Indian Grove (Mosca, Colorado) facts for kids

Indian Grove is a special place found inside Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in Colorado. It's an archaeological site, which means it's a place where scientists study clues from the past. Here, you'll find 72 old Ponderosa Pine trees. These trees are interesting because their bark was peeled off a long time ago, probably by the Ute people.

Exploring Indian Grove

Indian Grove is located near Mosca, Colorado, in Saguache County, Colorado. It covers about 38 acres. This area is important because it shows how people lived many years ago. The trees themselves are like living history books.

The Mystery of the Peeled Bark

In the early 1800s, the Ute people likely peeled sections of bark from these Ponderosa Pine trees. Why did they do this? Native American tribes often used tree bark for many things. They might have used it for food, medicine, or to make tools and shelters. This practice shows how people used the natural resources around them.

Camping at Indian Grove

Indian Grove is also home to a back-country campsite. This means it's a campsite that you can only reach by hiking. It's one of six campsites along the Sand Ramp Trail. This trail goes around the edge of the sand dunes. It gives hikers a way to explore the northern part of the National Park. The campsite even has a special solar-powered composting toilet!