| Located in the San Juan and Uncompahgre National Forests, the Lizard Head Wilderness, lies astride the San Miguel Mountains in southwestern Colorado, 10 miles southwest of Telluride and 40 miles northeast of Cortez. The wilderness encompasses 41,189 acres of ragged mountains, lakes, swift moving streams, waterfalls, mixed spruce-fir and aspen forests, and alpine tundra.Within the wilderness, the San Miguel Mountains consist of two distinct clusters of peaks. The eastern cluster, informally referred to as the Wilson Group, is the larger, and it contains several peaks over 14,000 feet.At somewhat lower elevation, about two miles east is the landmark of Lizard Head, the wilderness areas namesake. Lizard Head is a nearly vertical rock spire, which rises 400 feet from a conical base to 13,113 feet. It has been voted Colorado's most dangerous and difficult climbs by many mountaineers as the rock consists of volcanic rock that crumbles in hand. The other peaks tend to be denser and resistant as they consist of igneous intrusions that stopped short of the surface and slowly cooled into granite.The towering peaks and serrated ridges of the Wilson Group are separated from the western cluster of peaks, the Dolores Peak Group, by a saddle some two miles in length. The Dolores Peak Group is a smaller cluster of three peaks, which reach a maximum elevation of 13,290 feet at Dolores Peak. From Dolores Peak visitors can gaze across heat-washed red rock desert land, the Colorado Plateau, to the west.In all the area has 37 miles of fairly strenuous trails. As such wilderness users should be aware of the short cool summers and long severe winters. There are several permanent snowfields and snow patches remain in sheltered areas throughout the summer. Visitors should be prepared for freezing weather at all times of the year. |
|
