DOCSLIB.ORG

Mineral Resources of the San Juan Primitive Area, Colorado

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mineral Resources of the San Juan Primitive Area, Colorado Mineral Resources of the San Juan Primitive Area, Colorado By T. A. STEVEN and L. J. SCHMITT, JR., U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, and M. J. SHERIDAN and F. E. WILLIAMS, U.S. BUREAU of MINES With a section on IRON RESOURCES IN THE IRVING FORMATION By JACOB E. GAIR and HARRY KLEMIC, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS PRIMITIVE AREAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEY BULLETIN 1261-F An evaluation of the mineral potential of the area UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1969 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR WALTER J. HICKEL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY William T. Pecora, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS PRIMITIVE AREAS The Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, Sept. 3, 1964) and the Conference Report on Senate bill 4, 88th Congress, direct the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines to make mineral surveys of wilderness and primi­ tive areas. Areas officially designated as "wilderness," "wild," or "canoe" when the act was passed were incor­ porated into the National Wilderness Preservation Sys­ tem. Areas classed as "primitive" were not included in the Wilderness System, but the act provided that each primitive area should be studied for its suitability for incorporation into the Wilderness System. The mineral surveys constitute one aspect of the suitability studies. This bulletin reports the results of a mineral survey of the San Juan and the Upper Rio Grande primitive areas, Colorado. The area discussed in the report corresponds to the area under consideration for wilderness status. It is not identical with the San Juan and the Upper Rio Grande Primitive Areas as defined because modifications of the boundary have been proposed for the area to be considered for wilderness status. The area that was studied is referred to in this report as the San Juan primitive area. This bulletin is one of a series of similar reports on primitive areas. CONTENTS Page Summary _ ______________________________________________________ Fl Introduction._____________________________________________________ 2 Previous investigations.________________________________________ 4 Present investigation...._.________.____.___________.___._-___.- 5 Acknowledgments. _ ___________________________________________ 7 Geologic appraisal, by T. A. Steven and L. J. Schmitt, Jr______________ 8 Precambrian rocks.____________________________________________ 8 Sedimentary rocks.____________________________________________ 10 Volcanic rocks________________________________________________ 14 Source areas______________________________________________ 14 Volcanic succession._______________________________-------- 15 Mineral resources__.____ _ ____________________________^__-___- 25 Sampling and analytical techniques.__________________---_--- 27 R6sum6 of stream-sediment sampling program________-__----- 29 Crystal Valley-Missouri Gulch area (table 3-A)______-_--- 30 Needle Creek drainage (table 3-B)_________-_--------_- 31 Johnson Creek-Grizzly Gulch area (table 3-C)__________ 32 Ruby Creek drainage (table 3-D)_____-__---_----------- 33 Noname Creek drainage (table 3-E)_____________^______- 33 Leviathan Gulch and Sunlight Creek (table 3-F)__:______. 34 Tenmile Creek drainage (table 3-G)__________-_-_---__-- 34 Elk Creek drainage (table 3-H)___-__.___---------------- 35 Whitehead Gulch drainage (table 3-1)_________-_-____--- 35 Vallecito Creek drainage (table 3-J)____________-_-_--__- 36 Rock Creek, Lake Creek, and Flint Creek drainages (table 3-K, L, and M)______._._ ._._____.___ ..-__.-_..-_- 37 Los Pinos River drainage (table 3-N)______________-_--_- 37 Ute Creek drainage (table 3-0)________._....-_--------- 38 Stream drainages in the central part of the primitive area (table 3-P through T)_____._________.,_-------------- 38 Streams draining the eastern part of the primitive area (table 3-U through Z, and AA through CC).__..._._.__ 39 Mineral resources of Precambrian age._______________________ 39 Placer gold potential in Precambrian conglomerates.-_-___- 40 Sulfide deposits in older Precambrian rocks ________________ 41 Iron resources in the Irving Formation, by Jacob E. Gair and Harry Klemic.____________________-__-----_----- 43 D escription of the Irving Formation __________________ 44 Iron-formation and similar laminated ferruginous rock.. 45 Analytical data.__________________________________ 47 Pyritic black slates.___________________________________ 50 VI CONTENTS Geologic appraisal Continued Mineral resources Continued1 Page Coal, oil, and gas potential._____-_--__-__---__-____________ F51 Deposits of unknown age.__________________________________ 52 Uranium deposits west of the Animas River._____________ 52 Runlett Park-Cave Basin area....______________________ 53 Mineralized fault near Milk Creek_______________________ 53 Possible mineral deposits of Late Cretaceous or early Tertiary age.___________________________________________________ 54 Mineralized areas associated with Tertiary volcanic activity.... 54 Needle Mountains mining district.______________________ 55 Hydrothermal alteration..._________________________ 57 Disseminated molybdenite in the intrusive center.____ 59 Vein deposits.______---____-_______-_-_____-____._ 62 Beartown mining district.________________N______________ 67 Whitehead Gulch area.________________________________ 72 Altered rocks along Ute Creek._________________________ 73 Native sulfur deposits..-------------------------------- 75 Central San Juan cauldron complex____________________ 77 Fault block mosaic._______________________________ 77 Rocks altered after eruption of the Carpenter Ridge TuflL._________________________________________ 79 Piedra Peak-Red Mountain area._____.--__.________ 79 Possible ore deposits at depth..-__._._._.______.________ 81 Economic appraisal, by M. J. Sheridan and F. E. Williams. ____________ 83 Claim coverage___-_-__________----------_-___________________- 84 Patented claims.__________________________________________ 84 Unpatented claims____-__-------_--_-__--_.______________ 84 Molas Lake and Deer Park-Whitehead Gulch areas._____________ 88 Elk Park area________________---_____--.__________________ 88 Beartown mining district._____-_---___-___-__-_--_-____.__---_- 89 Noname-Tenmile Creek area____-_-__-_-_-_____-_-_-__-___--__ 90 Needle Mountains mining district.______________________________ 90 Description of workings.___________________________________ 94 Vallecito Creek-Emerald Lake area._____________________________ 109 Cave Basin area_______________________________________________ 113 Rio Grande Reservoir area._________-___-_______-_-_-_-___-_-_- 113 Trout Creek-Middle Fork Piedra River area._____________________ 114 Piedra Peak area_________-___-_-------------------_--___------ 118 References cited.-________________-___-____-_____---__----_____--_- 118 Index. ............................................................ 179 CONTENTS VII ILLUSTRATIONS Page PLATE 1. Geologic map of the San Juan primitive area.___________ In pocket 2. Map showing U.S. Geological Survey sample localities in the San Juan primitive area.__.___-__--_____-____-___-_ In pocket FIGURE 1. Index map of Colorado, showing area of this report_______-_. F3 2-11. Maps showing: 2. Relation of the San Juan primitive area to nearby areas with numerous mines and prospects_--____- 4 3. Relation of the San Juan primitive area to main mineralized areas.-..-_________________________ 26 4. Geology of the Irving Peak-Emerald Lake area.____ 44 5. Alteration minerals in rocks of the Chicago Basin area, ____,___________-___-___-__--__--__-___-_ 58 6. Distribution of major veins and fissure zones in the Needle Mountains mining district.._-__________-- 64 7. Distribution of geologic units in the Beartown mining district. --___-___-__-__--__-__.____---_--__-__ 68 8. Mineral areas studied in relation to the San Juan primitive area._________________________________ 85 9. Claims in the Molas Lake, Deer Park-Whitehead Gulch, and Elk Park areas, and the Beartown mining district_______________________________ 86 10. Claims in the Noname-Tenmile Creek area and the Needle Mountains mining district._________....___. 87 11. Location of mine workings, Needle Mountains mining district._-_____-_._____________,_____-_____--- 91 12-16. Photographs: 12. Chicago Basin (eastward view, toward Columbine Pass)-----__--_-____----_----___---_---------- 93 13. Intrusive in Chicago Basin_-----____--___-_---__-- 100 14. Aetna mine on the Aztec vein____________________ 101 15. Part of Pittsburg mine, showing vein extending over the crest_____________________________-_-_---_- 106 16. Pittsburg shaft, showing vein structure.___________ 108 17-19. Maps showing: 17. Claims in the Vallecito Creek-Emerald Lake and Cave Basin areas_____________-__--___-__._________ 110 18. Claims in the Rio Grande Reservoir area____._--_ 114 19. Claims in the Trout Creek-Middle Fork Piedra River and Piedra Peak areas.________.__--__--_-_-___- 115 20. Photograph of Arizona-Colorado Cattle Co. drill site.------- 116 VIII CONTENTS TABLES Page TABLE 1. Stratigraphic succession in the San Juan Basin near the San Juan primitive area.___________________________________ Fll 2. Volcanic succession in the San Juan primitive area.._-._--- 16 3. Analyses of stream-sediment samples._____________________ 122 4. Abundance of major oxides in samples of magnetite iron- formation, amphibolitic schist, and greenstone of the Irving Formation, Hinsdale and La Plata Counties, Colo.,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Geologic Map of the Central San Juan Caldera Cluster, Southwestern Colorado by Peter W
    Geologic Map of the Central San Juan Caldera Cluster, Southwestern Colorado By Peter W. Lipman Pamphlet to accompany Geologic Investigations Series I–2799 dacite Ceobolla Creek Tuff Nelson Mountain Tuff, rhyolite Rat Creek Tuff, dacite Cebolla Creek Tuff Rat Creek Tuff, rhyolite Wheeler Geologic Monument (Half Moon Pass quadrangle) provides exceptional exposures of three outflow tuff sheets erupted from the San Luis caldera complex. Lowest sheet is Rat Creek Tuff, which is nonwelded throughout but grades upward from light-tan rhyolite (~74% SiO2) into pale brown dacite (~66% SiO2) that contains sparse dark-brown andesitic scoria. Distinctive hornblende-rich middle Cebolla Creek Tuff contains basal surge beds, overlain by vitrophyre of uniform mafic dacite that becomes less welded upward. Uppermost Nelson Mountain Tuff consists of nonwelded to weakly welded, crystal-poor rhyolite, which grades upward to a densely welded caprock of crystal-rich dacite (~68% SiO2). White arrows show contacts between outflow units. 2006 U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey CONTENTS Geologic setting . 1 Volcanism . 1 Structure . 2 Methods of study . 3 Description of map units . 4 Surficial deposits . 4 Glacial deposits . 4 Postcaldera volcanic rocks . 4 Hinsdale Formation . 4 Los Pinos Formation . 5 Oligocene volcanic rocks . 5 Rocks of the Creede Caldera cycle . 5 Creede Formation . 5 Fisher Dacite . 5 Snowshoe Mountain Tuff . 6 Rocks of the San Luis caldera complex . 7 Rocks of the Nelson Mountain caldera cycle . 7 Rocks of the Cebolla Creek caldera cycle . 9 Rocks of the Rat Creek caldera cycle . 10 Lava flows premonitory(?) to San Luis caldera complex . .11 Rocks of the South River caldera cycle .
    [Show full text]
  • Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad F) - ~7~ - File I a Study NPS :J:Ntl,-Fl II T
    I I Durango-Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad f) - ~7~ - file I a study NPS :J:ntl,-fl II t. Pr~ pt>"#£' - UNITED STATES DEPARTME NT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE 1 ON MICROFILM 1\WE IIElUIIH o: ~ liii'ORIIMTIOH OOC1Bl I I I I I. DURANGO - SILVERTON NARROW GAUGE RAILROAD 1\ A Study I I I I I March 1962 I I I. I' I I Department of the Interior National Park Service Region Two Office I Omaha, Nebraska I I I ' I .I I I. I INTRODUCTION I This study is the story of a railroad line and an account of a I chain of recent events which have complicated that study. It describes I. in text and picture the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge line of the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad, i t s operating equipment and I facilities, its scenic and historic surroundings . The significance of this narrow gauge railroad in our Nation's history is pointed out and a case is made for its preservation. The objectives of such preservation • 1: are outlined and some possible solutions are briefed. I I I I I I • I I I \, . ._.. ·---- ~~----------------------~ I y M • w 0 I ...... -- ---- ----.,--- ----- ----------~---- I I I T L 0 R A D 0 A H ~ c 0 OOLORAOO NATIONAL MONUMI:NT Colorado I Sprin9s CAPITOL Rill: I" NATI ON"L I MONUMENT ORI!AT ~ SANO O UNI:8 I NATION& I.,. I Si I OMO NUMI!:NT 81tYc;E C ANYON NATIONAL rf PAIUC 0 0 0 I NAVAJO NAT IONAl.
    [Show full text]
  • Sunlight Peak Class 4 Exposure: Summit Elev
    Sunlight Peak Class 4 Exposure: Summit Elev.: 14,066 feet Trailhead Elev.: 11,100 feet Elevation Gain: 3,000' starting at Chicago Basin 6,000' starting at Needleton RT Length: 5.00 miles starting at Chicago Basin 19 miles starting at Needleton Climbers: Rick, Brett and Wayne Crandall; Rick Peckham August 8, 2012 I’ve been looking at climbing reports to Sunlight Peak for a few years – a definite notch up for me, so the right things aligned and my son Brett (Class 5 climber), brother Wayne (strong, younger but this would be his first fourteener success) and friend Rick Peckham from Alaska converged with me in Durango to embark on a classic Colorado adventure with many elements. We overnighted in Durango, stocking up on “essential ingredients” for a two-night camp in an area called the Chicago Basin, which as you will see, takes some doing to get to. Durango, founded in 1880 by the Denver & Rio Grande Railway company, is now southwest Colorado’s largest town, with 15,000 people. Left to right: Brett, Rick, Wayne provisioning essentials. Chicago Basin is at the foot of three fourteeners in the San Juan range that can only be reached by taking Colorado’s historic and still running (after 130 years) narrow-gauge train from Durango to Silverton and paying a fee to get off with back-pack in the middle of the ride. Once left behind, the next leg of the excursion is a 7 mile back-pack while climbing 3000’ vertical feet to the Basin where camp is set.
    [Show full text]
  • Navajo Reservoir and San Juan River Temperature Study 2006
    NAVAJO RESERVOIR AND SAN JUAN RIVER TEMPERATURE STUDY NAVAJO RESERVOIR BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 125 SOUTH STATE STREET SALT LAKE CITY, UT 84138 Navajo Reservoir and San Juan River Temperature Study Page ii NAVAJO RESERVOIR AND SAN JUAN RIVER TEMPERATURE STUDY PREPARED FOR: SAN JUAN RIVER ENDANGERED FISH RECOVERY PROGRAM BY: Amy Cutler U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Reclamation Upper Colorado Regional Office FINAL REPORT SEPTEMBER 1, 2006 ii Navajo Reservoir and San Juan River Temperature Study Page iii TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ...............................................................................................1 1. INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................3 2. OBJECTIVES ............................................................................................................5 3. MODELING OVERVIEW .......................................................................................6 4. RESERVOIR TEMPERATURE MODELING ......................................................7 5. RIVER TEMPERATURE MODELING...............................................................14 6. UNSTEADY RIVER TEMPERATURE MODELING........................................18 7. ADDRESSING RESERVOIR SCENARIOS USING CE-QUAL-W2................23 7.1 Base Case Scenario............................................................................................23 7.2 TCD Scenarios...................................................................................................23
    [Show full text]
  • Trip to Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest, Colorado Rob Maher
    Trip to Weminuche Wilderness, San Juan National Forest, Colorado Rob Maher Friday 16 July 1999 Jeff Barish (JB) and I departed Boulder at 12:45PM, picked up Jeff’s friend Peggy at her home in Broomfield, then drove to Jeff’s brother Larry’s home in Denver. We followed Larry to Colorado Springs to pick up Larry’s former student, Tom. We caravaned south on I-25 with Larry and Tom in Larry’s SUV, and JB, Peggy, and me in my SUV. Turned west on US160 to Alamosa for dinner, then on to Durango. Saturday 17 July 1999 Woke up at 6AM, had complimentary breakfast at motel, and arrived at the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad station around 7AM (elevation 6520’). We made a last-minute decision to switch to the Elk Park drop-off instead of Needleton in order to avoid the probable weekend crowds in the Needle Creek area, so we switched to the 8:15AM train which stopped at Elk Park instead of the 7:30AM train which stopped at Needleton. We loaded our backpacks in the baggage car. A group of seven hikers (2 men, 5 women) also loaded their packs, giving a total of 12 of us to be dropped at Elk Park. The train ride out of Durango and through the Rockwood Cut was quite enjoyable. We reached the drop off at Elk Park (about 8800’ elevation) around 11:30AM, with scattered clouds in the area. Several members of the other hiking group broke out cigarettes after unloading their packs from the train, and they encouraged us to go first up the trail.
    [Show full text]
  • DWR Surface Water Stations Map (Statewide) Based on DWR Surface Water Stations
    DWR Surface Water Stations Map (Statewide) Based on DWR Surface Water Stations DIV WD County State 2 12 CO 5 36 SUMMIT CO 3 99 NM 3 20 CO 2 16 HUERFANO CO 2 79 CO 6 56 MOFFAT CO 3 22 CONEJOS CO 5 36 SUMMIT CO 2 10 CO 1 3 WELD CO 5 36 SUMMIT CO 6 43 RIO BLANCO CO 99 KS 5 51 GRAND CO 5 38 EAGLE CO Page 1 of 700 10/02/2021 DWR Surface Water Stations Map (Statewide) Based on DWR Surface Water Stations DWR USGS Station Station Name Abbrev ID OIL CREEK NEAR CANON CITY, CO OILCANCO BLUE RIVER AT FARMERS CORNER BELOW SWAN RIVER BLUSWACO LOWER WILLOW CREEK ABOVE HERON, NM. WILHERNM KIRKPATRICK (SLV CANAL) RECHARGE PIT 2002056A GOMEZ DITCH GOMDITCO SPANISH PEAKS JV RETURN FLOW SPJVRFCO VERMILLION CREEK AT INK SPRINGS RANCH, CO. VERINKCO 09235450 CONEJOS RIVER BELOW PLATORO RESERVOIR, CO. CONPLACO 08245000 BLUE RIVER NEAR DILLON, CO BLUNDICO 09046600 COTTONWOOD CK AT UNION BLVD, AT COLO SPRINGS, CO 07103987 CANAL # 3 NEAR GREELEY CANAL3CO BLUE RIVER ABV PENNSYLVANIA CR NR BLUE RIVER, CO BLUPENCO 392547106023400 DRY FORK NEAR RANGELY, CO. DRYFRACO 09306237 ARKANSAS RIVER AT DODGE CITY, KS 07139500 MEADOW CREEK AT MOUTH NR TABERNASH, CO 400016105490800 CATTLE CREEK NEAR CARBONDALE, CO. CATCARCO 09084000 Page 2 of 700 10/02/2021 DWR Surface Water Stations Map (Statewide) Based on DWR Surface Water Stations Data POR POR Status UTM X UTM Y Source Start End DWR Historic 1949 1953 USGS Historic 1995 1999 409852 4380126.2 NMEX Historic 2001 2002 DWR Historic 2011 2013 DWR Active 2016 2021 518442 4163340 DWR Active 2018 2021 502864 4177096 USGS Historic 1977
    [Show full text]
  • Classic Colorado Backpacking Loops
    Classic Colorado Backpacking Loops Colorado is a mecca for backpacking with the most fourteeners of any state, multiple national parks to trek across, and a vast trail system interwoven through the Colorado Rocky Mountains. While out and back trips can be rewarding, backpacking loops give hikers a chance to continually explore new territory. These four classic Colorado backpacking trips are the perfect weekend getaways that can be done in 2-4 days. 1. Elk Creek to Needleton Loop This is an iconic 36-mile trip in the Weminuche Wilderness in Western Colorado that starts & ends with an epic train ride. You start by boarding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and enjoy the scenery as it meanders through the San Juan National Forest. After about 1 to 3 hours depending if you start in Durango or Silverton, the train will come to a stop in the vast wilderness where you will hop off, grab your pack, and then wave to the train as it chugs away leaving you surrounded by mountain peaks. The first day of hiking is mostly uphill following Elk Creek through the wooded forest. On day two you will push past tree-line to reach the Continental Divide with unobstructed views of the surrounding peaks. Lightening and storms are frequent in this area, so don’t stay too long at the top. The next several miles of hiking will be a lot of ups & downs as you traverse the backside of the mountains as you gear up to reach Vallecito Creek Bridge which has ample campsites and has good fishing.
    [Show full text]
  • Animas Mountain Trail Directions
    Animas Mountain Trail Directions duskierIs Abel microphyticWittie mass-produce or denuded or whenspyings. musters Strange some Eliot spill underwent dilutees unwarrantably.parallelly? Griswold preside scantly if These goats will soon take on foot, animas mountain bike trails and the large cairn This area and animas mountain trail directions. Crossing through heavy snowfall, animas mountain trail directions, for a stage. Coal bank on your html file size bed, exercise extreme sun perfectly aligns to nearly eight miles west side is tough, i did you! Pack out before reaching celebration lake ringed by combining cinnamon pass. Watch out a narrow. Usgs collection dates. Increase your stay to plan according to the cliff is a must be on an exploratory nature watching this popular connects hope side. Eagles nest wilderness area. To animas mountain bike shops which supports data from banff right at peak thirteen cliffs. If info advacned items contain one trail is done in tents along with your chance. Toggling classes on to slow down. The right leads towards lake was an easy hike that makes a grassy slope further down below is located in an. Jessica is a resolution has a better rock coverage of flowers hike grey rock, turning onto a white water. Continue to mountain in colorado mountains. You fall under ideal for picnicking are given national forest near the direction, concrete sections very quick descents. Just beyond to animas loop at a day in silverton since rudy is wet they can be back at times and beyond, directions to what hope looks vegan but. Your driveway may find.
    [Show full text]
  • Mineral Resource Potential of the Piedra Wilderness Study Area, Archuleta and Hinsdale Counties, Colorado
    DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MISCELLANEOUS FIELD STUDIES UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAP MF-1630-A PAMPHLET MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL OF THE PIEDRA WILDERNESS STUDY AREA, ARCHULETA AND HINSDALE COUNTIES, COLORADO By Alfred L. Bush, Steven H. Condon, and Karen J. Franczyk, U.S. Geological ·Survey and s. Don Brown, U.S. Bureau of Mines STUDIES RELATED TO WILDERNESS Under the provisions of the Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and related acts, the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Bureau of Mines have been conducting mineral surveys of wilderness and primitivE.. areas. Areas officially designated as "wilderness," "wild," or "canoe" when the act was passed were incorporated into the National Wilderness Preservation System, and some of them are being studied at present. The act provided that areas under consideration for wilderness designation should be studied for suitability for incorporation into the Wilderness System. The mineral surveys constitute one aspect of the suitability studies. The act directs that the results of such surveys are to be made available to the public and be submit ted to the President and the Congress. This report discusses the · results of a mineral survey of the Piedra Wilderness Study Area, San Juan National Forest, Archuleta and Hinsdale Counties, Colorado. The area was established as a wilderness study area by Public Law 96-560, known as the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980. MINERAL RESOURCE POTENTIAL SUMMARY STATEMENT The mineral resource potential of the Piedra Wilderness Study Area is low. No occurrences of metallic minerals, of valuable industrial rocks and minerals, or of useful concentrations of organic fuels are known in the study area.
    [Show full text]
  • Campground, Mesa Verde National Park Chief Ranger Office, Mesa Verde Wilderness, a 8500 Acre Wilderness Area Located Within Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado
    MileByMile.com Personal Road Trip Guide Colorado United States Highway #160 "Cortez to Walsenburg" Miles ITEM SUMMARY 0.0 Cortez, CO The city of Cortez, Colorado, a city in Montezuma County, CO. Cortez is a popular stop for tourists for its close proximity to surrounding attractions such as Mesa Verde National Park, Monument Valley, and the Four Corners. Also here is Parque De Vida, Centennial Park, Southwest Memorial Hospital and the Conquistador Golf Course. Altitude: 6191 feet 2.2 Junction State Route #145 Junction State Route #145 / County Road 27, Conquistador Golf Course, Lakeside Drive to, Denny Lake Park, Denny Lake. Altitude: 6168 feet 3.7 County Road 29 : Totten County Road 29, Totten Lake, a lake located north off United States Lake Route #160. Altitude: 6165 feet 10.3 Entrance : Mesa Verde State Highway #10, Entrance to Mesa Verde National Park, Spruce National Park Canyon Trail, Mesa Verde National Park Headquarters, Ara Morafield Campground, Mesa Verde National Park Chief Ranger Office, Mesa Verde Wilderness, a 8500 acre wilderness area located within Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. These three small and separate sections of the National Park are located on the steep north and east boundaries and serve as buffers to further protect the significant Native American sites. Unlike most wilderness areas, visitor access to Mesa Verde Wilderness is prohibited. Altitude: 6886 feet 11.3 Access : Mesa Verde RV Access to, Mesa Verde RV Resort, located just off United States Resort Highway #160. Altitude: 6844 feet 18.0 Junction State Route #184 Junction State Route #184, N Main Street.
    [Show full text]
  • Map of the Weminuche Wilderness
    Weminuche Wilderness Trip Planning Resources, and Map Backpackers pause to take in the views on the Continental Divide Trail, Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado The Weminuche Wilderness Wilderness Rules With nearly 500 thousand of federally protected wilderness and Regulations peaks, forests, and alpine tundra, the Weminuche is the largest wilderness area in Colorado. Capped with snowy peaks that feed Group size: the tributaries of the Colorado River, the San Juan mountains that Maximum group size is 15 people per group, with a maxi- mum combination of people and stock not to exceed 25. form the heart of the wilderness are as rugged as the Colorado Rockies ever get. Every year, climbers scale its craggy peaks and Travel and Equipment: outdoorsmen and women pitch their tents in it’s green alpine -- Possession of motorized equipment and mechanized valleys, and anglers try their luck in its cold mountain streams. means of transport are not permitted. Use of motor vehicles, bicycles, wagons, hang gliders, carts, chainsaws, or other motorized equipment is not permitted. The Weminuche wilderness area is located near the towns of -- To lessen erosion, shortcutting of switchbacks is pro- Durango, Pagosa Springs, Creede, and Silverton in southwest- hibited. ern Colorado. The wilderness contains popular Chicago Basin, -- Use of aircraft to land or drop people or materials is prohibited, with the exception of agency-approved with it’s three fourteeners Mt. Eolus, Sunlight and Windom Peak administrative use or emergency search-and-rescue as well as scenic points such as The Window, Pigeon and Tur- operations. ret Peaks and portions of the rugged Colorado and Continental Divide Trails.
    [Show full text]
  • Eagle's View of San Juan Mountains
    Eagle’s View of San Juan Mountains Aerial Photographs with Mountain Descriptions of the most attractive places of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains Wojtek Rychlik Ⓒ 2014 Wojtek Rychlik, Pikes Peak Photo Published by Mother's House Publishing 6180 Lehman, Suite 104 Colorado Springs CO 80918 719-266-0437 / 800-266-0999 [email protected] www.mothershousepublishing.com ISBN 978-1-61888-085-7 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Printed by Mother’s House Publishing, Colorado Springs, CO, U.S.A. Wojtek Rychlik www.PikesPeakPhoto.com Title page photo: Lizard Head and Sunshine Mountain southwest of Telluride. Front cover photo: Mount Sneffels and Yankee Boy Basin viewed from west. Acknowledgement 1. Aerial photography was made possible thanks to the courtesy of Jack Wojdyla, owner and pilot of Cessna 182S airplane. Table of Contents 1. Introduction 2 2. Section NE: The Northeast, La Garita Mountains and Mountains East of Hwy 149 5 San Luis Peak 13 3. Section N: North San Juan Mountains; Northeast of Silverton & West of Lake City 21 Uncompahgre & Wetterhorn Peaks 24 Redcloud & Sunshine Peaks 35 Handies Peak 41 4. Section NW: The Northwest, Mount Sneffels and Lizard Head Wildernesses 59 Mount Sneffels 69 Wilson & El Diente Peaks, Mount Wilson 75 5. Section SW: The Southwest, Mountains West of Animas River and South of Ophir 93 6. Section S: South San Juan Mountains, between Animas and Piedra Rivers 108 Mount Eolus & North Eolus 126 Windom, Sunlight Peaks & Sunlight Spire 137 7. Section SE: The Southeast, Mountains East of Trout Creek and South of Rio Grande 165 9.
    [Show full text]