Wheeler Geologic Area

The Wheeler Geologic Area is a highly eroded outcropping of layers of volcanic ash, located in the La Garita Mountains of Mineral County, in southern Colorado in the western United States. The ash is the result of eruptions from the La Garita Caldera approximately 25 millions years ago.

The area was designated a National Monument from 1908 until 1950; and was Colorado's first National Monument. It is now part of the La Garita Wilderness and administered by the Rio Grande National Forest. Lying just below the crest of the range at an elevation of 11,960 feet (3645 m), it can best be reached via the East Bellows Trail (FS790).

The formations are named after Captain George M. Wheeler, who explored and surveyed this area in 1874 for the U.S. Army.

ee also

* La Garita Caldera

Further reading

"Hiking Colorado", by Caryn and Peter Boddie (1991). ISBN 1-56044-377-4

Getting There

From Highway 160 heading west from Alamosa, take Highway 114 north out of South Fork. It is 14 miles to Pool Table Road (FR 600), which is on the right hand (east) side of the highway. Take this road for 10 miles until it ends at the trailhead. You can either hike from here on TR 790(8.5 miles, 1200' of gain), or take FR 600 as it goes to the area (14 miles). Expect about 3-4 hours either way.

External links

* [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_national_forest/co/see_rio1.htm GORP.com: Wheeler Geologic Area]
* [http://www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm Sangres.com: Wheeler Geologic Area]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/recreation/trails/790.shtml Rio Grande National Forest: East Bellows Trail]