It will take you to Victor. From Victor, you can continue to Cripple Creek, another 19th-century mining camp. Today, Cripple Creek has lots of gambling establishments that provide slots, poker and blackjack, as well as small gift stores. To go back to Colorado Springs, take Colorado 67 north to Divide, then U.S.
Southwest of Colorado Springs, in a remote area in the Wet Mountains of San Isabel National Park, is a kooky stone-and-iron castle that's been under construction given that 1969. Jim Bishop began constructing it 10 years after he 'd purchased a little parcel of land for $450 at the age of 15. Visitors' contributions to a 501( c) 3 non-profit called the Bishop Castle Non-profit Charitable Structure for New-born Heart Surgery money the continuous project.
To get to Bishop's Castle from Colorado Springs, take Highway 115 south to Florence, turn left at the very first traffic light onto Highway 67, then right onto Highway 96 in Wetmore. Turn left onto Highway 165 and go 12 miles. The castle is huge you can't miss it. After your go to, double back on Highway 165 and turn left on Highway 96 and go Westcliffe.
Then follow colorado homepage 69 south toward Gardner, but prior to you arrive, turn right at the indication for Red Wing. Prior to you get to Red Wing, search for a little green sign for Pass Creek and turn left onto this road. It is a remarkably smooth unpaved roadway that will take you to La Veta Pass.
This pass that the residents utilize will shave off about an hour and a half from having to go southeast to Walsenberg to get to the San Luis Valley. The tallest sand dunes in all of North America are here in the San Luis Valley. Researchers think the dunes were created less than 440,000 years ago by winds that blew sand deposits from the Rio Grande River to the western base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
The dunes are open to the public all year, 24/7. The park offers a lodge and cabins, which are available in the spring through the middle of October. There's a little convenience shop and a dining establishment, which is open for breakfast, lunch and supper during the summer traveler season. When my sibling and I were there in early October, it was just open for breakfast.
If you do not go during the summer, you might desire to bring your own food. The lodge personnel suggested that we not venture on foot from the lodge in the dark since black bears reside in the location. Information and appointments: Great Sand Dunes Lodge, 719-378-2900; www.gsdlodge.com The next morning, my brother and I dined on tasty pancakes and huevos rancheros at the restaurant, and our friendly server was the 3rd local to suggest that we take some time to see the nearby waterfalls prior to we continued our travels north through the San Luis Valley.
The tracks are very tiny and shallow and even a light wind will blow them away. The dunes were my preferred part of the whole journey. After strolling on the ridges of the dunes, we headed 10 miles south on Highway 150 and pulled off onto the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
This road is steep and bumpy, and we discussed whether seeing the falls was worth all this problem. We lastly reached a car park. From there, it was a quarter-mile hike up a rough and steep path to a stream, which we needed to cross 5 times to reach the falls inside a narrow crevasse.
Caution: The rocks are slick, and locals said the stream can be quick and deep during early summertime. On our drive below the falls, I asked my brother to stop so I could discover what individuals were doing on the side of the road. I approached a lady and introduced myself.
Archeleta told me that the trees only produce nuts every 5 or 6 years. The nuts need to be toasted before utilizing in a variety of dishes. The next stop on our adventure was 47 miles away. We took Colorado 150 North, then Lane 6 West, then Colorado 17 North. The indication cautions: "No trespassing.
The key is to supply them with geothermal water that stays at a comfortable 87 degrees. Supplying alligators to many zoos throughout the country, Colorado Gators Reptile Park consists of bit, medium-size, big and extra-large gators, sorted by size so they don't eat each other. It also has five albino alligators (we were told there were only about 50 in captivity). Colorado Gators Reptile Park likewise uses a class in alligator fumbling.
It's just a few miles north of the Colorado Gators Reptile Park on the west side of Highway 17. Owner Judy Messoline declares that many psychics have actually felt the presence of a pair of vortexes that function as portals into parallel universes. The Vortex Garden is certainly a bizarre location, with sunglasses, empty bottles, watches and bracelets, beaded lockets, silk flowers, combs, spiritual symbols and other things.
We encourage visitors to leave something in The Garden to get their energy there also. PLEASE do not move or eliminate anything in The Garden bad, bad Karma if you do." Info: 719-378-2296; www.ufowatchtower.com. To go back to Colorado Springs, go north on Highway 17 and turn east on to Highway 285 to Salida.
50 East, which is a very beautiful path along with the Arkansas River amid high canyon walls. Driving through these canyons in addition to through the aspen-covered mountains on the Gold Camp Road were my sibling's preferred parts of our trip. When you reach Penrose, take Colorado 115 back to Colorado Springs.
These incredible rock formations are a popular location for photographers, hikers, rock climbers and bird watchers. Invest the early morning exploring The Kissing Camels (a development that looks like 2 camels), The Three Graces, the Cathedral Spires in the Cathedral Valley and Balanced Rock. Info: 719-634-6666; www.gardenofgods.com. You've most likely become aware of Cheyenne Mountain, the previous website of NORAD (The United States Northern Command, and the Flying Force Area Command).
On another part of the mountain, above the surface, is the home of lots of exotic animals. At an elevation of 6,800 feet above water level, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is the only zoo in the United States on a mountain. It's southwest of Colorado Springs, above the Broadmoor resort, which you can see from the zoo.
It's best understood for its giraffe herd. The zoo currently has 18 giraffes, and its reproducing program is the most effective in the world, with 199 births since 1954. The giraffes are enabled outside when the temperature level is 40 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. For a couple dollars, you can purchase a handful of lettuce to feed the giraffes and get a close encounter with their sweet and curious characters as well as their 20-inch, dark purple tongues.
24 East, then turn south on 21st Street. Follow signs to the zoo. Details: 719-633-9925; www.cmzoo.org. Consider this four-day itinerary as simply a tasting of incredible sites southern Colorado needs to offer. My bro and I are currently making plans for next year's road experience that consists of a check out to the incredible cliff homes at Mesa Verde National Park.
