About 90 minutes southeast of Denver lies the remarkable Paint Mines Interpretive Park. This hidden gem in Colorado isn’t just a unique landscape; it holds tangible evidence of human activity dating back more than 9,000 years, making it an incredibly special place to stop and learn. What makes this park truly extraordinary is the sheer intensity of the colors you see—it’s like walking into a painter’s palette.
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Walking Among Geological Wonders
The park is designed for slow-paced exploration, which is exactly my style. There are a few winding trails, about a mile each, that give you a good idea of the geology and ecology of the area and, of course, the ‘fun’ trail that brings you up close to the breathtaking formations.
The geology here is what truly sets this place apart. Spanning approximately 750 acres, the park is named for the brightly colored bands of red, orange, yellow, purple, and gray clay that early people collected and used to make paint for ceremonies and ceramics. These stunning colors are the result of natural chemical processes—specifically, oxidized iron compounds leaching into the sediment.
But the real showstoppers are the unique rock formations. Through thousands of years of erosive action, the soft clay layers have been carved into spectacular spires and hoodoos, leaving behind incised gullies and exposed layers of selenite clay and jasper. Standing among these formations felt like walking through a monumental outdoor museum. The park’s significance extends beyond geology, too: it is listed as an Archaeological District in the National Register of Historic Places due to the continuous presence of human life dating back millennia. It’s the perfect place to collect knowledge, which is exactly what I love to do on my trips.
A Personal Plea for Preservation: There are signs posted everywhere to not climb the formations, but both adults and children disrespected that when we were there. Please, remember these formations are fragile and incredibly special. They are protected as a valuable historical and geological resource, and we want future generations to enjoy them just as they are. Please don’t climb them.
The Realities of Planning (and Hungry Travelers)
We planned for the hike, bringing water and eating a protein bar before arriving. However, I learned a crucial lesson about relying on spontaneous lunch plans! The park is more or less in the middle of nowhere.
When we finished exploring, we thought, “We’ll just go to the nearest town and get some lunch.” That proved difficult and I was genuinely upset with myself for not looking into this at home before we left, especially since our cell service was touch-and-go in parts of the area. As someone who loves to plan, this unplanned food failure was a bit frustrating! We traveled southwest toward Colorado Springs and ended up in a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in the middle of nowhere and had a mediocre hamburger.
It’s a perfect reminder that even the most meticulous travelers (like me!) can overlook the simplest logistics.
Turning the Day Around
Since we were now close to Colorado Springs, I rang my friend and we met up with them at a brewery for a little bit before we headed home. Nothing cures the disappointment of a mediocre hamburger like good company and a locally brewed beer! It was a great, unexpected social detour to cap off a day filled with ancient history and stunning scenery.
Know Before You Go
This is far enough from any services like gas and food or shops (closest town is Calhan). Be prepared by bringing enough water for everyone in your group, as there is little shade and can get hot, and you are at a higher elevation. Bring a hat, sunglasses & sunscreen as there is little shade. The terrain in uneven dirt and rock paths, be sure those in your party don’t have mobility issues as I don’t remember seeing benches.
Date Visited: March 2018
Paint Mines Interpretive Park Website
Location: 29950 Paint Mine Rd, Calhan, CO 80808
Fee: FREE