Things To Do
The Chalk Cliffs are an iconic historic landmark in the Collegiate Range that borders the Arkansas Valley to the west. The cliffs are at the entrance to Chalk Creek Canyon on the southeast side of Mount Princeton and are visible from the valley. These striking white cliffs on Mount Princeton are made not of chalk but of kaolinite, a soft rock produced by hot springs percolating through cracks in the mountain. The mountain from which the cliffs are carved out of was originally named Chalk Mountain by George M. Wheeler during his surveying and mapping expedition of the Colorado Territory in 1871 but was renamed Mount Princeton to fit the Ivy League School names for the rest of the Collegiate Range shortly thereafter. There are gorgeous views of the chalk cliffs at many locations throughout the Arkansas Valley, but the Chalk Cliffs Wayside Overlook provides a spectacular vista. Informative signs detail the geology and the history of the area and these cliffs. The overlook is on Highway 285 between Nathrop and Poncha Springs, about four miles south of Nathrop or about 12 miles north of Poncha Springs on the west side of the road.
Pro Tips
Recommended season(s): Year-round.
—Annie Brewster
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.