Red Rock Canyon Open Space

_{view over the twin lakes in Red Rocks Canyon Park}

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This past weekend I went on an adventure. I don't do adventures often because they are costly little things, involving planning, packing, gas money, food, strange beds and - weather! Much safer to hide inside. But then one doesn't get to see all the strange things and odd people that culturate the earth.

_{tufted red grass - amazing what will grow in desert soil!}

One of my discord-steemit groups, Rocky Mountain Steemit, arranged a meetup on Saturday, but I decided to spend a day in Colorado Springs beforehand in order to explore. This is one of several posts about that trip.

_{trail map for Red Rocks Vanyon Open Space}

Red Rock Canyon Open Space is a 789 acre public city park in Colorado Springs, CO. With over twenty great hiking trails, it is sandwiched in between mountains to the south, Manitou Springs to the west and Colorado Old City to the east.

_{view from the hilltop overlooking Rte 24 and Garden of the Gods in the distance}

To the north is Garden of the Gods, and the open space is very much an extension of the same geological formations found there. Massive red rock sandstone formations dominate the landscape, interspersed with pedestrian, horse and bike trails. Climbing is also allowed with the correct gear and a permit.

_{fenced in bike park for beginners}

A wooden ramped bike park sits at the base of the trails just off the huge parking area, with numerous bike trails winding up into the hills.

_{advanced bike trail}

At the first plateau of a relatively small hill is a dual area enclosed off-leash dog run where puppers abound in happy abandon.

_{slimy tennis balls are the best}

What impressed me most is that this is a family park, more for the locals than the tourists. People come to talk, socialize, hike, explore, relax, exercise, and just have fun.

_{moody sky over the tree tops}

While I was there I overheard a grandfather talking to a teen about discrimination. Later, I spied a gentleman out testing his drone, (white thing in the center), the photo applications which I lust after, frankly.

_{small white drone in mid-flight, parking area level}

My lone camera was the exception rather than the rule, an abrupt about face compared to the calamity of camera toting tourists to the north in Garden of the Gods.

_{one of the many viewpoints over the lakes}

What amazed me was the discovery that this beautiful natural space that looked like it has been untouched for centuries was the site of an ore processing mill in the late 1800s, during the height of the gold rush.

_{one of the many viewpoints over the lakes}

Many other mills and business ventures dotted the canyon when Colorado City became a boom town after 1859, as Red Rock Canyon was a convenient place to mine gravel, sand, timber and stone to build all of the housing, stores, offices, etc. needed for 20,000 plus miners and the many local residents that supported them.

_{historic photo of one of the red rock canyon quarries, courtesy of Friends of Red Rock Canyon}

After the early 1920s, when mining fell off, different parcels of the land were bought and sold a handful of times, but it wasn't until 2003 and after that the three main land donations that make up the park were assembled into the official Red Rocks Canyon Park.

_{one of the many viewpoints over the lakes}

The amount of "civilization" that underlies this area becomes apparent meandering down a trail, from telephone lines and storm drains to the jagged marks in the red rocks where pathways were carved thru to make a bike trail.

_{rocks used to prevent soil erosion near power lines}

_{concrete slab over a drainage pipe and grate}

_{large concrete drainage pipe separates the two lakes}

Still, it's the persistance of nature that abounds, life growing out of dried up rock, clinging to the barest surface.

_{trees seemed to pop out of a rock or a tiny crevice}

_{a shy cactus hiding among the weeds}

_{one of the teensiest wildflowers imaginable}

While there were miles upon miles of trails in the park, my time was limited so I only ventured as far as the twin lakes, likely the result of an old quarry mine.

_{one of the many viewpoints over the lakes}

I found this tiny cave in the hillside, which had me fantasizing of digging a tunnel to make a tiny home under the earth...

_{a little hideaway}

These lakes are now home to birds, lizards, fish and other unseen critters making their home amongst the desert plant life.

_{the local hangout}

_{fishies in the weeds}

_{one of the birbs resting in a branch}

The wildflowers in summer are a treat to the eye, and I spent way too much time trying to capture the essence of their captivating beauty and intricacy.

And of course I walked incredibly slowly, snapping silly photos of the scenery and the tiny buggies, to share here with you!~