Paint Mines
Candy-striped clay hoodoos hidden in the prairie east of Colorado Springs.
About Paint Mines
Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a 750-acre El Paso County park near Calhan, out on the open plains northeast of Colorado Springs. From a distance it looks like rolling grassland; then the ground drops away into gullies of white, pink, orange, purple and red clay sculpted into spires and hoodoos.
About four miles of trails loop through the prairie and down into the formations. It feels like a miniature badlands, and nothing else on Colorado's Front Range looks quite like it.
For photographers it is a gift: color-banded rock that glows in low light, strong shapes for compositions, and big plains skies. It is also fragile, and the county enforces strict rules to keep it that way.
El Paso County's clay badlands look like nothing else on the Front Range — hoodoos and banded spires in orange, pink, and white, carved out of iron-rich clay that American Indians once collected here for paint. The formations have been shaped by roughly 9,000 years of erosion, and the light hits them differently enough throughout the day that it's worth planning around golden hour specifically — the low angle rakes across the banding and brings out color you simply don't see at midday.
History
People have used this site for about 9,000 years. Indigenous peoples collected the colorful clays to make paints, and quarrying remnants and stone tools have been found across the park, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an archaeological district.
The colors come from oxidized iron compounds in the clay layers. Erosion has carved those layers into hoodoos and exposed bands of selenite and jasper.
Photographing Paint Mines
Best light: The first and last hour of light make the clay bands glow and add depth to the gullies; midday light washes out the colors. Dramatic summer storm skies over the plains make great backdrops (but avoid the gullies when it's wet). Night photography requires a county permit.
Shots to look for
- Hoodoos with white caprock lit by low sun, shot from the designated trail with a 24-70mm to emphasize the color bands.
- Telephoto abstracts of layered pink, orange and purple clay walls.
- Wide views from the rim trail showing the formations set against open prairie and big sky.
- Storm clouds building over the hoodoos on summer afternoons, from the upper trail.
Photo tips
- Stay on designated trails; climbing, scrambling on or entering the formations is prohibited.
- Drones are prohibited.
- The park closes at night, but El Paso County offers night photography permits; apply ahead.
- Avoid the gullies in wet weather; the clay turns slick and the formations are damaged easily.
Know before you go
- No dogs, other pets, horses or bicycles are allowed.
- Climbing on the formations and collecting rocks, plants or artifacts are prohibited.
- Open dawn to dusk; night access requires a permit.
- There's little shade, so bring water and sun protection in summer.
Prints from Paint Mines
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
Are dogs allowed at the Paint Mines?
No. Pets, horses and bicycles are not allowed in order to protect the fragile formations and wildlife.
Can you climb on the Paint Mines formations?
No. Climbing, scrambling on or entering the formations is prohibited; stay on designated trails.
Is there a fee to visit?
No, general entry is free. The park is open dawn to dusk year-round.
Combine it with
Garden of the Gods · Colorado Springs · Pikes Peak · Black Forest
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: communityservices.elpasoco.com · trailsandopenspaces.org. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.