Camp Peña Colorado, Marathon

Located about four miles southwest of present-day Marathon, Texas (north of Big Bend National Park) sits Camp Peña Colorado, a post of the United States Army for almost fifteen years in the late 1800s. Indians occupied the area around Peña Colorada [sic] Springs for thousands of years. In historical times the site was a major stopping place on one of the branches of the Comanche Trail to Mexico.

Location of Camp Peña Colorado on Google Maps (click on map). This road -- the Post Road -- was the original "trail" through the area but now dead ends at private property just south of the park.

Picture of Peña Colorada Springs today .. an oasis in the desert. Looking north towards Marathon, TX.

Looking south towards Big Bend.

Close-up of springs (red circle). Notice dam (south end of springs) and cliff (north east of springs) from photo above.