Cascade near Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Take a Closer Look...Foothills Life Zone

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 1, 2011

1. Take a Closer Look...Foothills Life Zone Marker

Inscription. The foothills of Colorado’s eastern slope form the dramatic meeting place of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. In this transition area between the prairie and the mountains, grasslands intermix with scrublands of mountain mahogany and scrub oak. These foothill shrubs eventually give way to the evergreen forests of higher elevations. Orange paintbrush, white yucca and blue penstamon add color to this landscape in spring and summer.

Many different animals thrive in this region. Noisy magpies build huge, ball-shaped nests in the foothill trees. Blue-and-gray scrub jays collect oak acorns, then push them into the ground to store until winter. Many mammal, such as long eared mule deer, chipmunks, coyotes and mountain lions find plentiful food and shelter in the foothills.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Environment.

Location. 38° 55.301′ N, 105° 1.549′ W. Marker is near Colorado Springs, Colorado, in El Paso County. It is in Cascade. It is on Pike's Peak Toll Road. Marker is located near the Crystal Reservoir Visitor Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cascade CO 80809, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Colorado’s Front Range

and in Pikes Peak Region.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Well-traveled Water (here, next to this marker); Test Your Bird I.Q.

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(here, next to this marker); The Making of America's Mountain (here, next to this marker); A Mountain of Many Names (here, next to this marker); Take a Closer Look...Montane Life Zone (here, next to this marker); Take a Closer Look...Alpine/Subalpine Life Zone (here, next to this marker); Pick a Climate (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Lance Corporal Emmett Jack Peters (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Colorado Springs.

Nature Markers at Crystal Reservoir image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Charles T. Harrell, July 1, 2011

2. Nature Markers at Crystal Reservoir

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,056 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 10, 2011, by Charles T. Harrell of Woodford, Virginia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.