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Coordinates: 37°53′02″N 106°47′02″W / 37.884°N 106.784°W / 37.884; -106.784
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{{Short description|Eroded outcropping of volcanic ash in the La Garita Mountains, Colorado, United States}}
{{Short description|Volcanic geologic feature in Colorado, United States}}
{{coord|37.884|-106.784|display=title}}
{{coord|37.884|-106.784|display=title}}
{{no sources|date=June 2023}}
[[Image:A272, Wheeler Geologic Area, La Garita Wilderness, Colorado, USA, 2008.JPG|thumb|Wheeler Geologic Area]]
[[Image:A272, Wheeler Geologic Area, La Garita Wilderness, Colorado, USA, 2008.JPG|thumb|Wheeler Geologic Area]]
[[Image:COMap-doton-WheelerGA.png|thumb|270px|Location within Colorado]]
[[Image:COMap-doton-WheelerGA.png|thumb|270px|Location within Colorado]]
The '''Wheeler Geologic Area''' is a highly eroded [[outcrop]]ping of layers of volcanic ash, in the [[La Garita Mountains]] of [[Mineral County, Colorado|Mineral County]], in southern [[Colorado]] in the western [[United States]] about 10 miles [[Points of the compass|east north-east]] of [[Creede, Colorado|Creede]]. The ash is the result of eruptions from the [[La Garita Caldera]] approximately 25 million years ago.
The '''Wheeler Geologic Area''' is a highly eroded [[outcrop]]ping of layers of volcanic ash, located in the San Juan Mountains in southern [[Colorado]], [[United States]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Wheeler Geological Area |url=https://www.southfork.org/wheeler-geological-area |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=www.southfork.org}}</ref> It is about 10 miles [[Points of the compass|east north-east]] of [[Creede, Colorado|Creede]]. The ash is the result of eruptions from the [[La Garita Caldera]] approximately 25 million years ago.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Wheeler Geologic Area |url=https://www.cmc.org/education-adventure/trips/routes-places/wheeler-geologic-area |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=CMC |language=en}}</ref>


On December 7, 1908, [[President Theodore Roosevelt]] designated the area '''[[Wheeler National Monument]]''', the first national monument in Colorado. The area's remote location made visitor visits difficult, and on August 3, 1950, [[Harry S. Truman|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]]. 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 ([[United States Forest Service|FS]]790), or by a difficult 14 mile [[four-wheel drive]] road.
On December 7, 1908, [[President Theodore Roosevelt]] designated the area '''[[Wheeler National Monument]]''', the first national monument in Colorado.<ref>{{Cite web |last=High |first=Laura |date=2020-08-25 |title=“City of Gnomes” used to be one of Colorado’s busiest attractions. Now, it’s the perfect remote adventure. |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2020/08/25/colorado-wheeler-geologic-area-remote-adventure/ |access-date=2024-02-24 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}}</ref> The area's remote location made visitor visits difficult, and on August 3, 1950, [[Harry S. Truman|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]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wheeler Geologic Area |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/riogrande/recarea/?recid=29264 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=www.fs.usda.gov}}</ref> 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 ([[United States Forest Service|FS]]790), or by a difficult 14 mile [[four-wheel drive]] road.<ref name=":1" />


The formations are named after Captain [[George Wheeler (explorer)|George M. Wheeler]], who explored and surveyed this area in 1874 for the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]].
The formations are named after Captain [[George Wheeler (explorer)|George M. Wheeler]], who explored and surveyed the area in 1874 for the [[United States Army|U.S. Army]].<ref name=":0" />


==Further reading==
==Further reading==
"Hiking Colorado", by Caryn and Peter Boddie (1991). {{ISBN|1-56044-377-4}}
"Hiking Colorado", by Caryn and Peter Boddie (1991). {{ISBN|1-56044-377-4}}

== References ==
<references />


==External links==
==External links==
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* [https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wheeler-geologic-area Wheeler Geologic Area] at [[Atlas Obscura]]
* [https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/wheeler-geologic-area Wheeler Geologic Area] at [[Atlas Obscura]]
* [http://www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm Sangres.com: photo and maps]
* [http://www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm Sangres.com: photo and maps]
{{Protected areas of Colorado}}

[[Category:Protected areas of Mineral County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Protected areas of Mineral County, Colorado]]
[[Category:Former National Monuments of the United States]]
[[Category:Former National Monuments of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 03:31, 14 June 2024

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.[2]

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 1-56044-377-4

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Wheeler Geological Area". www.southfork.org. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  2. ^ a b "Wheeler Geologic Area". CMC. Retrieved 2024-02-24.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Wheeler Geologic Area". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
[edit]
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