Lubna 
Today was a microcosm of life. One sets out with a certain intention, but the ‘meandering path’ takes you in other directions. For the entire summer, I’ve been immersed in schoolwork and missed having adventures with the kids. Finals got done last week, and so today I was determined to set out and explore. Our destination was meant to be Rainbow Falls, about an hour out from home, located in Colorado Springs. A quick Google search revealed an interesting landscape with water access and some graffiti art. Lately, we’ve been out waterfall hunting in Colorado, attempting the ones closest to us first. Helen Hunts was a unique find from a prior trip, and I figured Rainbow Falls would also not disappoint.
Getting there
As soon as you get off of I-25 South and turn on 24 west, the landscape changes. You can see
Change of Plans
If there is one predictable thing about Colorado, it is the unpredictable weather. We left Castle Rock with highs of 90 and bright sunny skies. Forty minutes south, grey clouds loomed over us. As soon as we crossed the entrance to Rainbow Falls, we were disappointed to find a sign saying it was temporarily closed due to inclement weather.
Just a stone’s throw away, there is a pull-off to the right, most likely for overflow parking. I parked to figure out a backup plan. We could hear the stream behind us, so decided to go explore, and at the very least, touch the water! A quick, albeit steep descent from the street, and we were greeted by a babbling brook. The water was exceptionally clear and cool. Haaris wasted no time in crossing over. The mountain beside us had some interesting rock formations and a unique, cave-like hole. Too much of a temptation for my boys!
A family of trekkers coming out of the cave told us it went pretty deep, perhaps 80 feet or more. There was no stopping the boys, who were already disappointed at not seeing the Falls. In we went! At certain places, it was really low and you have to crouch so as not to hit your head on the jagged rocks. Pitch dark and cool! The phone’s flashlight revealed a large hollow cavity, unfortunately with graffiti sprayed around. Probably a popular hangout for teenagers! Sudden recollections of the Thailand cave rescue came to mind. I guess I discovered I was borderline claustrophobic, too. The idea of being lost in a cave system in the dark is frightening to imagine but gets amplified if you are actually in one. I couldn’t wait to get out, much to the boy’s angst. I guess 40 feet deep was enough cave exploration I could handle!
Re-routing to Paint Mines
Back in the car, we ate lunch to bide time, hoping that the clouds would blow over. No such luck! On to the backup plan. Paint Mines. Located in Calhan, about an hour east of Colorado Springs. We cut through downtown and enjoyed the open fields with their undulating landscapes. Of course, now the sky was clear! Calhan itself seemed to be a tiny town, or so it seemed. Turning on the Paint Mines Interpretative Park Rd, we still couldn’t see any peculiar rock formations in the distance, only large wind turbines.
After about a mile on a dirt road, we reached the entrance to the park. Still nothing exceptional. Taimoor commented it looked a lot like Castle Rock. Had I dragged them all this way for nothing? Creeping doubts!
Paint Mines in all its Glory!
A short quarter-mile hike from the parking lot revealed the Paint Mines. It was exquisite! A geological wonder of erosion and sedimentary rock. Nestled in prairie grass and pockets of wildflowers, you suddenly see these boulders carved out by time and nature.
Stripes of gold, pink and purple gleamed through. We tried our best to stay on the trails so as not to damage the fragile formations. Each hill had its own exhibit of sorts, different from each other. It was surreal to think that touching these rocks was akin to touching rocks thousands of years ago. Back to the Future vibes! We explored four of the hills before deciding to head back.
The journey back was no short of an adventure! I thought I was taking the scenic route back via Highway 85. A few miles into the route, the road converted to a dirt/gravel road. After 10 miles of chugging along on backcountry roads, all the while hoping against hope that I wouldn’t pop a tire, we finally made it to the actual highway. It turns out I was about 15 miles off on my calculations. We drove through Kiowa and Elizabeth in rain and hail ( of course, the weather had to change)! All I can say is, I was very glad the boys were with me because my over-active imagination tends to lead me down some not-so-inviting ‘ meandering paths
All’s well that ends well! The car survived, even got a wash in the rains and we made it home safely! I would highly recommend the Paint Mines – just don’t take the scenic route back !😊
For other Colorado travels, read about Glenwood Springs !
