Paint Mines Interpretive Park

The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is one of the most fun and unique hikes we have been on. The Paint Mines are located about 45 minutes outside of Colorado Springs and almost 4 hours from our house in Wyoming. They are named after the brightly colored bands of clay that were collected by the American Indians to make paint for ceramics. There is evidence that the area has been visited as far back as 9,000 years.

Tips for visiting the park

• It is important to stay on the hiking trails that wind through the park. There are plenty of areas within the park to explore without climbing on the the delicate landscape.

• The park is only open from dawn until dusk

• There are no dogs, horses, bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed in the park

• There is no overnight parking or camping in the park or parking lot

• The park has a restroom at the main parking lot, which has about 30 car spaces. When I visited on a Friday in January there were only 2 other cars there.

• In winter the ground can be very icy in the canyon where the formations are. Hiking boots and caution are advised.

Hiking and Photography

The main draw of the Paint Mines, in my opinion, are the amazing formations and exploring them. When hiking with kids, it is important to know how to get to the main attraction as soon as you can. Winter hiking is hard with kids and you never know how long they will last. The highlighted route on this map is the best way to get to the most colorful spots within the park. It is less than a mile to hike to these amazing structures. I would recommend parking in the main lot and taking the trail right beside the bathroom for the quickest route to the formations.

The park's other trails equal 4 miles if you are up for the walk. It is an easy hike with a couple of rolling hills and views of the Paint Mines from above. It is worth drive to the Overlook Parking lot to see the whole park from above and admire the colorful formations.

Photographing the Paint Mines was my favorite part of the trip. The colorful clay changes drastically in the sun and shadow. The Paint mines are sunken into a canyon, so there is opportunity to photograph the structures in open sun and shade of the day. If you have children, the formations and color lend to a pleasant hike and it is a great opportunity of photographing them naturally exploring the wander of the area without having to pose them.