Hey there, fellow adventurers! Get ready to embark on an unforgettable road trip through Eastern Colorado, as we dive into some awe-inspiring sites that Ruby and Pip from "The Good Time Girls" highly recommend. This part of Colorado is often called “Forgotten Colorado”, as it is very flat and can’t boast the wonder of the Rockies. But it is stunning in its own way. We suggest flying into Colorado Springs, as it will shorten drive times, but Denver works just as well! We’ll be passing through a few different counties in this wide open space, and will head first to El Paso County. Let’s hit the road and see some sites!
Paint Mines Interpretive Park - Calhan, Colorado 📍 Location: 29950 Paint Mine Rd, Calhan, CO 80808 https://communityservices.elpasoco.com/parks-and-recreation/paint-mines-interpretive-park/
We start in the surreal landscape at Paint Mines Interpretive Park Explore the vibrant and unique geological formations, where colorful clay hoodoos rise from the ground. Take a leisurely hike through the winding trails, and don't forget to capture the breathtaking views and vibrant hues that make this place truly otherworldly.
Kit Carson County Carousel - Burlington, Colorado 📍 Location: 815 15th St, Burlington, CO 80807 🌐Website: www.kitcarsoncountycarousel.com
This is one of the rarest of the rare: an original wooden carousel with the original paint on both scenery and horses. This meticulously restored and beautifully hand-painted wooden carousel is a true gem. For only 25 cents, you can take a nostalgic ride on the antique horses, and for one dollar visit the museum. This is truly fun. Head on over to the Old Town Museum while in Burlington proper for a Wild West dinner and historic melodrama.
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site - Eads, Colorado 📍 Location: 55411 County Rd W, Eads, CO 81036 🌐 Website: www.nps.gov/sand/index.htm
Honoring a tragic event in history, the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site commemorates the tragic clash between Arapahoe and Cheyenne tribes and U.S. soldiers in 1864. Explore the land, learn about the history and impact of the event, and pay respects to those who lost their lives.
Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site - La Junta, Colorado 📍 Location: 35110 State Highway 194, La Junta, CO 81050 🌐 Website: www.nps.gov/beol/index.htm
This reconstructed adobe trading post located on the Santa Fe Trail offers a glimpse into the fur trade era of the 1830s. Explore the fort's rooms, interact with historical interpreters, and learn about the important role it played in early Western.
Picketwire Canyonlands - La Junta, Colorado 📍 Location: Picketwire Canyonlands, Comanche National Grassland, La Junta, CO 81050 🌐 Website: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/recarea/?recid=12452
The Picketwire Canyonlands run along the Purgatoire River and contain over 1,300 brontosaurus and allosaurus dinosaur footprints. You’ll be amazed at the size of them. When you’re done lifting your jaw off the ground at these prehistoric gems, look around the petroglyphs on the canyon walls, painted by ancient tribespeople. This is truly a place for your bucket list.
There you have it—five incredible sites in Eastern Colorado, recommended by Ruby and Pip from "The Good Time Girls." Embark on this road trip, uncover hidden gems, and let the wonders of no longer forgotten Eastern Colorado inspire you. Happy travels!
NEXT POST: Colorado's Front Range and Eastern Rockies.
K.T. Blakemore grew up in the United States West and never left. THE GOOD TIME GIRLS is the first in the Wild-Willed Women of the West Series, featuring women who take no prisoners and succeed through sheer grit, determination, and a parcel of luck.
Her award-winning historical suspense and young adult historical fiction, written under the pen name Kim Taylor Blakemore, has been awarded a Silver Falchion Award, Tucson Festival of Book Literary Award, and a WILLA Award for Best YA Fiction.
In addition to writing, she runs the Novelitics ranch, which provides developmental editing and workshops to novelists. She teaches editing and craft workshops to writing groups around the United States and Canada.
She has hung her hat in California, Colorado, and currently the Pacific Northwest. The rain does not deter her research whether it be train timetables from 1905 or the best way to catch a loose horse.
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