Entry No. 95 — the Colorado Springs file — filed under: quarry
Black Canyon Mine
Shuttered in 2015, the Black Canyon Mine (also known as the Snyder Quarry) is a historic limestone quarry located on the eastern rim of Williams Canyon near Manitou Springs. Originally opened in 1874, the site left a prominent scar on the mountain backdrop of the Pikes Peak region. Today, the property is owned by the City of Colorado Springs and is undergoing active environmental reclamation to eventually transition into a public park.
The story
In 1874, long before postcard photos framed the pristine mountain backdrop of Pikes Peak, mining crews began chopping into the limestone on the eastern rim of Williams Canyon. Originally known as Snyder Quarry and later run under Castle Concrete, the open-pit operation carved out raw materials that helped fuel the region's growth—supplying limestone for gold extraction, sugar beet processing, and the heavy concrete foundations of expanding Front Range housing.
By the time operations finally stopped in 2015, 140 years of heavy excavation had left behind a prominent, stepped white terrace carved directly into the green foothill face. While decades of community outcry targeted the eye-level scar on the skyline, the mine outlasted its critics until the City of Colorado Springs acquired the property in 2020. Backed by state grants, city restoration teams are currently regrading the sheer terraces and re-vegetating the raw rock face, working to turn the industrial gouge into a future public open space.
What it's like
You didn't hear it from us, but despite what old hiking forums claim about unmaintained social trails dropping in from Williams Canyon, trying to sneak onto the site is a bad move—active environmental hazards, steep drop-offs, and aggressive enforcement from neighboring private land like Cave of the Winds will cut your trip short. Because the land is actively undergoing slope stabilization and re-seeding, access is strictly locked down. Your best move is to catch the view from a distance: take Highway 24 west toward Manitou Springs for a direct, clear look at the stepped white limestone face, or bring a long lens to the lower public trails on the south side of the canyon.
The move: Take a scenic drive along Highway 24 or hike the nearby trails of Manitou Springs to photograph the dramatic quarry scar on the foothills from a safe distance.
📍 Before you go The quarry is currently closed to the public while undergoing active environmental reclamation and revegetation by the City of Colorado Springs.
- 📍 Colorado Springs
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: Black Canyon Mine, Colorado Springs, CO 80904, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- Haunted Lantern Tour at Cave of the Winds — Located right across Williams Canyon, Cave of the Winds lets you explore natural underground limestone chambers just feet from where the mine ripped the same rock out into the open air.
- Penny Arcade — Trade the quiet, locked-down industrial ruins on the canyon wall for the noise of 400 working vintage arcade machines at the bottom of the hill in Manitou Springs.
- Miramont Castle — Built in 1895 just down the canyon, this nine-architecture-style mountainside castle is another bizarre, historic alteration carved into Manitou's terrain.
- Red Mountain — Hike this quieter peak across from the Manitou Incline to get an elevated vantage point looking straight back across the canyon toward the mountain's altered geology.
Good to know
Can you legally explore inside Black Canyon Mine?
No. The quarry property is closed to the public while the City of Colorado Springs conducts active slope stabilization, land reclamation, and revegetation.
What was harvested from the quarry?
Starting in 1874, the site produced limestone used for regional gold and sugar beet refining, as well as concrete aggregate for roads and building construction across the Pikes Peak region.
Where is the best place to photograph the quarry scar?
You can get a clear view of the tiered white hillside from US Highway 24 heading west into Manitou Springs, as well as from elevated public vantage points throughout Manitou.
What will happen to Black Canyon Mine in the future?
The City of Colorado Springs acquired the land to complete long-term environmental restoration, with plans to eventually transition the site into a public park and trailhead.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: kktv.com · denvergazette.com · cspm.org
last checked: 2026-07-20