COVID-19 Update – Paint Mines Interpretive Park
El Paso County parks, trails, and open spaces remain open during the COVID-19 crisis. Residents are encouraged to use park sites while maintaining required physical distancing.
County Parks has noted exceptionally heavy use of the Paint Mines Interpretive Park. There are concerns whether the required physical distancing is being observed and the negative impact of overuse of the site. Visitors are reminded that climbing on hoodoo formations is prohibited at all times. Dogs, bikes and horses are also not allowed at Paint Mines Interpretive Park.
To help address the overuse of the Paint Mines Interpretive Park and addressing required physical distancing, residents are encouraged to use other County Park sites.
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is one of El Paso County’s most unique open spaces. The Paint Mines are named for their colorful clays that were collected by American Indians to make paint. Brightly colored bands, caused by oxidized iron compounds, are found in varying amounts throughout the many different layers of clay.
The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is located in the northeast section of the County near Calhan with approximately 750 acres. The paint mines have evidence of human life as far back as 9,000 years ago. The park features fantastic geological formations including spires and hoodoos that form through erosive action that creates incised gullies and exposed layers of selenite clay and jasper. The park includes a restroom facility, four miles of trails, interpretive signage, and many natural wonders.
