Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a nature preserve in El Paso County spanning about 750 acres and showcasing towering white and orange sandstone formations with distinctive spires. The land displays exposed layers of colored clays and minerals carved out over time by wind and water erosion.

People have lived in this area for roughly 9,000 years based on archaeological findings showing continuous settlement over millennia. Native American groups sourced the colored clays here for ceremonial and practical purposes that remained central to their way of life.

The geological site earned recognition on the National Register of Historic Places as an Archaeological District due to its significance in regional prehistory.

The park offers four marked trails to explore, but visitors should bring plenty of water since no drinking sources exist on-site. Most paths have little shade or seating, so going early in the morning or late afternoon works better for comfortable walking.

Wind and water erosion carved tall natural structures called hoodoos that expose layers of selenite clay and jasper in surprising colors and patterns. These mineral deposits formed over millions of years through underground pressure and chemical transformation.