Take a picture of your family arguing in the house, or being surprised as Jesus pops up out of nowhere!*

Read John 20:19-21

“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”

Jesus pops up out of nowhere in a locked room! I think Jesus really enjoyed the surprises! While He is with them, He proves that He is truly raised from the dead by showing them his healed wounds. He even eats with them! There is no denying that Jesus is alive! He even went on to appear to many hundreds of others for over a month after this before ascending back to heaven!