City: Colorado Springs, CO

Category: Parks & Recreation

Telephone: (719) 520-6375

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Description: When it comes to parks, Paint Mines is a whole ’nother thing. Hoodoos, spires, little caves, and mushroom-capped rock formations in shades of ochre, rose, rust, and gold cover the moonscape-like park. Archeologists say humans visited here 9,000 years ago, and the towering colored clays, deposited 55 million years ago, were used to make pottery. Many of the plants in the 750-acre park were used in native ceremonies. Wildflowers, from startling orange paintbrush to fragrant snowy spirea, flourish in the undulations of the soil. Butterflies flutter around, and you’ll see countless birds—from hunting hawks to darting swallows. Depending upon which trail you choose (don’t worry, it’s all a big loop—you won’t get lost), you meander alongside a riparian area rife with red-winged blackbirds, or you head over a rise and right down into the rocky canyons. Many trails are dead-ends in the hiking sense, but revelations to the explorer’s eye. In all, you can hike up to 4 miles and it will take about 2 hours, with stops to gawk and wonder and shoot photos. Take a moment to share the shelter of a shady rock with a lizard (they’re not too territorial). If you’re quiet, you may spot a fox, a deer, or even a pronghorn. Walking is easy in many places, slightly steeper in others. You’ll be tempted, but you’re not supposed to climb on the soft, crumbly rock. Don’t be surprised if yours is the only car there (on a weekday) or one of just a handful (on weekends). Go early in warm weather, when the day still is cool. Wear sunscreen and good walking shoes; pack water and your camera. The Paint Mines are open dawn to dusk daily. To drive there, go east on US 24 about 35 miles to Calhan. Turn south (right) on Yoder Road/Calhan Highway. Turn east (left) on Paint Mine Road, and follow the signs.