Forest Lakes

Most of Monument’s neighborhoods sit east of I-25. Forest Lakes is one of the reasons to look west. About a mile off the interstate, tucked against the foothills north of the Air Force Academy, it borders Pike National Forest. The mountains here aren’t a view in the distance. They’re right behind the neighborhood.

The lay of the land

Forest Lakes covers about 900 acres between roughly 6,800 and 7,200 feet, built around two lakes owned by the metro district: Bristlecone Lake, about 65 acres, and Pinon Lake, about 14, both fed by a creek coming down out of the foothills. Roughly 450 acres were preserved as open space. Homes step up the slopes toward the national forest boundary, and because the neighborhood sits right against the foothills, the higher lots and trails look out over the country to the northeast, east and southeast.

You reach it from the Baptist Road interchange on the west side of I-25. Downtown Monument is about five minutes north. Downtown Colorado Springs and Castle Rock are each about 20 minutes, and Denver Tech Center is about 45.

Forest Lakes is its own place, not part of a larger group. To the south, large tracts of undeveloped land separate it from the Air Force Academy grounds. To the north are Pine Hills and Willow Springs Ranch.

Living here

The lakes and trails are the daily draw. Walking trails climb along the foothills to take advantage of the elevation and the views, and there’s a neighborhood park on Bristlecone Lake and an outdoor amphitheater. Having national forest at the edge of the neighborhood changes how people spend weekends, and plenty of evenings too.

Here’s something only residents tend to notice: the days are shorter. Sitting right up against the foothills, Forest Lakes loses direct sunlight noticeably earlier in the evening than neighborhoods east of I-25. It’s the same on much of Monument’s west side, and even more so in Palmer Lake. The tradeoff is the drive. Instead of I-25, you can take Old Denver Road north into Monument and Palmer Lake, which is a much more scenic and relaxed way to get there.

The homes

Forest Lakes was developed starting in the mid-2010s, largely by Classic Homes, so most homes are less than 10 years old. The community was planned with a wide range of homesites:

• Estate lots of roughly one to five acres for custom homes, many with forest views
• Single-family homes on standard and narrower lots, built by a handful of builders

That range puts very different price points within the same neighborhood, so comparing homes means matching the lot type as well as the square footage.

Worth knowing before you buy

Wildfire and insurance. Bordering national forest is the appeal and the responsibility. Ask about mitigation, defensible space and insurance costs early, especially for estate lots near the forest edge.

HOA and metro district. Forest Lakes is a newer planned community, so expect HOA covenants and a metropolitan district on the property tax bill. Get both figures for the specific home.

Wildlife. Bears, deer and elk move through the foothills. That’s part of the charm, and it means bear-proof trash and some care with landscaping.

Schools. Forest Lakes is in Lewis-Palmer School District 38. Verify assigned schools by address.

Nearby neighborhoods

If you like the west side of I-25 but want an older town setting, look at downtown Monument and the area around Monument Lake in the Tri-Lakes hub. For newer homes east of the interstate, compare Jackson Creek and Promontory Pointe. For trees and bigger lots on the east side, see Woodmoor.

For the bigger picture, see the Tri-Lakes hub.

Current market and listings

For current prices and inventory, start with my monthly Market Update. Active listings in 80132 are below. If you’re weighing an estate lot here against acreage east of town, I’m happy to walk through how wildfire risk, views and access compare.