Hidden Signal Stations In Colorado

Part of our Colorado guide.

Hidden signal stations in Colorado are scattered across nine key locations, from mountaintop communication towers to historic relay points and military space bases. These sites range from the active satellite operations at Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs to the silent stone remnants of early-20th-century signal stations in the Sangre de Cristo Range.

Mount Evans In Colorado

Mount Evans hides a network of communication towers that support emergency services and everyday cell phone use in rugged terrain. The towers sit near the summit of this 14,265-foot peak, often overlooked by visitors focused on the alpine tundra and wildlife. Next time you drive the Mount Evans Scenic Byway, take a moment to appreciate both the natural beauty and the technology that helps keep everyone safe and connected.

Sangre Cristo Range

Hidden signal stations in the Sangre de Cristo Range tell stories of a bygone era when these outposts were vital for communication across the southern Rockies. Hikers on the Crestone Traverse or the Spanish Creek Trail can stumble upon stone foundations and rusted metal fixtures that once held telegraph lines and early radio equipment. These relics now stand as silent witnesses to history, offering a tangible connection to the past while you explore the area's mountain mysteries in Colorado.

Collegiate Peaks

Tucked away in the Collegiate Peaks—home to Mount Harvard, Mount Yale, and Mount Princeton—are remnants of signal stations that once relayed messages between mining camps and railheads. The stations date from the late 1800s through the mid-1900s, when the peaks served as natural high points for line-of-sight communication. Trekkers on the Colorado Trail through the Sawatch Range can find these ruins near the timberline, often marked only by collapsed log cabins and rusted antenna bases.

Pike's Peak

Pike's Peak hides signal stations that offer a glimpse into the history and technology of mountain communication. The most accessible is the summit communications array, which includes a U.S. Forest Service lookout and a NOAA weather station. These installations have been in continuous use since the 1870s, when the U.S. Army Signal Corps built a telegraph line to the summit. Standing at 14,115 feet, you can see how messages once traveled across vast distances via semaphore flags and later by radio waves.

Sawatch Range

The Sawatch Range, including Mount Elbert and Mount Massive, holds secluded signal points that were part of a Cold War-era microwave relay network. These sites, often on ridgelines above 12,000 feet, consist of concrete pads, cable anchors, and the occasional decommissioned tower. Hikers seeking the best hidden signal points should follow the Mount Elbert Trail to the North Mount Elbert summit, where a 1950s-era relay station sits just below the peak. The Sawatch Range in Colorado is a treasure trove of hidden signal points for those willing to bushwhack off the main trails.

Paonia's Community Radio Stations

Paonia's community radio stations serve as a vital hub for news, events, and community engagement. KVNF 90.9 FM broadcasts from the town of 1,500 residents, airing local farmers' stories, musician debuts, and regional weather reports. The station operates out of a converted house on Grand Avenue, with volunteers running the board 24 hours a day. Paonia's community radio scene also includes KAJX 91.5 FM, which focuses on Western Slope news and music, creating a strong sense of connection across the North Fork Valley.

Peterson Space Force

Peterson Space Force Base in Colorado Springs is home to some of the most advanced space operations in the United States, monitoring satellites and ensuring communication networks stay secure. The base houses the 1st Space Operations Squadron and the 50th Space Wing, which track over 8,000 objects in orbit. While much of its work remains classified, the base's presence highlights Colorado's importance in space defense, with over 15,000 military and civilian personnel assigned to the installation.

Colorado

Schriever Air Force Base in Colorado holds military satellite museums that offer a rare glimpse into the history and technology of space-based defense systems. The base's Heritage Center displays early satellite designs from the 1960s, including a full-scale model of the GPS Block I satellite and a Titan II booster section. Visitors can see how these technologies evolved from the Corona reconnaissance satellites to modern GPS III spacecraft, with exhibits that include declassified imagery and actual flight hardware. The museum is open to the public by appointment only, with tours running every Wednesday at 10 a.m.

San Juan Range

The San Juan Range hides signal stations that once played crucial roles in communication and navigation for early explorers and settlers. The most intact example is the Animas Forks signal station, built in 1883 at 11,200 feet, which used a heliograph to relay messages across the San Juan Mountains. Today, the stone foundation and a replica signal mirror remain, accessible via the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway. The San Juan Range in Colorado is a treasure chest of hidden gems for those who hike the Ice Lakes Trail or the Engineer Mountain Trail, where similar ruins dot the high basins.