You know all there is know about Colorado's majestic mountains, pretty plains, and colorful cities, but did you know that there is a whole other side to the Centennial State that you are missing? Just on the "other" side of our purple mountains lies the Western Slope; the west side of the Continental Divide that houses Montrose, Gunnison, and this often overlooked Colorado city:
Home to near 60,000 residents, the town of Grand Junction is the Western Slope's most populous area that offers incredible views, fare, and unique opportunities galore!
Named for the its location at the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, the Grand Junction area was once occupied primarily by Ute people until being settled by European-American farmers in the 1880s.
Today, Grand Junction is known for being the location of Colorado Mesa University, but there is so much more to the city, (which is the 15th most populous community in the state), than just this institute.
What is there to do in this western Colorado oasis? For starters, there is a charming downtown area chock full of delicious restaurants and unique shopping...
The most iconic pair of peaks in Colorado is, without a doubt, Maroon Bells. These two mountain peaks, located in the eponymous Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area near Aspen, are absolutely gorgeous. Maroon Peak and North Maroon Peak are separated by less than a half mile, and both are over 14,000 feet tall. The view of these peaks from the southwest, as shown above, is one of the most commonly photographed panoramas in all of Colorado.
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Everyone who visits and views these mountains is amazed by their beauty. But have you ever taken a moment to notice and look at the lake at their base?
You may have hardly even noticed it before, but - without a doubt - its presence enhances this incredible scene immensely.
This lake adds so much to this spectacular setting, as it's extremely clear and still, and it is a major piece of the puzzle when it comes to photographing this pair of peaks. It's name is Maroon Lake, and it sits pretty at 9,850 feet of elevation. Like the valley that surrounds it, this lake was first sculpted by Ice Age alpine glaciers and later by stream erosion and mudslides. Mud and debris slides from Sievers Mountain to the west dammed West Maroon Creek at one point, and as a result, the lake was formed.
Surprisingly, this lake is only 10 feet deep at its deepest point, and its even shallower in most areas. Because of this, and because of the way the lake was formed, and due to the fact that it remains full year after year thanks to rain and runoff from snowmelt, this lake is naturally devoid of fish. However, the lake is stocked with brook, rainbow, brown, and Colorado River cutthroat trout by the Colorado Division of Wildlife each year. It's popular with anglers, but anyone wanting to fish there needs a state-issued fishing license, of course.
Activities including swimming, wading, boating, kayaking, and rafting are prohibited in Maroon Lake, but visitors can walk all the way around it easily on the 1.7-mile nature trail that circumnavigates it. Don't forget to bring your camera - you're sure to take dozens of pictures on your journey.
Maroon Lake is one of the cleanest and clearest lakes in our great state, but these qualities are threatened by the large number of people who visit it each year. Often, over 300,000 people visit Maroon Lake each year. The U.S. Forest Service encourages people to visit this place to experience it in person for themselves, but also has to work hard to combat human impact on this beautiful place. In order to decrease the impact of passenger vehicles on this area, visitors must take a 30-minute shuttle to the site from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. from May to October each year, and must reserve a spot on this shuttle in advance. This shuttle has helped to reduce airborne nitrogen levels that could pollute the lake since it began running in 1978.
Of course, visitors have to do their part, too. Other threats to the clarity and cleanliness of this lake include trail erosion - which can be greatly diminished when visitors stay on marked trails - and improper disposal of human waste. To help curtail the later issue, in recent years, visitors - especially those camping nearby - have been encouraged to practice proper human waste disposal practices through a U.S. Forest Service-led human waste disposal awareness campaign that has had much success.
The future of Maroon Bells, this view, Maroon Creek, and Maroon Lake is bright, as long as all who visit do their part! Everyone should visit this impressive spot at least once in their lives. You'll love it, and its a vista that you'll never, ever forget. Take lots of pictures, and leave nothing but footprints. Have a great visit!
Rock formations caused by erosion of volcanic tuff in Wheeler Geological Area, Colorado
Have you been to Wheeler Geologic Area? Have you even heard of Wheeler Geologic area? This natural wonder in Colorado is a hidden gem, and it's under the radar even for most Coloradans. However, it's one spot that you absolutely should not miss when going deep into the Colorado backcountry.
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Wheeler Geologic Area is not at all like anywhere else in our great state, and it's certainly worth the trek to go see it, if you can. Best of all, it's absolutely free to visit!
There's so much beauty in Colorado, and so much of it is so varied. We have mountains, rivers, canyons, glaciers, caves, sand dunes, and so much more. Wheeler Geologic Area, however, is quite unusual. In many ways, it looks like a place that would be more at home in Utah, Arizona, or New Mexico than in Colorado, and although its somewhat close in distance from all three of those states, it's actually a bit further inward into the heart of south-central Colorado - and is not far from the town of Creede.
Wheeler Geologic Area is officially named for Captain George Wheeler who surveyed the area for the U.S. Army in 1874. However, it has had many names over the years including "The City of Gnomes," "White Shrouded Ghosts," and "Dante's Lost Souls." All of these nicknames are, without a doubt, quite fitting for the unique rock formations found there.
Best described as an eroded outcropping of layers of compacted volcanic ash - also known as volcanic tuff - this small-but-breathtaking site is located in the Rio Grande National Forest. The ash descended on this area after several eruptions from the La Garita Caldera about 25 to 30 million years ago when the surrounding San Juan Mountains were formed. Since then, wind and rain has slowly eroded the hardened ash to create interesting rock formations that will amaze you.
It's no surprise that this natural area is a standout in the aptly named Mineral County. The towering needles and spires found here are reminiscent of Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park combined with South Dakota's Custer State Park - but are different enough from both of those places to be entirely unique, too. They'll truly take your breath away, and you'll love exploring this area.
That is, if your breath isn't already taken away by your journey to reach it! The trek to this natural site is not for everyone. There are two ways to get there, and both are quite long (but worth it). You can reach the site by taking a nine mile one way hike on the quiet East Bellows Trail, or by following a 4WD road for 14 miles. For the most part, these hikes include a lot of flat terrain en route. But, the geologic area itself is located at an elevation of 11,960 feet, so these hikes are best attempted by people who are familiar with hiking in higher elevations. Of course, if you have a high clearance, 4WD vehicle or ATV, and are okay with very slow going over extremely rough and rocky terrain, you can try driving there as well.
To even further illustrate the remoteness of this natural wonder, it's interesting to note that on December 7, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt designated this site as Wheeler National Monument - thereby making it the first national monument in the Centennial State. At that time, it was the second most popular tourist attraction in Colorado! However, due to the fact that it's quite difficult to access for most, that designation was removed by President Harry Truman in 1950, and that's why it's today known instead as Wheeler Geologic Area rather than as the national monument it once was. Today, it's maintained and managed by the National Forest Service, rather than by the National Parks Service.
It's possible to visit Wheeler Geologic Area as a day hiker if you start early enough and don't dawdle. However, most people familiar with the area recommend an overnight stay near the site. Dispersed camping is allowed nearby, but no camping or fires are allowed in the geologic area itself. Be sure to Leave No Trace and pack out what you bring in. Be safe, and have a great time. Be sure to bring your camera and take lots of pictures. Wheeler Geologic Area is a Colorado gem that you'll adore and you're sure to never forget!
