For Colorado Springs’ urban explorers, Sinton Pond is a treat.
It is a surprising, wild oasis a stone’s throw from Interstate 25 and a railroad-bordering industrial zone, hiding amid tall cottonwoods and pines and grasses and shrubs protection for a colorful array of residents. The 13-acre open space “is a small enclave of natural habitat in an otherwise urban setting,” reads a management plan by the city of Colorado Springs.
From a paved regional path, one suddenly meets a thin, dirt trail and is greeted by bird song and critters shuffling near the shore. Mice and amphibians make home here, while red-tailed hawks and great horned owls occasionally roost. One might find Canada geese on the water or spot a great blue heron. Some watch for other winged migrators and dwellers, while others go fishing for carp.