20 Attractions to Explore Near Cochetopa Pass

North Pass is located in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Saguache County. It is the highest motor pass in Colorado. The pass provides a connection between the town of Saguache on the west side and the Sangre de Cristo range on the east. There are several lakes in the area, including Blue Lake, which lies just north of the pass. North Pass is a popular destination for hiking, fishing, and camping.

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.

La Garita Wilderness is a federally protected wilderness area established in 1980 and covers a total of 37,000 acres. The area is known for its rugged mountain terrain, as well as its abundant wildlife. Visitors to the region can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and horseback riding. It is also home to several rare plant and animal species, including the Gunnison sage grouse. With its diverse landscapes and abundant recreation opportunities, this Wilderness is a cherished natural treasure.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Tomichi Dome rises north of U.S. Highway 50 west of Hot Springs Creek and south of Waunita Hot Springs Reservoir in the southeast quarter of Gunnison County, Colorado. It is situated within the Gunnison National Forest.Tomichi Dome has been described as an extrusive, volcanic feature where the initial eruptions deposited breccia and tuff that is over 670 feet thick. A flow or dome of topaz rhyolite overlies the tuff.

Antora Peak is a summit in the San Juan Mountains of Saguache County, Colorado. The peak is located in the Brainard Lake Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest. The peak is named for Antora Breedlove, one of the first settlers in the area. The peak rises to an elevation of 12,941 feet and offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains. There are several hiking trails that lead to the summit, and the peak is popular with climbers and mountaineers.

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.

Marshall Pass is a high mountain pass that has been used for centuries by Native Americans and early settlers. The pass was named for James Marshall, who discovered gold in California in 1848. In the late 1800s, the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad built a line through the pass, and it became an important route for trade and travel. Today, Marshall Pass is a popular destination for hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing. The scenic route offers stunning views of the valley below.

Cochetopa Canyon is a valley in Colorado and has an elevation of 7841 feet. Cochetopa Canyon is situated nearby to Cochetopa Creek. Beautiful rock formations line Highway 114 and lead down to this little oasis located between Saguache and Gunnison. A scenic location where you can spend some beautiful time.

Tomichi Creek is a relatively small waterway that mirrors US-50 for much of the way between Monarch Pass and Gunnison. The Tomichi Valley is a semi-wide valley allowing Tomichi Creek to meander and split into several waterways creating an excellent livestock range and being largely private ranch lands.Tomichi Creek State Wildlife Area is a gated public access with parking located at the east end of the runway at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport.

Mount Ouray is a mountain peak in Saguache County. With an elevation of 12,943 feet, it is the county's highest point. The mountain is located in the San Juan Mountains, a range of the Rocky Mountains. Mount Ouray is named for Chief Ouray of the Ute tribe, who lived in the area. The mountain has been a popular destination for hikers and climbers since the late 19th century. A trail to the summit was built in 1887, making it one of the first mountains in Colorado to be accessible by trail.

Monarch Pass is one of the most breathtaking and fun to visit high elevation mountain passes in Colorado. The pass carries U.S. Highway 50 over the Sawatch Range, providing a route between Tomichi Creek in the upper basin of the Gunnison River on the west and the South Arkansas River, a tributary of the Arkansas River, on the east. The pass is widely considered one of the most scenic in Colorado, offering a panoramic view of the southern end of the Sawatch Range from the summit.

Quartz Creek is a stream in Gunnison County, Colorado. It rises in the Rocky Mountains above the town of Pitkin, Colorado. The stream rises in the Gunnison National Forest and is formed by the merger of the North, Middle, and South Quartz creeks. It flows through the Quartz Creek Valley and through the towns of Pitkin and Ohio City. Ironically, most of the land along Quartz Creek in the valley is privately held, so there is little public fishing there.

Monarch Mountain is one of the oldest Colorado ski areas, which opened in 1939. It’s located in the central Rocky Mountains near Salida and receives over 350 inches of snow each year. The resort is situated on Monarch Pass at the continental divide. It has 54 trails, two terrain parks, and an extreme terrain area called Mirkwood. The Monarch Mountain Lodge is located three miles (5 km) east of the ski area in the town of Garfield, Colorado.

Hartman Rocks has 45 miles of single track trail, 45 miles of roads, 50 designated dispersed campsites, and countless climbing crags. Single track trails are perfect for mountain biking, dirt biking, hiking, and trail running.Views at Hartman Rocks are spectacular especially during sunrise and sunset with the Gunnison Basin to the North and the San Juan Mountains to the south.

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.

The Russell Lakes are two high mountain lakes in Saguache County, Colorado. They are located in a rugged, remote area and can be accessed only by hiking. The lakes are named for their distinctive shape - they are each shaped like a perfect oval. The lakes are surrounded by towering cliffs and offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Despite their remote location, the lakes are teeming with fish, and both rainbow trout and cutthroat trout can be found in their waters.