Calhan, Colorado

Paint Mines Interpretive Park: Colorado's Rainbow Hoodoos

Calhan, Colorado, United States

By the Wicked Cool Places editors · Published Wed, Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Sat, Jul 25, 2026

Why it’s cool

These vibrant sandstone hoodoos served as a natural pigment source for 9,000 years, providing ancient peoples with the colorful clays needed for pottery and ceremonial paint.

Southwest Scenic

Layered white and pink rock formations under a purple sunset sky at Paint Mines Interpretive Park in Colorado.

Tucked away on the eastern plains of El Paso County, a kaleidoscope of geological wonders rises unexpectedly from the earth. The Paint Mines Interpretive Park is a labyrinth of spires and gullies where the soil itself seems to have been dipped in a painter's palette.

Here, the prairie gives way to deep hues of chocolate brown, rust, creamy white, and startling purple, all sculpted into otherworldly shapes by the relentless forces of wind and water. The surreal formations are reminiscent of the Bisti Badlands.

Why It Stands Out

The significance of this landscape stretches back nearly ,Morning Glory Pool years. Long before it was a park, this site served as a vital resource for Native American communities.

The vibrant clays that give the hoodoos their name were harvested to create intricate pottery and ceremonial pigments for both people and their horses. As you wander through the formations, the shifting Colorado sunlight plays tricks on the eyes; the hoodoos appear to change their "expressions" and sizes depending on the time of day, making the stone feel almost alive.

These geological features are as delicate as they are beautiful. The hoodoos are formed from a fragile mix of sandstone and clay, easily damaged by human contact.

This vulnerability is also seen at the Morning Glory Pool. Because of this, the park is managed as a protected interpretive site where the natural animal ecosystem and the prehistoric history are prioritized over modern recreation.

Before You Go

The park is located approximately one mile south of Calhan. Visitors should prepare for a primitive experience, as there is no visitor center or gift shop on-site, though restroom facilities are available.

A three-mile loop trail winds through the formations, and it is mandatory to stay on the designated paths. To protect the fragile environment, climbing on the sandstone is strictly forbidden.

Other delicate geological sites include Ra Paulette's Hand-Carved Caves. Note that the park has strict preservation rules: dogs and other pets are not allowed, motorized vehicles are prohibited, and camping is not permitted.

Everything within the park boundaries, from the smallest stone to the clay itself, must be left undisturbed to ensure this ancient site remains intact for future generations.

Questions worth answering

What's the history behind the name?

The site provided vibrant clays for 9,000 years, which Native American communities used to create pottery and ceremonial pigments. We've taken the original source material and built our own editorial from there to highlight its significance.

Can I bring my dog along for the hike?

No. The park has strict preservation rules that prohibit dogs and other pets to protect the fragile sandstone and clay formations.

What should I expect in terms of facilities?

It's a primitive setup located a mile south of Calhan. You'll find restrooms and a three-mile loop trail, but don't look for a visitor center or a gift shop.

Is it alright to climb on the hoodoos for a better view?

Climbing is strictly forbidden because these formations are easily damaged by human contact. You're required to stay on the designated paths and leave everything, including the smallest stones, exactly where you found it.

Visit Snapshot

Located one mile south of Calhan in El Paso County. There is no visitor center or retail shop, so bring your own supplies, though restrooms are available.

Visitors must stick to the three-mile loop trail and avoid climbing on the fragile formations. Pets, motorized vehicles, and camping are strictly prohibited to protect the ecosystem.

Location

Calhan, Colorado

Know before you go

The park can be found a mile south of the town of Calhan, in El Paso County, Colorado

Editorial source

Paint Mines Interpretive Park

Fantastical sandstone hoodoos and other weird geological formations made of sand and colorful clay brought ancient Native Americans to this spot as far back as , years ago to collect clay for colorful pottery. Today, the Paint Mines Interpretive Park remains a geological wonder hidden on the eastern plains in El Paso County.

No doubt this was also a place where Native Americans collected clay to be used as war paint on their bodies, and on their horses. The weird stone shapes formed by water, wind, and erosion seem to shift size, position, and "expression" with the shifting light.

The spires come in shades from creamy white to orange, purple, gray, rust, and chocolate brown. The area is a protected site since the beautiful formations are fragile, as is the natural animal ecosystem that lives there.

To preserve this delicate natural balance, dogs and other domesticated animals are not permitted on the land, nor are motorized vehicles, and no camping is allowed. Nothing in the park is to be disturbed, removed, or defaced.

The park also asks visitors to stay off the sandstone formations, and stick strictly to the trail, which winds in and around the park in a three-mile loop. There are no visitor centers or shops (however there are bathrooms), simply strange colors and shapes rising from the land all around.

Paint Mines Interpretive Park: Colorado's Rainbow Hoodoos

Why it’s cool

Why It Stands Out

Before You Go

Questions worth answering

What's the history behind the name?

Can I bring my dog along for the hike?

What should I expect in terms of facilities?

Is it alright to climb on the hoodoos for a better view?

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