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Roxborough State Park
Fountain Valley Overlook at Roxborough State Park.

Colorado Natural & Manmade Landmarks

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From natural to manmade, Colorado has a long history of amazing landmarks. What started millions and millions of years ago underground, has slowly transformed Colorado into one of the most remarkable places to be.

National Natural Landmarks in Colorado

There are fifteen national natural landmarks in Colorado. Fourteen of them are located entirely within the state, while one of them, Sand Creek, partially extends into Wyoming.

Note: Many are open to the public, while some are on private lands and not accessible.

Big Spring Creek National Natural Landmark

Big Spring Creek Natural Landmark – Hooper

Garden of the Gods National Natural Landmark

Garden Of The Gods Park – Colorado Springs

Garden Park Fossil Area Natural Landmark – Cañon City

Hanging Lake National Natural Landmark

Hanging Lake – Glenwood Springs

Indian Springs Trace Fossil Site Natural Landmark Colorado

Indian Springs Trace Fossil Natural Area – Cañon City

Lost Creek Scenic Area National Natural Landmark

Lost Creek Scenic Area – Bailey

Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas National Natural Landmark

Morrison-Golden Fossil Areas – Dinosaur Ridge

Raton Mesa National Natural Landmark Colorado

Raton Mesa – Trinidad

Roxborough State Park

Roxborough State Park – Roxborough Park

Russell Lakes National Natural Landmark Colorado

Russell Lakes SWA – Saguache

Sand Creek National Natural Landmark

Sand Creek – Virginia Dale

Slumgullion Earthflow

Slumgullion Earthflow Natural Landmark – Lake City

Spanish Peaks National Natural Landmark Colorado

Spanish Peaks – near Trinidad

Summit Lake National Natural Landmark Colorado

Summit Lake Park – Idaho Springs

West Bijou Site National Natural Landmark Colorado

West Bijou Site – Strasburg

Manmade Landmarks in Colorado

Monuments, bridges and other stunning landmarks were created with passion. For as long as they’ve been around humans have made their mark on the land. Explore some of Colorado’s most prominent manmade landmarks.

Alferd Packer Massacre Site in Lake City, CO

Alferd Packer Massacre Site – Lake City

Image of the sign for Bent's New Fort in Lamar Colorado

Bent’s New Fort – Lamar

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Bent’s Old Fort – La Junta

image of Bishops Castle Rye Colorado

Bishop’s Castle – Rye

Camp Hale, CO

Camp Hale – Leadville

image of Cano's Castle

Cano’s Castle – Antonito

Image of the entrance sign for the Carousel of Happiness in Nederland, Colorado

Carousel of Happiness – Nederland

Saint Catherine's Chapel on the Rock, CO

Chapel on the Rock at Camp St. Malo- Allenspark

cherokee ranch and castle

Cherokee Ranch & Castle – Sedalia

Image of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex Sign in Colorado Springs, Colorado during winter

Cheyenne Mountain Complex – Colorado Springs

Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO

Colorado Convention Center – Denver

Colorado Freedom Memorial – Aurora

Colorado State Capitol

Colorado State Capitol Building – Denver

Coors Field Stadium Denver Colorado

Coors Field – Denver

Denver Coliseum in Denver, CO

Denver Coliseum – Denver

Dick's Sporting Goods Park Commerce City CO Winter

Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City

Dunafon Castle in Idledale, CO

Dunafon Castle – Idledale

Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium Denver Colorado

Empower Field at Mile High – Denver

Four Corners Monument

Four Corners Monument – Teec Nos Pos, AZ

Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs

Glen Eyrie Castle – Colorado Springs

Hanging Flume Overlook, CO

Hanging Flume Overlook – Uravan

Highlands Ranch Mansion, CO

Highlands Ranch Mansion – Highlands Ranch

Hunter S. Thompson Shrine – Aspen

Infinity Park at Glendale Rugby Match Air Force vs Marine Corps

Infinity Park – Glendale

Midland Railroad Tunnels, CO

Midland Railroad Tunnels – Buena Vista

Miramont Castle Museum, CO

Miramont Castle Museum – Manitou Springs

Monarch Crest Scenic Tramway, CO

Monarch Crest Scenic Tramway – Salida

National Western Complex in Denver

National Western Complex – Denver

Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish – Antonito

Pepsi Center Denver Colorado

Pepsi Center – Denver

Peterson Air Force Base – Colorado Springs

Image of the Rainbow Arch Bridge in Fort Morgan, Colorado

Rainbow Arch Bridge – Fort Morgan

Redstone Castle, CO

Redstone Castle – Redstone

Royal Gorge Bridge Park

Royal Gorge Bridge & Park – Cañon City

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site

Sand Creek Massacre – Eads

image of the shrine of the stations of the cross Colorado

Shrine of the Stations of the Cross – San Luis

UFO Watchtower Center Colorado

UFO Watchtower – Center

image of Denver Union Station

Union Station – Denver

United States Air Force Academy, CO

United States Air Force Academy – Colorado Springs

Image of a helicopter in front of the US Air Force Cadet Chapel in Colorado Springs, Colorado

US Air Force Cadet Chapel – Colorado Springs

Westminster Castle, CO

Westminster Castle – Westminster

Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun Colorado Springs

Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun – Colorado Springs

Yule Marble Quarry, CO

Yule Marble Quarry – Marble

Tunnels in Colorado

With all its mountainous terrain, Colorado boasts its fair share of tunnels. You’ll find both automobile and railroad tunnels in the state, with an opportunity to traverse through a great deal of them. Some of these historic landmarks though are closed to the public and non-operational.

Eisenhower Tunnel, CO

Eisenhower–Johnson Memorial Tunnel – Dillon

Moffat Tunnel, CO

Moffat Tunnel – Rollinsville-Winter Park

Guide to Landmarks in Colorado

Rabbit Ears Pass Colorado Autumn
Autumn on Rabbit Ears Pass. Photo: tonys3075

Historically, landmarks were used to navigate, and still are. Their prominent stature was easy to recognize from afar and guided many explorers on their journey. Nearly everyone on the Front Range knows to use the Rockies to the west, as a compass.

Landmarks nowadays, especially with GPS and smart phones, aren’t required as much for navigating. Instead landmarks could any significant human built structure or natural landscape feature. Examples would be monuments or canyons.

Landmarks within Colorado public lands

In addition to the aforementioned national natural landmarks and human-made landmarks, there are countless other landmarks worth visiting.  Some local city and county parks have lakes available. Lots of rivers and lakes are on federally owned public land. A majority of state parks offer a place to fish.

Arapaho National Recreation Area

Colorado Federal Lands

Confluence Park Delta Colorado

Colorado Public Parks

Roxborough State Park

Colorado State Parks

Natural Landmarks

Whether used for navigation or just to visit and behold, Colorado is one of the top places in the world to see breathtaking natural landmarks. Go on any scenic drive in the state and you’ll understand why so many people want to spend time here.

Examples of historic, navigational natural landmarks include Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs and Chimney Rock near Pagosa Springs. Both are very distinct rock formations that could be easily explained to someone searching for their route. Today, they are destinations in and of themselves.

National Natural Landmarks – These wonders are designated national natural landmarks to protect them for the future. They are the best examples of biological and geological features in the United States.

Colorado National Natural Landmarks Map
Colorado National Natural Landmarks map.

Manmade Landmarks

Humans have long lived in the region and their history can be traced through relics, ruins and significant landmarks. The Ancient Puebloans built cliff dwellings and mesa-top villages, while early settlers built log cabins, mines and grand theatres.

Simple rock piles stacked high along a hiking trail can be considered a human-made, navigational landmark. One of Colorado’s most unique is the Four Corners Monument, located at the southwest corner of state. It’s the only place in the country where four states touch.

Archeological Sites – Long before the Colorado became a state, Native Americans lived the land. Some tribes were nomadic with little evidence left to visit, while some built significant villages in the southwest, which can be enjoyed today. There are a number of archeological sites in Colorado.

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