Southeastern Colorado Grasslands

16-10-31-co-ok-tx-nm-001
A National Historic Site, we had a ranger overview talk before our walk to the overlook of the massacre site.
16-10-31-co-ok-tx-nm-002
It is the last day of October – the massacre was the end of November – it surely wasn’t 87 degrees that day!
16-10-31-co-ok-tx-nm-003
We parked at Nee Noshee SWA for the late afternoon and evening, South of Eads, CO.
16-10-31-co-ok-tx-nm-006
This is the beautiful wildlife area – we saw a few ducks, raptors, and coots.
16-11-01-co-ok-tx-nm-007
Bent’s Old Fort NHS with a resident steer greeting us.
16-11-01-co-ok-tx-nm-009
Beautiful animal. I guess he gets to pull the wagon occasionally.
16-11-01-co-ok-tx-nm-010
This was a big fur trading area – mostly buffalo skins but here is a river boat made out of one as well as some beaver pelts.
16-11-01-co-ok-tx-nm-011
A nice piece of history that is recreated here on the Arkansas River.
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-016
We headed South to Comanche National Grasslands for a few nights
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-017
Panoramic views to enjoy on our ‘back patio”. We are surprised at all the canyons in the grasslands.
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-018
Peaceful sunset with Moon and planets. The Milky Way was awesome!
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-020
Picket Wire Canyonlands hike first had this dust bowl ruin.
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-023
On old chapel ruin and cemetery of another settlement.
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-024
But dinosaurs are why we have chosen this trail – this is a thigh bone a tad larger than mine!
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-029
And footprints a tad larger than ours!
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-028
This is a panorama of Theropod dinosaur tracks. Well worth a 12 mile RT hike.
16-11-02-co-ok-tx-nm-025
Largest Tracksite in North America
16-11-04-co-ok-tx-nm-032
We stopped for lunch at Carrizo canyon.
16-11-04-co-ok-tx-nm-034
And did a short hike to these amazing petroglyphs of elk.
16-11-04-co-ok-tx-nm-038
We camped at Vogel canyon and enjoyed sunset on Balance Rock.
16-11-04-co-ok-tx-nm-037
This was the view from the Travato!
16-11-05-co-ok-tx-nm-044
We hiked to some more petroglyphs. This is a calendar that marks the solstice.
16-11-05-co-ok-tx-nm-041
And some amazing drawings. We were disturbed by recent graffiti and had many discussions of why someone would deface these treasures.
16-11-05-co-ok-tx-nm-053
We enjoyed our picnic lunch by this arch as we were in no hurry to get back to camp.