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My Mountain Wild

a montana motherhood & lifestyle blog

June 4, 2018 / Colorado life, Travel

A Guide To Visiting The Paint Mines in Colorado

This past weekend my family and I went on another spontaneous little trip to check off a must-see here in Colorado. The Paint Mines in Colorado are truly a hidden gem in this beautiful state we are lucky to call home. This family-friendly destination in El Paso County is just two hours from Denver and a beautiful well-worth-it drive.

The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint to decorate their pottery. Brightly colored bands, caused by oxidized iron compounds, are found in varying amounts throughout the many different layers of clay. You will see breath-taking purple, yellow, and orange clay that look like God just took a paintbrush to this open space.

If you are looking for a hot meal on your way, head to Bino’s Pizza in Kiowa for the best meat lovers calzone you will ever have.

We went on a Saturday evening, arriving around 6:30 PM. There were only a handful of people there and with the temperature dropping, this hike was much more enjoyable. You walk for a bit on an easy trail over these grassy lands and then out of nowhere these huge rock formations appear.

We did bring our bike trailer which converts to a stroller, and that was a huge lifesaver walking back to the car. Liam was so exhausted that he nearly fell asleep in the trailer. Make sure you keep to the trails with the stroller though, as this is a protected site.

Location: 29950 Paint Mines Road Calhan, CO 80808

Hours: Dawn to 11 PM

Cost: Free!

Good to know:

Bicycles and pets are NOT allowed

This trail is jogger stroller friendly !

What to bring:

  • A blanket
  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Snacks
  • Camera
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • A flashlight or headlamp if you plan on going in the evening

paint mines in colorado

paint mines in colorado

We saw about a dozen rabbits and these beautiful little pink flowers randomly growing right from the stone!

paint mines in colorado

paint mines in colorado

paint mines in colorado

 

paint mines in colorado
Our son snapped this one of us!

 

paint mines in colorado

Liam got his face painted like Spiderman at a Bike Derby we went to earlier that day!

paint mines in colorado

paint mines in colorado

 

paint mines in colorado

paint mines in colorado

We found a bench and watched the sun set, snuggled together with our blanket. It was the perfect way to end our Saturday.

paint mines in colorado

These were perfect for the tires of our !  Nate had a on too that was super handy.

paint mines in colorado

 

If you are looking for a day trip in Colorado or a unique place to visit on your vacation, I HIGHLY recommend checking out the Paint Mines. The rock formations here called “hoodoos” are so rare that they are actually one of the three locations in the whole country!

I hope this guide gave you some insight on the Paint Mines in Colorado. I know I will never forget this place and hope to visit again in the winter.

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Comments

  1. Morgan Steph says

    June 4, 2018 at 10:33 pm

    I am native to Colorado and hadn’t heard of this destination. Cant wait to check it out. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 7, 2018 at 6:44 pm

      Not a lot of people have! It is definitely a hidden gem. Hope you get to see it soon!

      Reply
  2. Cas @ Getyourholidayon.com says

    June 5, 2018 at 12:14 am

    This looks like such a fun time. I love the pictures! I will need to add this to our vacation list!

    Reply
  3. Sandy says

    June 5, 2018 at 12:33 am

    This is really cool and I would love to visit these paint mines! I’ve never heard of them but now they are going on our travel bucket list!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 7, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      Yes it really is amazing!! Hope you make it there someday 😀

      Reply
  4. Kristin says

    June 5, 2018 at 1:28 am

    This looks beautiful. The terrain in Colorado is the most amazing. Keep exploring

    Reply
  5. DANIELLE BRONSON says

    June 6, 2018 at 2:31 am

    Our 3 year goal is to move from Michigan to Colorado this is now added to my must see list when we get there. The view is so spectacular. Meatlovers sounds so yummy right now. Geez I wish I were there now. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 7, 2018 at 6:43 pm

      Oh that is awesome ! There is so much to see and do here. Where in CO are you moving to ?

      Reply
  6. All She Things says

    June 6, 2018 at 4:48 am

    I love visiting places with natural views and natural beauty! Your pictures of the paint mines definitely make it look like a must visit place in Colorado.
    – http://www.allshethings.com

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 7, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      Thank you! It definitely is a must-see!

      Reply
  7. LeeAnah says

    June 8, 2018 at 4:09 pm

    I’ve never been to Colorado but love being outside. Looks like we need to make a trip.

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 13, 2018 at 1:36 am

      You do!! There is seriously something for everyone here. Endless things to do and see in CO

      Reply
  8. Kat Califf says

    June 8, 2018 at 5:56 pm

    This looks like such a cool place! Added to my bucket list!

    Reply
  9. Diane says

    June 8, 2018 at 9:10 pm

    This is gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Natalie Aubele says

      June 13, 2018 at 1:36 am

      Thank you!!

      Reply
  10. Lexi says

    June 17, 2018 at 4:43 am

    One of my favorite places in Colorado! It’s so beautiful, it’s been a while since I’ve been so it’s good to know it’s family friendly. Your outfit is super cute too!!

    Reply
  11. Reynalda Allers says

    September 11, 2018 at 4:08 am

    With thanks! Valuable information!

    Reply

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It's been a good hot Summer's day. Keeping the ho It's been a good hot Summer's day. 
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Poor Liam missed the last two days of his Summer camp this week. 😩 He missed out on the sleepover, whitewater rafting, and a campfire. He's just sad he didn't get to thank or say goodbye to his counselors & friends. He doesn't have it too bad at all but didn't want to get his friends sick, of course. 
We also finally had beautiful Summer weather this week, and I was stuck inside everyday trying to fight this 🦠 

Baby Theo is in the thick of it now, and  gosh is he a tough little guy. Nights are the worst and I feel helpless when he can't breathe through his nose at all or catch his breath from coughing. 
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Taking care of a sick family while barely able to lift my own head was not fun. I'm doing MUCH better today so I can properly take care of the boys . Being a mother while sick is truly one of the hardest things, isn't it ?? Every time I'm super sick like this, I think about how I wish my own mother was here to take care of me 😆 

I have a natural chest rub for baby Theo and EO going in the diffusers. We're taking warm baths every day... any other suggestions on what I could do to help ease his congestion and cough ??
We are still celebrating all things mint over at P We are still celebrating all things mint over at Plant Wonder Collective!
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Today I surprised my son with a mint & citrus foot soak after a long day at Summer camp. 
I've been under the weather the last couple of days so I needed a rejuvenating foot soak out on the porch, too. 
Foot soaks have been a nice calming ritual my son and I have done together since he was a toddler. Hot foot soaks on cold Winter evenings and cooling foot soaks at the end of a hot Summers day are a good excuse to sit down together and just relax. We use different herbs and fruits for the changing seasons. The citrus and fresh mint in this foot soak is cooling and refreshing. 

To make: 

Fill a large bowl with lukewarm water and add slices of grapefruit, lemon, and lime. Sprinkle in some fresh mint leaves and 1/2 C to 1 C of epsom salts. 

Mint has a nice cooling effect on the feet and helps to sooth sore muscles, aches and pains. 

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