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Colorado Nature

There's A Little Known Unique Geologic Area In Colorado... And It's Truly Spectacular

By Annie | Published May 23, 2016

Geologic areas… Do you know anything about them? To be completely honest, I had never even heard the term until I discovered the virtually unknown Wheeler Geologic Area near Creede, which contains volcanic outcroppings from millions of years ago. Intrigued? Here’s what you need to know about this fascinating area:

Believe it or not, Colorado was once home to volcanoes, including the 30-million-year-old La Garita Caldera, which caused these large fragments.

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How do these volcanic ash remains stay intact? Since they are merely specs of dust, the shoots are constantly eroding and changing!

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Wheeler was designated as Colorado's first ever National Monument in 1908. However, in 1950, it was decided that since the area was so off-the-grid that funding would be cut and responsibility administered to the Rio Grande National Forest.

The area was named in honor of U.S. Army Captain George M. Wheeler, who originally surveyed the terrain back in the 1870's.

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Access to the area is available via both a 7-mile hike or rugged 14-mile road. For more information on where to go for access, visit the Rio Grande National Forest's website.

Have you had the opportunity to see this unique area in person?

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