Paint Mines Interpretive Park
An easy hike through an area of geologic and archaeological interest. For nearly 9,000 years, humans gathered here to hunt and, later, to collect the colorful clays from the striped, eroding formations and hoodoos.
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park near Calhan, Colorado provides a hike through grasslands around the Paint Mines, and an interpretive hike on a trail in the Paint Mines formations. This is an open area with no shade. Walking and hiking are the only permitted activities here. Dogs, bikes, horses, and climbing on formations are not allowed.
The fantastic rock formations with their colored stripes remind one of a badlands landscape. Plains Woodland native peoples mined the clays here to make pottery. During historic times, the clay was mined to make bricks for buildings in Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Van Briggle Pottery also collected clay from the area.
Driving Directions: from Denver, take CO 83 Parker Road for 22 miles. Turn left onto CO 86 E for 25 mi. Turn right onto CO Rd 77 for 6.3 mi. Turn left onto CO Rd 94 for 13 mi. Turn left onto Paint Mines Road for 1.8 mi. Paint Mines road is unpaved and washboarded.
- Suitable Activities: Hiking
- Seasons: Year-round
- Weather: View weather forecast
- Difficulty: Easy
- Length: 5.6 mi
- Elevation Gain: 334 ft
- 6,797 ft
- Land Manager: El Paso County Parks
- Parking Permit Required: Other
- Recommended Party Size: 12
- Maximum Party Size: 12
- Maximum Route/Place Capacity: 12
This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips you can take at this route/place. This includes side trips, extensions and peak combinations. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? Log in and send us updates, images, or resources.
- Paint Mines Trail
- Paint Mines Interpretive Trail Loop
- Paint Mines Overlook
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