Colorado of Rustrel

The Colorado of Rustrel is a rock formation in Rustrel, France, that spreads across several canyons and hills in the Vaucluse department. The cliffs display layers of sand and clay in shades ranging from cream-white through yellow and orange to dark red.

Ochre extraction started here in the late 17th century and supplied factories with pigments for paints and coatings. Mining ended in 1992, and the abandoned quarries remained as a landscape.

The name recalls Colorado in the United States because of the similar red-orange tones in the rock. Visitors can see along the trails the abandoned tunnels and extraction surfaces where workers once removed the colored mineral from the walls.

Two loop trails run through the area: the Sahara Circuit is flat and short, while the Belvedere Circuit climbs higher and reaches elevated viewpoints. On sunny days it can get very hot, and shade is limited.

The rock formed 100 million years ago when shallow seas deposited sand that later underwent chemical processes turning it into different minerals. The most intense red color appears where iron in the sand oxidized.

Location: Rustrel

Address: 84400 Rustrel, France

Opening Hours: Monday-Sunday 09:30-16:30

Phone: +33490750487

Website: https://coloradoprovencal.fr

GPS coordinates: 43.91335,5.49619

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:23