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Colorado natural treasures and remote locations

Colorado features natural areas and historical sites away from common routes. The locations range from sand formations at Paint Mines Park to Zapata waterfalls. Bishop Castle displays hand-built stone architecture in the forest, while Devil's Causeway presents narrow rock bridges in the wilderness. Fossil discoveries, dinosaur tracks, and abandoned mining towns document the state's history.

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Calhan, Colorado, USA

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park

This geological site contains multicolored clay formations with natural columns and spires created through erosion over time.

Zapata Falls

San Luis Valley, Colorado, USA

Zapata Falls

The 30-foot waterfall flows through a narrow rock crevice and forms large ice columns during winter.

Bishop Castle

Rye, Colorado, USA

Bishop Castle

One man constructed this stone castle over 60 years, featuring towers, bridges, and metal dragons on the roof.

Devil's Causeway

Flat Tops, Colorado, USA

Devil's Causeway

The 50-foot long and 3-foot wide rock bridge connects two mountain peaks at 11,500 feet elevation.

Hanging Lake

Glenwood Springs, USA

Hanging Lake

A mountain lake with clear water feeds two waterfalls in Glenwood Canyon. The trail ascends more than 1000 feet.

Garden Park Fossil Area

CaƱon City, USA

Garden Park Fossil Area

This area contains fossils from the Jurassic period. Scientists have found several complete dinosaur skeletons here.

Pawnee Buttes

Weld County, USA

Pawnee Buttes

Two sandstone formations rise 300 feet above the prairie. These landmarks served as navigation points for indigenous peoples.

Mount Evans Scenic Byway

Clear Creek County, USA

Mount Evans Scenic Byway

This road reaches an elevation of 14,130 feet and provides views of the Rocky Mountains. It passes through several vegetation zones.

Dinosaur Ridge

Morrison, USA

Dinosaur Ridge

Geological site containing over 300 fossilized dinosaur footprints from the Cretaceous period along a mountain ridge.

Redstone Castle

Redstone, USA

Redstone Castle

1902 residence with 42 rooms, original furnishings and Tudor architecture, built by industrialist John Cleveland Osgood.

Nature reserve with 750-foot sand dunes, alpine lakes and pine forests covering 150,000 acres.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Montrose County, USA

Black Canyon of the Gunnison

Canyon with 2000-foot rock walls of gneiss and schist, carved by the Gunnison River over 2 million years.

Crystal Mill

Marble, USA

Crystal Mill

This wooden structure from 1892 stands on a rock outcrop above Crystal River. The former compressor house served silver mining operations.

Blue Lakes Trail

San Juan Mountains, USA

Blue Lakes Trail

The mountain path leads through alpine meadows to three lakes at elevations between 10,800 and 11,500 feet. The route provides views of Mount Sneffels peaks.

Animas Forks

San Juan County, USA

Animas Forks

This abandoned mining settlement from the 19th century sits at 11,200 feet elevation. Several preserved wooden buildings show miners' construction methods.

Comanche Grassland

Southeast Colorado, USA

Comanche Grassland

A natural preserve with 440,000 acres of grassland. Dinosaur tracks, rock carvings and archaeological sites document 12,000 years of human history.

Million Dollar Highway

San Juan County, USA

Million Dollar Highway

The U.S. Route 550 passes through steep mountain passes and offers views of the San Juan Mountains.

Cuchara Valley

Huerfano County, USA

Cuchara Valley

The valley features hiking trails, historic mining sites and alpine landscapes in the Spanish Peaks.

Bridal Veil Falls

Telluride, USA

Bridal Veil Falls

A 365-foot waterfall with a historic power station at the top of Box Canyon.

The Wheeler Geologic Area

Mineral County, USA

The Wheeler Geologic Area

White volcanic tuff rock formations create columnar structures in the mountain landscape.

A natural area with mountain lakes and steep rock walls suitable for mountaineers and hikers.

Roxborough State Park

Douglas County, USA

Roxborough State Park

A park with red sandstone formations and coniferous forests, suitable for geological observation.

Yankee Boy Basin

Ouray, USA

Yankee Boy Basin

An alpine valley with mountain meadows and flowers, accessible only by off-road vehicles.

Horsethief Canyon

Fruita, USA

Horsethief Canyon

A canyon with hiking trails featuring historical rock art and geological formations.

St. Elmo Ghost Town

Chaffee County, USA

St. Elmo Ghost Town

This abandoned mining settlement from the 1800s contains 24 historical buildings including a store, church, and schoolhouse.

Trappers Lake

Flat Tops, USA

Trappers Lake

A mountain lake at 9,600 feet elevation with brook and golden trout fishing, surrounded by conifer forests.

A park featuring three 70-foot waterfalls, limestone caves, and a network of trails through the vegetation.

A wilderness area with rocky canyons, class III and IV rapids, and trails through pine and juniper forests.

A 720-acre facility housing lions, tigers, and bears rescued from inadequate conditions across North America.

A thermal complex with multiple pools ranging from 85 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit, surrounded by mountain views.

Vasquez Rocks

Winter Park, USA

Vasquez Rocks

Miocene geological formations spanning 932 acres, featuring angular sandstone rocks rising from the earth.

Bear Creek Falls

Ouray, USA

Bear Creek Falls

An 80-foot waterfall flowing through a gorge into the Uncompahgre River, visible from US Route 550.