Were it not for visionaries like General William Jackson Palmer, the founder of Colorado Springs, who realized early in the town's history that precious land needed to be set aside to preserve and protect forever, it is unlikely that his generous gifts, which included North Cheyenne and Bear Creek Canyons, as well as Monument Valley … Continue reading The Enchanted Garden
It is a human trait to be attracted to beautiful natural locations, and Manitou Park in Teller County, north of Woodland Park, along Colorado Highway 67, is no exception. The broad mountain valley parallels Trout Creek, a tributary of the South Platte River, and is bounded in the east by the Rampart Range, and in … Continue reading Dr. Bell’s Retreat
Cameron Cone, at a height of 10,707 feet, does not figure among the tallest giants of Colorado, or even the Front Range, but its conspicuous shape and situation as one of Pikes Peak’s sentinels have always fascinated me. Until a recent invitation to join a small group of Colorado Mountain Club trekkers as a guest, I … Continue reading Pikes Peak’s Little Brother
Whenever my voyages take me through southern Colorado’s San Luis Valley, I can’t resist the beckoning of Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve. Regardless of the number of previous visits, the beauty of its unique landscape attracts me time and again. This was the case in early April 2016, during my return trip to … Continue reading A Sandy World
The spring and fall migrations of Sandhill Cranes through Colorado’s San Luis Valley count among our state’s most highly anticipated annual spectacles for nature lovers. In March 2011, my family and I witnessed spring migration for the first time during the annual Monte Vista Crane Festival, and I returned for a second visit in 2014. … Continue reading Monte Vista
