Spot the squat sandstone post peeking from the grass as you nose your motorhome, motorcycle, or minivan onto Iron Mountain Road, and questions fire faster than a camera shutter: Who set these here? Why are the numbers so big? Can we pull over without blocking traffic?
Key Takeaways
• The short stone posts you’ll see are 130-year-old mile markers from stagecoach times.
• Three markers (1, 2, and 3) line a quiet two-mile loop near downtown Manitou Springs, Colorado.
• Each block was cut from local sandstone, carved with big numbers, and set deep so it still stands strong today.
• Wide gravel pull-offs fit RVs up to 35 ft; bikes and hikers also have safe spots to stop and look.
• Morning light makes the numbers glow—snap photos with Pikes Peak in the background for best results.
• Do not sit, climb, or rub chalk on the stones; report new cracks or graffiti to the city’s Historic Preservation Office.
• Weather changes fast at 6,400 ft—carry water, snacks, and a light jacket.
• Add extra fun by visiting the Heritage Center, tasting mineral springs, or grabbing a local craft beer after your walk.
Spoiler alert—each marker is a 130-year-old GPS ping from the stage-coach era, and the half-mile loop from your campsite to the first one is the easiest time-travel you’ll take all summer. Stick with us for:
• The safest pull-offs for a 30-ft rig or a trailer-towing SUV.
• The Instagram angles that catch morning sun on those hand-chiseled numerals.
• A two-minute legend you can drop over craft beer or bedtime cocoa.
Curious why Mile “2” isn’t exactly two miles from town—or where to park for a drone-friendly golden hour shot? Keep reading; the stones will spill their secrets just around the bend.
Where Iron Mountain Road Unfolds
Iron Mountain Road snakes through the southeast corner of Manitou Springs, a picturesque Colorado town whose historic district was laid out in 1876 by the Colorado Springs Company. Today the district holds roughly 1,001 buildings, and about 752 of them still contribute to its late-Victorian charm, from gingerbread cottages to gabled lodges scattered between mineral springs. Those numbers aren’t trivia; they explain why every curb, cornice, and yes—stone mile marker—gets extra community love. The road sits inside boundaries framed by U.S. 24, Ruxton Avenue, El Paso Boulevard, and Iron Mountain Avenue, putting it squarely within an area recognized by both state and federal preservation programs state history site.
Tourism has always paid the bills here. Nineteenth-century travelers rode stagecoaches up Iron Mountain Road seeking curative waters, alpine air, and the postcard silhouette of Pikes Peak. Local sandstone quarries supplied building blocks for hotels, bathhouses, and those mile markers now hiding in plain sight. By 1979, residents feared modern construction might eclipse the past, so they formed a Historic Preservation Commission. Four years later the district earned its spot on the National Register of Historic Places federal listing, ensuring that even simple roadside posts would be treated as miniature monuments.
Stone Mile Markers: Engineering That Lasts
Long before reflective highway signs, road crews relied on sandstone markers because the rock shrugged off freeze–thaw cycles that splintered wooden posts. Workers quarried stone just uphill, squared the blocks, chiseled numerals big enough for a stage-coach driver to read at a trot, then planted each post three feet deep for stability. The exposed three-to-four-foot tops were slanted or rounded so winter snow slid right off instead of cracking the surface.
The numbering feels backward until you remember where travelers were headed. The zero point sits near today’s downtown Manitou Springs; a block stamped “2” once shouted, “Only two miles to hot springs and supper!” Stepping out of your rig and touching those giant digits offers a tiny lesson in 19th-century UX design—simple, durable, legible. Rarity adds extra magic. Most American roads lost their stone guides to chain-saws and bulldozers. Spotting three intact markers on one two-mile stretch is the historic-road equivalent of seeing an unbroken string of Christmas lights after a century of winters.
RVs, Bikes, and Footsteps: Mapping Your Heritage Loop
From Pikes Peak RV Park, roll west on El Paso Boulevard, swing right onto Iron Mountain Avenue, then curve left onto Iron Mountain Road. Keep coasting until you reconnect with Park Avenue, and you’ve completed a gentle two-mile circle with almost no traffic. The first intact marker lurks only 0.6 mile from the campground entrance—a half-hour stroll for seniors or a five-minute throttle twist for motorcyclists. Morning light pops chisel marks into high relief, so aim to leave camp before 10 a.m. if photography tops your list.
Pull-off intel saves headache later. Class-A drivers will breathe easier at the broad gravel shoulder 0.65 mile in; it swallows a 35-foot coach with toad to spare, and you stay clear of the blind curve. Riders on two wheels get their hero shot at the dirt apron beside Mile “2,” which frames Pikes Peak just over the marker’s shoulder. Families towing trailers can detour 0.2 mile to Fields Park for bathrooms, grass, and shaded picnic tables. Whatever your rig, remember the shoulder is sandy; park straight, set your brake, and chalk the wheels if you plan to linger.
Best Stops and Photo Angles
Marker “1” stands first in line and welcomes morning rays that light the numerals like a movie marquee. Drop low and include the distant summit of Pikes Peak in your frame for an image that screams Colorado without hashtags. Kids can compare how quickly you walked versus the stage-coach travel time—roughly twenty minutes between markers back in the day.
At Marker “2,” motorcyclists will notice the dirt apron angles south-west, ideal for placing both stone and bike in the same snap. Drone pilots should launch at least 100 feet from pavement; use the FAA’s B4UFLY app to check airspace. Seniors looking for a rest will find a naturally flat sandstone slab 30 yards uphill—nature’s own stretch bench.
Marker “3” doubles as a balcony over Redstone Castle, the 1890 Queen Anne built from fiery red sandstone. Locals once swore the hillside was haunted, and the mansion’s private status keeps the rumor mill alive. You can see its turrets clearly from the public right-of-way; just remember the property itself is off-limits castle history. Tag your shot #RedstoneCastle and #IronMountainMile3, then regale friends with the legend that unsold lots and spooky folklore doomed the estate’s original development plan.
Hands-On History for All Ages
Turn a simple walk into a DIY field study by jotting the numeral, orientation, and any tool marks you spot on each stone. Differences reveal how several masons interpreted the same spec sheet more than a century ago. A smartphone compass app adds another layer of sleuthing: most exposed faces aim toward downtown for fast stage-coach readability. Kids can note the bearing and test whether modern highway signs follow the same logic.
Families often connect road posts to local houses by matching sandstone color. Point out the golden oatmeal hue on the mile marker, then spot identical stone in Victorian foundations downtown. Suddenly the markers morph from isolated curiosities into load-bearing members of Manitou’s architectural family tree. Wrap up by sipping naturally carbonated water at nearby Shoshone Spring; tasting what once lured tourists here makes the loop feel circular in more ways than one.
Preservation Etiquette on the Roadside
A mile marker appears tough, yet even granite-muscled rock loosens if visitors lean or climb. Resist the selfie temptation to sit atop the block; a stable base today means the stone might greet your grandkids tomorrow. Chalk rubbings seem harmless but trap moisture against sandstone pores, accelerating erosion. Snap a high-resolution photo instead; your phone’s zoom will capture every chisel groove.
Keep pets leashed and a few feet back. A paw scratch may look minor but soon channels rainwater that undermines the footing. If you notice fresh graffiti or a crack, take a quick picture and email the city’s Historic Preservation Office. Early alerts often let crews handle repairs before costs skyrocket. And of course, pack out what you pack in; litter invites vandalism faster than any website ever will.
Build a Half-Day Historic Adventure
The markers make a tidy starter course, but layering nearby stops turns your morning loop into a flavor-packed half day. After Mile “3,” coast downhill to the free Manitou Springs Heritage Center, where exhibits explain how mineral water turned a high-altitude gulch into a resort town. Board the seasonal town shuttle—its stop sits one block north of the RV park—and glide through narrow downtown streets without breaking camp or squeezing your rig into two-hour parking.
Feeling energetic? Hop off along Ruxton Avenue for a peek at the cog-railway depot; locomotives bound for Pikes Peak thrill kids and train buffs alike. Digital nomads craving caffeine can duck into one of several coffeehouses offering 25–40 Mbps Wi-Fi—plenty of bandwidth to upload that sunrise drone reel. Evening brings reward of another sort. Stroll to Manitou Brewing Co. for small-batch ales, and drop the two-minute legend: “Those mile markers? Local sandstone posts from 1890, built to guide stagecoaches—now guiding Instagram.” Cheers are almost guaranteed.
Weather, Altitude, and Wi-Fi Quick Sheet
Mountain afternoons love theatrics, especially from June through August. Plan outdoor exploring before noon, tuck a light rain layer into your day-pack, and monitor clouds stacking over Pikes Peak. At 6,400 feet, dehydration sneaks up quickly. Sip water at each marker and keep snacks handy—kids stay happier, seniors acclimate faster, and riders keep reaction times sharp.
Wi-Fi inside Pikes Peak RV Park averages 25–40 Mbps, solid enough for video calls or bulk photo uploads before sunset chase-light sessions. If you need a stronger pipeline, two local coffee shops within half a mile regularly clock 50 Mbps and welcome quiet laptop work. Drone pilots should finish flights by 6 p.m.; golden hour glows until 7 in midsummer, but afterward the canyon dips into shade rapid-fire.
Those sandstone sentinels have been pointing travelers toward Manitou’s magic since the 1890s—now they’re pointing you, too. Roll back into camp, download your photos over Pikes Peak RV Park’s reliable Wi-Fi, and trade mile-marker lore with neighbors under the cottonwoods. Ready to wake up within walking distance of Marker “0,” mineral springs, and a whole lot of Colorado charm? Reserve your creekside site at Pikes Peak RV Park today, and let the road—and its rugged old guideposts—lead you to the adventure that’s been waiting all along.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the real story behind the stone mile markers on Iron Mountain Road?
A: Each sandstone post was quarried and set in the early 1890s to guide stagecoaches toward Manitou Springs’ mineral baths; the masons carved oversized numerals so drivers could read them at a trot, then buried the bases three feet deep so freeze–thaw cycles wouldn’t topple them, which is why three originals still stand today.
Q: Why don’t the numbers match the actual modern mileage from downtown?
A: The road has been straightened and widened several times since the 19th century, so bends were clipped and intersections shifted; measured from the original wagon path, the markers are accurate, but today’s pavement shaves or adds a few hundred yards, making Mile “2” feel closer to 1.8 modern miles from the springs.
Q: Is Iron Mountain Road friendly for a 30-foot Class A or a trailer rig?
A: Yes—traffic is light, the grade is gentle, and two pull-offs wide enough for a 35-foot coach or a truck-and-trailer combo sit within the two-mile loop, letting you photograph a marker without blocking the lane or unhooking your toad.
Q: Where exactly can we park a big RV to snap photos without stress?
A: The safest shoulder starts 0.65 mile west of Pikes Peak RV Park, well past a blind curve; the gravel is firm, level, and long enough for a Class A plus tow car, so you can step out, grab your shot of Marker “1,” and re-merge with clear sightlines.
Q: I’m on a motorcycle—any quick pull-ins for that perfect Instagram angle?
A: Marker “2” has a dirt apron on the south-west side that fits two bikes nose-to-curb; park at a 45-degree angle, frame the stone with Pikes Peak in the background, and you’ll be back on the throttle in under five minutes.
Q: Can we touch or climb on the markers for a family photo?
A: A gentle hand on the face is fine, but sitting or standing on the posts loosens the base over time, so the Historic Preservation Office asks visitors to keep weight off the top and use nearby rocks or the ground for posing instead.
Q: Are drones allowed for aerial shots of the markers and Redstone Castle?
A: Recreational drones are permitted so long as you stay over public right-of-way, remain below 400 feet, and launch at least 100 feet from the pavement; always check the FAA’s B4UFLY app because temporary flight restrictions pop up near Pikes Peak during special events.
Q: How long does the heritage loop take from Pikes Peak RV Park?
A: Driving the two-mile circle is a leisurely ten-minute spin with photo stops, while walking the same loop at a relaxed pace takes about forty minutes, making it easy to fit in before breakfast or between afternoon rain showers.
Q: Where can families find bathrooms and picnic tables along the route?
A: Fields Park, just 0.2 mile off Iron Mountain Road on a signed spur, offers restrooms, shaded tables, and a playground, so kids can stretch while adults prep sandwiches or review the scavenger-hunt clues printed from the blog.
Q: Any local legends I can drop at the brewery or campfire?
A: Tell friends that Redstone Castle’s original developer went bankrupt after townsfolk claimed the hillside was haunted; investors fled, the estate languished, and the lonely mile markers became waypoints for ghost-hunters who still swear they hear carriage wheels at dusk.
Q: Will Pikes Peak RV Park’s Wi-Fi handle my photo uploads after I explore?
A: The campground averages 25–40 Mbps, enough for high-resolution photo batches and video calls; if you need a quicker pipeline, two coffee shops within half a mile clock closer to 50 Mbps and welcome laptops, so you can edit at camp and upload over a latte.
Q: Is the road and marker access open year-round?
A: Snow rarely lingers below 6,500 feet, so the loop stays drivable most winters; if a storm closes U.S. 24, city plows still prioritize Iron Mountain Road, but check local forecasts and avoid the shoulders after heavy snowfall when soft ground can trap heavy rigs.