Ute Indian Trail, Garden of the Gods - Colorado Springs, CO
Posted by: Outspoken1
N 38° 52.248 W 104° 52.709
13S E 510541 N 4302446
Placed in 1935, this marker indicates the original Ute People trail used by original Americans
Waymark Code: WMCJPN
Location: Colorado, United States
Date Posted: 09/13/2011
Views: 16
"Grinding stones found at the Garden of the Gods and other sheltered areas along the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains suggest the groups would gather together after their hunt to complete the tanning of hides and processing of meat. Winters in protected mountain valleys were spent in warm teepees sewing, crafting tools, playing games, and telling stories.
El Paso (Spanish for "the pass") County was named for the Ute Pass Trail, worn into a wide road by countless generations of migrating Indians traveling with horses and dragging their teepee poles. This same wilderness road was followed by mountain men, explorers, prospectors, freight wagons, and the Colorado Midland Railroad, and is now the route of a modern highway (U.S. 24). Under the strong leadership of Chief Ouray, the Utes remained friendly to the newcomers as the government negotiated treaties to share Ute land. Gradually the Native people were confined to smaller and smaller areas. Often they were reduced to starvation because of the loss of hunting and gathering grounds and the lack of food and other provisions promised by the treaties." (from (
visit link) )
The Zebulon Pike and Kinnikinnik Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution placed this marker in 1935 along with renovations and roads being created by the Civilian Conservation Corps program. There is nearby parking as this marker is adjacent to the main road where parking is prohibited. The Ute Indian Trail may easily be hiked throughout the park. More information about the Ute people may be found at (
visit link) . Use of the area by the Ute people is explored at (
visit link) .
Current trail maps may be found at (
visit link) . The current trails follow many of the original native American and game trails.