The Wheeler Geologic Area is a highly eroded outcropping of layers of volcanic ash, located in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, United States.[1] It is about 10 miles east north-east of Creede. The ash is the result of eruptions from the La Garita Caldera approximately 25 million years ago.[2]
On December 7, 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt designated the area Wheeler National Monument, the first national monument in Colorado.[3] The area's remote location made visitor visits difficult, and on August 3, 1950, President Harry Truman signed an act abolishing the national monument and creating the Wheeler Geologic Area of Rio Grande National Forest. The geologic area is now part of the La Garita Wilderness.[4] Lying just below the crest of the range at an elevation of 11,960 feet (3645 m), it can be reached by an 8.4-mile hike on the East Bellows Trail (FS790), or by a difficult 14 mile four-wheel drive road.[5]
The formations are named after Captain George M. Wheeler, who explored and surveyed the area in 1874 for the U.S. Army.[1]
Further readingedit
"Hiking Colorado", by Caryn and Peter Boddie (1991). ISBN1-56044-377-4
^High, Laura (2020-08-25). ""City of Gnomes" used to be one of Colorado's busiest attractions. Now, it's the perfect remote adventure". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
^"Wheeler Geologic Area". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
wheeler, geologic, area, location, within, colorado, highly, eroded, outcropping, layers, volcanic, located, juan, mountains, southern, colorado, united, states, about, miles, east, north, east, creede, result, eruptions, from, garita, caldera, approximately, . 37 53 02 N 106 47 02 W 37 884 N 106 784 W 37 884 106 784 Wheeler Geologic Area Location within Colorado The Wheeler Geologic Area is a highly eroded outcropping of layers of volcanic ash located in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado United States 1 It is about 10 miles east north east of Creede The ash is the result of eruptions from the La Garita Caldera approximately 25 million years ago 2 On December 7 1908 President Theodore Roosevelt designated the area Wheeler National Monument the first national monument in Colorado 3 The area s remote location made visitor visits difficult and on August 3 1950 President Harry Truman signed an act abolishing the national monument and creating the Wheeler Geologic Area of Rio Grande National Forest The geologic area is now part of the La Garita Wilderness 4 Lying just below the crest of the range at an elevation of 11 960 feet 3645 m it can be reached by an 8 4 mile hike on the East Bellows Trail FS790 or by a difficult 14 mile four wheel drive road 5 The formations are named after Captain George M Wheeler who explored and surveyed the area in 1874 for the U S Army 1 Further reading edit Hiking Colorado by Caryn and Peter Boddie 1991 ISBN 1 56044 377 4References edit a b Wheeler Geological Area www southfork org Retrieved 2024 02 24 Wheeler Geologic Area CMC Retrieved 2024 02 24 High Laura 2020 08 25 City of Gnomes used to be one of Colorado s busiest attractions Now it s the perfect remote adventure The Denver Post Retrieved 2024 02 24 Wheeler Geologic Area www fs usda gov Retrieved February 23 2024 Wheeler Geologic Area CMC Retrieved 2024 02 24 External links editUSDA gov official site GORP com history Wheeler Geologic Area at Atlas Obscura Sangres com photo and maps Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wheeler Geologic Area amp oldid 1209890909, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
