20 Attractions to Explore Near La Garita Wilderness

San Luis Peak is the highest mountain in Saguache County. With an elevation of 14,014 feet, it is also the seventh-highest peak in the state of Colorado. The mountain is located in the Sangre de Cristo Range, about 60 miles southwest of Denver. San Luis Peak was originally named Mount Rosa by early explorers, but its name was changed to San Luis Peak in 1861 in honor of Saint Louis, Missouri. The mountain is a popular destination for hikers and climbers.

Halfmoon Pass is a scenic mountain pass located in Saguache County, situated at an elevation of 12,059 feet and provides stunning views of the surrounding mountains and valleys. The area around the pass is popular with hikers, campers, and mountain bikers, and it is also a popular destination for backcountry skiers. Halfmoon Pass is one of several high mountain passes in Colorado that remain open year-round, and it provides access to a number of beautiful alpine lakes.

Wheeler Geologic Area is a preservation area located in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. The area is known for its striking geological features, including hoodoos, human-like figures made of rock, and a variety of other sedimentary formations, and interesting geology, which includes a variety of volcanic rocks, as well as minerals and fossils. The area was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976, and it is now managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Stewart Peak is the highest point in Saguache County, Colorado. It is located in the San Juan Mountains, and its summit offers stunning views of the surrounding area. The peak is made up of granite, and it is named after John Stewart, who was the first person to reach the summit. Stewart Peak is a popular destination for hikers and climbers, and it is also home to a variety of wildlife. The peak is accessible via a number of trails, and there are several campsites located nearby.

The Rio Grande National Forest is located in Saguache County. The forest includes the San Luis Valley, which is the largest high-altitude valley in the world. It is home to many species of wildlife, including elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn. The forest also has a wide variety of birds, including eagles, hawks, and owls. This National Forest is a popular destination for hikers, campers, and fishermen. There are over 700 miles of trails in the forest, as well as four Wilderness Areas.

The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in a forested ring around the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. It encompasses the San Luis Valley, which is the world's largest agricultural alpine valley, as well as one of the world's largest high deserts located around mountains.

The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in a forested ring around the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. It is located in southcentral Colorado and remains one of the true undiscovered jewels of Colorado. There are four officially designated wilderness areas lying within Rio Grande National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. All of them extend partially into neighboring National Forests.

Baldy Cinco is one summit in a group of four 13ers located on the north end of Snow Mesa - a vast, high altitude plateau east of Spring Creek Pass.The mountain, a thirteener, is located on the Continental Divide in the San Juan Mountains. Different areas of the slopes of Baldy Cinco lie in the Rio Grande National Forest, the La Garita Wilderness, and the Gunnison National Forest.

La Garita Caldera is a huge volcanic crater in southwest Colorado, about 45 miles wide. It is one of the largest known volcanoes on Earth. Today, the caldera is mostly filled with sedimentary rock, but it still has active geothermal features such as hot springs and fumaroles. The caldera is also home to a number of rare plants and animals. The caldera is located within the La Garita Wilderness area, and it is a popular destination for hikers and climbers.

Spring Creek Pass is an easily accessible high mountain pass along the Continental Divide in Hinsdale County. It serves as a trailhead for two popular trails with a common route in this area, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

North Clear Creek Falls is a dramatic waterfall near Lake City. In its peak spring and summer season, this waterfall rages over the cliff side. It is a 100+ foot waterfall carved into the landscape of southwestern Colorado. This is not so much a hike as a great place to pull off for a picnic and take in views of what become the most famous waterfall in the Rocky Mountain State.

The Powderhorn Wilderness is a protected area located in the southwestern part of the US state of Colorado. it is an important watershed for the Gunnison River. The area protects the East, Middle, and West forks of Powderhorn Creek, which merge and then have a confluence with Cebolla Creek. There are six trailheads that provide access to the wilderness. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude.

Cochetopa Pass is a high mountain pass in the Rocky Mountains of central Colorado. The pass is located on the Continental Divide, at an elevation of 11,991 feet. It is one of the lowest passes on the Continental Divide in Colorado. The pass is traversed by State Highway 114, which connects the town of Saguache with the San Luis Valley. The pass is located within the San Isabel National Forest, and is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and fishing.

Slumgullion Pass is an ultra-high mountain pass with an elevation of 11,530 ft. The north side has the steepest grade of any continuously paved road in Colorado, but the pass does not close often in winter because snowplows clear the route regularly during this season. The real Slumgullion Pass sits at about 200 feet lower in elevation on a ridge to the north and is inaccessible by vehicle, although the summit is referred to as “Slumgullion Pass.”

Continental Reservoir is a large irrigation impoundment located south of Lake City, in the center of Hinsdale County, Colorado. The Continental Reservoir has a fluctuating surface elevation of roughly 10,300 feet, with nearly 150 acres of pristine blue water tucked into picturesque Rocky Mountain wilderness.

The Rio Grande Scenic Railroad is Colorado's newest train offering steam engine rides through breathtaking mountain valleys and over legendary LaVeta pass on hundreds of miles of historic rail. The train travels on the tracks that were laid in 1878 to bring supplies into the San Luis Valley and ship agricultural and mining products out. You can relive the golden age of railroads through miles of unspoiled Colorado territory, all the while learning about the San Luis Valley and surrounding areas

Powderhorn Lake is a 50-acre freshwater lake with an adjacent 55-acre shallow pool, owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. To the north lies Wolf Lake, a 950-acre freshwater lake, owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Once connected as part of a large collection of marshes, lakes, and rivers adjacent to Lake Michigan, these lakes have been isolated by urban and industrial development.

Calf Creek Plateau is a mountain in the northern San Juan Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The easiest route to the summit starts at the Powderhorn Lakes Trailhead located at the northern edge of the wilderness area.All these routes begin in subalpine forests before emerging into the scenic alpine landscape of the Powderhorn Wilderness.

The South Fork of the Rio Grande is located in Rio Grande county, Colorado. The river is a tributary of the Rio Grande, and it runs for approximately 30 miles through the county. The South Fork is known for its beautiful scenery and its abundance of wildlife. recreation opportunities in the area include fishing, camping, hiking, and rafting. The river is also home to a number of endangered fish species, including the Colorado Pikeminnow and the Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout.

Cannibal Plateau is a summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado in the United States. It is composed of basaltic lava flows of the Hinsdale Formation, which are dated as 16 to 19 million years old. The easiest route to the summit starts at the Powderhorn Lakes Trailhead located at the northern edge of the wilderness area. All these routes begin in subalpine forests before emerging into the scenic alpine landscape of the Powderhorn Wilderness.