Colorado National Historic Sites and Landmarks

Garden of the Gods Recreation Area - In Colorado Springs. Contains 20 breathtaking sandstone formations sculpted by erosion, including one that looks like two camels kissing. Eight miles of trails for bikers and hikers run through the park, and an informative nature center offers talks, walks and guided bus tours.

Garden Park Fossil Area - Garden Park Fossil Area is an internationally known paleontological site that was one of the primary areas responsible for generating worldwide interest in dinosaurs during the late 1800's. Fifteen species of dinosaurs, nine of which were new, were recovered from here at that time. Fish, crocodile, turtle, and mammal fossils have also been recovered, making this site one of the oldest and richest fossil sites in the United States.

Lost Creek Scenic Area - Lost Creek Scenic Area illustrates unusual rock formations and underground stream channels resulting from weathering along joint planes. Located within Pike National Forest, the site contains spires, pinnacles, narrow ridges and steep, narrow gorges. Lost Creek disappears and reappears at the surface at least nine times, a drainage pattern atypical in granite.

Pikes Peak - Just outside of Manitou Springs off Highway 24. Rising 14,110 feet above sea level, this mountain inspired the song "America the Beautiful." See why by climbing, driving or riding the cog railroad to the top of the mountain for breathtaking views and historic information.

Raton Mesa - Raton Mesa illustrates a mesa preserved by a thick lava cap that has resisted destruction from weathering and erosion. It is the only significant reference available illustrating the magnitude of erosion involved in developing the land surface of the Great Plains adjacent to the lower foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

Roxborough State Park - Roxborough State Park provides an excellent example of the titled and faulted sedimentary strata of the Colorado front range environment. The site contains significant fossil remains, fine exposures of hogbacks, unusual erosional patterns in Fountain sandstone, and atypical occurrences of at least two front-range plant communities.

Russell Lakes - The most extensive bulrush marsh in Colorado, Russell Lakes represents one of the few remaining large, high-altitude, alkaline marshes in the southern Rocky Mountains. The site supports large numbers of flora and fauna and is an outstanding resting and breeding site for waterfowl.

Slumgullion Earthflow - Slumgullion Earthflow is an excellent illustration of the geologic process of mass wasting. Seven hundred years ago, a huge mass of volcanic rock slumped from the mountainside and flowed into the main valley where it spread laterally to form Lake San Cristobal. The older flow is presently being overridden by a new flow moving up to 20 feet per year.

Spanish Peaks - Spanish Peaks, located within the San Isabel National Forest, is one of the best known examples of exposed igneous dikes. Dikes are formed when molten igneous material is forced into a fracture or fault before becoming solidified. There may be over 500 such dikes in the area.

Summit Lake National Natural Landmark - The Summit Lake area is one of the best examples of Arctic tundra in the conterminous United States. Located within Summit Lake Park at nearly 13,000 feet elevation, this area provides habitat for a variety of rare alpine-arctic plants, some of which occur only here and at the Arctic Circle.

The United States Air Force Academy - Near Colorado Springs. Since 1954, the academy has trained the Air Force's future officers. Check out the stunning architecture of the academy's famous chapel, visit its athletes at the field house and watch a video about cadet life in the visitor's center.

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