Bailey, Colorado

On the last day of our 2019 Colorado trip we made our way to Bailey, Colorado, to visit the Sasquatch Outpost.....I know, we're weird!

To get to Bailey from Colorado Springs we headed through Manitou Springs and then onto Highway 24 to Woodland Park.  In Woodland Park we connected onto Highway 67 and passed the Painted Rock Campground where we saw the most amazing rock formation jetting out of the ground right in the middle of pine forests. 

Painted Rocks Campground

One of many rock formations in Painted Rocks Campground

From Painted Rock Campground we headed to the small town of Deckers.  The South Platte River flowing below Cheesman Canyon through Deckers is a world-class fishing area.  We saw several anglers wading in the river fly fishing on the South Platte River below the Cheesman Canyon.

Evidence of the Hayman Fire of 2002 in Pike National Forest

Granite rock formations near Deckers

A few old buildings near Pine, Colorado

A few old buildings near Pine, Colorado

Old school house, now a home, in Pine, Colorado

From Deckers, we turned onto Decker's Road 126 and followed the Platte River to the community of Pine.  Just outside of Pine we stopped at the Pine Valley Ranch Park to get a closer view of, and dip our toes in, the North Fork of the Platte River. Pine Valley Ranch Park is an amazing little park offering several hikes, a beautiful lake, a lot of history, a small island with a gazebo, and the best picnic area on the Front Range of Colorado. 

North Fork Platte River

Gazebo at Pine Valley Ranch Park

Bridge crossing the Platte River at Pine Valley Ranch Park

Platte River going around an island at the Pine Valley Ranch Park

Our little pup, Remi, is an explorer also!

After exploring the Pine Valley Ranch Park we made our way to Bailey and to the Sasquatch Outpost. Bailey is a small town located about 45 minutes southwest of Denver. This Platte Canyon town lies at 7,739 feet with the main part of town residing at the bottom of a steep winding section of Highway 285.

The outside of the Sasquatch Outpost

Remi's parents make him do the dumbest things!

Remi posing with the big guy

The Sasquatch Outpost has to be the most unique store in all of Colorado and is strictly dedicated to the famous legendary Bigfoot.  Not only does the Outpost offer souvenirs of the Bigfoot kind but they also have a museum on site.  After picking up a few souvenirs we decided to get back on the road again because the skies had darkened and looked as if storms were developing.

Before reaching Pine, again, we made a quick stop at the Cruz-In Drive-Through and ordered the most amazing green chili cheese fries to snack on we headed back to Cheyenne Mountain.

Manitou Springs, Colorado

Just west of Colorado Springs lies the eclectic town of Manitou Springs, Colorado. The main road through the center of town is a direct path to the base of Pikes Peak. The town was founded for its natural mineral springs which you can sample during a self-guided, walking tour. Just stop off at the visitors center and get yourself a map and a paper cup!

Downtown Manitou Springs is a unique place for travelers as the area consists of many one-story, adjoining, small shops, restaurants, and pubs, as well as a creekside city park with a children's playground made from unusual materials. Among other services, shops cater to tourist interests such as clothing, candy, souvenirs, and outdoor recreation.
One such Manitou Springs attraction is the Famous Penny Arcade! As photographers we've been dreaming of coming back to Manitou to do one thing.....photograph the nostalgic arcade! This blog post is just dedicated to the photographs we took at the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade. If you'd like to see more about Manitou you can visit our blog post at http://www.tkandgman.com/2018/10/

In the arcade you will be able to find some of the first arcade games (many still cost a penny) and walk through arcade game history playing over 20 different pinball machines to 30 different racing games.

The games can date back to the 1930's if not earlier where a lot of the games cost the same price they did back then. The Arcade is located just off Main Street and consists of several little buildings, every building has it own different style and feel.

Helen Hunt Falls, Colorado Springs

One of the stops we made near Colorado Springs was Helen Hunt Falls.  This waterfall is located on Cheyenne Creek in the North Cheyenne Cañon Park of Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

View of falls from ground level

The falls are named in honor of Helen Maria Hunt Jackson (October 15, 1830 – August 12, 1885), a United States poet and writer who became an activist on behalf of improved treatment of Native Americans by the U.S. government. She died in San Francisco, California in 1885 and was later buried in Colorado Springs.  We believed she was buried at near the top of the falls but we could not find any grave site. 

Poor Remi was feeling the effects of the altitude so daddy carried him!

The falls are located on North Cheyenne Creek immediately off North Cheyenne Canyon Road in the North Cheyenne Canyon Park. There is parking for about 30 vehicles at the falls which we understand becomes crowded early during the summer months however we had no trouble finding a parking spot in the lot.

The Columbine Trail, which starts at the entrance of the Park by the Starsmore Visitor and Nature Center, terminates at Helen Hunt Falls. The hike is a short distance of about 2/3 of a mile up a moderately steep trail above Helen Hunt Falls to reach Silver Cascade Falls.

Cheyenne Creek