World Art Utopia

Kissing Camels

Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods, Colorado: a red rock ridge whose top looks like two camels touching lips, with a gap of sky between their necks
Artwork FileColorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Kissing Camels

SeenOct 2023

Natural rock formation · Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

Photo: “Kissing Camels 5” by James St. John / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

The Kissing Camels form a small natural arch above North Gateway Rock in Colorado Springs. Their paired silhouettes rise from Lyons Formation sandstone in Garden of the Gods. Source Reported

Photographed Oct 2023. Evidence date: 2023-10-07. Source Reported

💡 4 things to know

  1. A tilted fin of sandstoneRay Boren identifies the rock as Lyons Formation sandstone whose layers have been tipped upright. Source Reported
  2. Pareidolia in red rockBoren calls the perceived camel shapes an example of pareidolia: recognizing familiar forms in unrelated patterns. Source Reported
  3. Named for the obviousSpencer McKee describes the resemblance that gave this formation its name. Source Reported
  4. A small natural windowPhotographer James St. John describes the small arch at the top of the sandstone wall as a natural window. Source Reported

📍 Where it is

Top of North Gateway Rock, Garden of the Gods · Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA Source Reported

Open in Maps

Map pin is approximate; use the named site or address to locate the formation.

🗓️ Sightings

  1. 200727 Jul

    Photo taken

  2. 201725 Jan

    Denver Gazette feature

  3. 20237 Oct

    Photo taken (EPOD)

Green stamps mark dated photographs; amber stamps mark records or reports; red stamps mark loss. Publication dates are not camera dates.

✅ The facts

Formation type
Natural sandstone formation, no artist Source Checked
Location
Top of North Gateway Rock, Garden of the Gods Source Checked
Rock
Fine-grained sandstone of the Lyons Formation Source Checked
Map reference
EPOD’s Garden of the Gods reference point: 38.87997, -104.88107 Source Reported

In the press

Denver Gazette · 2017-01-25
“It got its name because it really does look like two kissing camels.” Source
The paper on how the formation got its name. Reported

🔗 Related

All sources & image credits

Photo: “Kissing Camels 5” by James St. John / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

Last checked: 26 October 2026 · How we verify art