Thanks for the update, I'll change the page. . on Sat. The wilderness area includes the summit of Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. Notifications from this discussion will be disabled. Nowhere else among Colorado's wilderness areas does one find the juxtaposition of mountains and plains as in Greenhorn Mountain, where the Rockies meet headlong with the Great North American Prairie. Remnants of the bridge across Granite Boulder Creek in the Greenhorn Mountains on July 11, 2021. At about the halfway point, the trail leaves the tree line and to your left is a huge talus field flowing down from the top of Greenhorn Mountain. (Geographers generally treat the Wallowas as separate from the Blue Mountains, as do Lewis A. McArthur and his son, Lewis L. McArthur, in their inimitable opus, Oregon Geographic Names. But being neither a geographer nor an author, I feel no such constraints. A few streams descending from the mountain furnish a habitat for threatened greenback cutthroat trout. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. There are 11 miles of trails, all in the northern half of the wilderness. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. The massive Greenhorn Mountain can be seen from Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Trinidad, and also from along Interstate 25 rising over 7,000 feet (2,100m) above the great plains to the east. racist or sexually-oriented language. Soaring dramatically from the plains of Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain rises from 7,600 to 12,347 feet in the center of the northern section. The prominent 12,352-foot (3,765m) peak is located in the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness of San Isabel National Forest, 5.2 miles (8.4km) southwest by west (bearing 238) of the Town of Rye, Colorado, United States, on the boundary between Huerfano and Pueblo counties. Our main goal was Lemon Cabin, about 1.9 miles from the trailhead. The logs are large, too some better than two feet around. NOTE: Eloquent descriptions of our wilderness areas provided by Mark Pearson, author of "The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas", Westcliffe Publishers, Englewood, CO. Or, rather, the remnants of a bridge. Would you like to receive our news updates? Moderate 4.4 (45) Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness. Six thousand acres of the Vinegar Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area are . (If you choose to accept this mission, stand back, this page may self-destruct.). If we Leave no Trace and Care for Colorado this unique and desolate area can be your secret go-to spot for open for generations to come. Forest Supervisor Office. a]c_kn#(uzaJcc1N:. To add an article to this category, use . United States. Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password. From Blackeye Creek its another 3.5 miles or so and more than 1,500 feet of elevation to the Tempest mine. Vinegar Hill is the highest point in the Greenhorn Mountains where the Gold Rush hit in the early 1860's as it did across much of Eastern Oregon. hbbd```b``"T"YH2H4dt"N xw9H) $hA"& vX:JxeL@N E&@ fc Interesting Colorado Outdoor Recreation Links The Wallowa-Whitman oversees a much smaller area, mainly near the town of Greenhorn. . On the way back I did notice a solo hiker on top of the talus field ridge leading toward the Greenhorn Summit. Explore a land rich in history, natural wonders, and artistic inspiration. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 10 min to complete. Principal wildlife species include bighorn sheep, mountain goat, elk, marmot, ptarmigan, and grouse. Formerly known as Greenhorn Peak, sometime in the 20th century the mountain began appearing on maps as Vinegar Hill. ( With relatively little snow, the area attracts bighorn sheep, elk, and mule deer. 33 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[]/Index[7 39]/Info 6 0 R/Length 131/Prev 371597/Root 8 0 R/Size 46/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream In both ranges the boundary between these strata were prime places to dig for gold, and the Greenhorns, like the Elkhorns, were scoured thoroughly by miners. TTY: (719) 553-1404 40 Kilometers would be more accurate. Unusual for Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness has no lakes and no towering alpine peaks--and, consequently, few human visitors. The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1993 and it now has a total of 23,087 acres. On the trail: Hiking the Greenhorns, in the Blue Mountains. The wilderness was established by the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Boundary The Forest Service no longer maintains the trail but it remains easy to follow until treeline at which point the summit is visible and "dead reckoning" navigation to the summit is straightforward. John Fielder In fact, two-thirds of the area is forested and is filled with oakbrush, ponderosa pine, aspen fir, and spruce. The most popular are Bartlett Trail and Greenhorn Trail. The trail is in fact the remnants of the road that leads to the Tempest mine, following Granite Boulder Creek most of the way. Hiked Greenhorn in Colorado's Wet Mountain Valley for the second time in late June 2014, at age 71. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The trailhead for the Bartlett Trail is reached by taking Boulder Ave. south from Main St. in Rye. Elevation: 7,600 to 12,300+ feet. The original name for the mountain peak was Cuerno Verde. One exception to this kinship of stone is also the source of the Greenhorns name. Forest Supervisor Office. The first and the longest, begins at the Greenhorn Mountain Trial Head. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 8 h 55 min to complete. Unusual for Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness has no lakes and no towering alpine peaks--and, consequently, few human visitors. There is relatively little wilderness in the Elkhorns, but many of the roads in the range are in such execrable shape that for many travelers they might as well not exist. For example, the Only 11 . I am not sure how he got there but I later saw him descending from a small saddle and thought yeah that would be doable. The Strawberry Mountains are close to John Day, Canyon City and Prairie City, and visible for many miles of U.S. Highway 26. The view from the trailhead is stunning. The Greenhorns, in a sort of bureaucratic confluence, occupy the one place where the three national forests of the Blue Mountains come together Wallowa-Whitman, Umatilla and Malheur. About two-thirds of the area is forested, and as you hike along, you'll pass quickly from dry oakbrush and ponderosa pine country (or pinion-juniper in some places) through aspen, fir, and spruce, and on to alpine tundra. Only 11 . Whatever the reason, Greenhorn Mountain's inclusion in the wilderness system was a welcome addition. We were quite happy to stop occasionally to pick huckleberries. Geography. [1][2][3] The peak's summit rises above timberline, which is about 11,500 feet (3,500m) in south-central Colorado. Experience the small town charm of Walsenburg, La Veta, Gardner, and Cuchara. Home Be Proactive. Unlike the Central and Northern parks in Colorado, The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness . On September 3, 1779, younger Cuerno Verde, his son, medicine man, four principal chiefs, and ten of his warriors, were killed near Greenhorn Mountain by the men of the expedition of Spanish troops and native American allies (Apache, Ute, and Pueblo) under Juan Bautista de Anza.[6]. (18), Additions & Corrections 7 0 obj <> endobj 2840 Kachina Drive Pueblo, CO 81008 (719) 553-1400 Check out this 6.1-mile out-and-back trail near Rye, Colorado. Greenhorn Mountain offers some of the most remote and lightly used wilderness in the state. The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located northwest of Walsenburg, Colorado in the San Isabel and Pike National Forests. Numerous small canyons and sharp ridges are the dominant geological features. The trail is open year-round and is beautiful to visit anytime. Numerous small canyons and sharp ridges are the dominant geological features. Worsening knee issues, most likely last climb (2014-06-28). Choose wisely! Although the Greenhorn Mountain is relatively small at only over 12,000 feet, it's still the highest point in the range and in the wilderness. Remnants of the bridge across Granite Boulder Creek in the Greenhorn Mountains on July 11, 2021. Miles of trails: 11. I love this area and the author did an excellent write-up but the Comanche Chief's name should be spelled Cuerno Verde (with an "n") and not Cuero Verde And, there are quite a number of peaks that are much taller within the 40 miles that the writer mentions that are well over that of Greenhorn's height 13,000's and 14,000's in the Sangre de Cristo range just to the west of the Wet mountain's 4 peaks. The wilderness area includes the summit of Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. Hard 4.5 (200) Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness. This category is for stub articles relating to the geography of Kern County, California. The landscape grows considerably dryer as elevations drop. The second route starts on top of the mountain via forest service roads (FSR) in the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness. Greenhorn Mountain is the highest summit of the Wet Mountains range in the Rocky Mountains of North America. An independent source of exclusive news and insight about state government delivered conveniently by email each Friday to subscribers. There's an old boy named Shultz in westcliffe, He guides on the Sangre's and hunts the Everhart ranch on the greenhorn. The wilderness area includes the summit of Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. Photos (130) Directions. They are available for download by quadrangle. Went clear up over the pass and came back to the Rainbow Trail and went over to Music Pass from there. But most of the roads Ive driven in the Greenhorns are well-maintained gravel. Enjoy your visit! Cities within 10 mi include Rye to the northeast, San Isabel to the north, and Tom Warren's 100 Hikes in Colorado book says the trail is 5.5 miles long. Create a password that only you will remember. I would guess my average speed was about 35mph. Pueblo, CO 81008 If you're willing to brave the dense woodlands and rough topography, you'll find few places with as much solitude. - When God takes a vacation, he goes to a Colorado Wilderness! Spent all day going up the Medano Rd. Once upon a time there were homesteads and cattle ranches in some areas out here but over time, they were abandoned and this land was incorporated into the Wet Mountains section of the San Isabel National Forest . A few streams descending from the mountain furnish a habitat for threatened greenback cutthroat trout. . Join a few of my friends and I for this fun and cold overnight trip in the Greenhorn Mountains Wilderness in Southern Colorado southwest of the city of Puebl. This is one of Colorado's newest wildernesses, it was designated as part of the 1993 Colorado Wilderness Act. The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1993 and it now has a total of 23,087 acres. and reservations. Dunno how "old" is old, but Tom & Bill Schulze are probably in their 50's, they run Sangre De Cristo Outfitters. My wife, Lisa and I, accompanied by our kids, Olivia and Max, spent the weekend of July 10 and 11 camped at Deerhorn campground, on the banks of the Middle Fork about five miles downriver from Highway 7. The apex of the range, Vinegar Hill, near the eastern end of the Greenhorns, tops out at a modest 8,131 feet. Colorado. Only 11 miles of trail cross the Wilderness, all in the northern half. Your work on this page has been excellent, but there are a few choppy or confusing sentences spread throughout, and it could probably use a little bit more proofreading. After about half a mile, Baxter ends, and the road turns south, which is the beginning of Bartlett Trail Rd. )v+A!h8ZhL'n|_3fW I take FR 403 to the top of greenhorn mtn. The Greenhorns are geologic siblings to the Elkhorns as well, a mixture of ancient sedimentary rocks and granitic outcrops. As far as I could tell there is not a designated trail to the top. Wilderness West Elk Wilderness Holy Cross Wilderness Lost Creek Wilderness La Garita Wilderness Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Eagles Nest Wilderness Raggeds . The Elkhorns and Wallowas, by contrast, bracket the Interstate 84 corridor in Union and Baker counties, within sight of Baker City and La Grande. Your e-mail address will be used to confirm your account. Most had yet to ripen, but in a few weeks there should be a bounty. The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1993 and it now has a total of 23,087 acres. This road is dirt, but navigable by almost any car once it is clear of snow. Please take a look at the area details below for more information about visiting this location. However, as of 2010, it is still not hard to follow, although rough in places. ) or https:// means you've safely John Martin Reservoir State Park, Historic Lake Scott State Park Campground Review, Natchez Trace Wilderness Preserve Campground review. A few streams descending from the mountain furnish a habitat for threatened greenback cutthroat trout. Recreation.gov is your gateway to explore America's outdoor The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located northwest of Walsenburg, Colorado in the San Isabel and Pike National Forests. From the parking lot there are two trailheads. Most of the east-facing slopes are steep, rocky, and generally bare. The wilderness area includes the summit of Greenhorn Mountain, the highest point in the Wet Mountains of Colorado. Phone information -A pay phone is located at Green-horn Mountain Park on Highway 155 below Greenhorn Summit at the Kern County Parks . A short venture to the north-northwest through a last stand of trees must be made before the summit becomes visible again. Went first to North Peak, over to Greenhorn and descended to old road circling back to trailhead on Greenhorn Mountain Road. Category: Slow-LEE HikesTags: Bartlett Trail, Colorado hiking, Creation, Day Hikes, Full Time RV Living, fulltimerv, Greenhorn Mountain, losingtrackoftime, Mountains, Nature, RV Living, San Isabel National Forest, solorv, Great post! Just beyond the cabin the road crosses Granite Boulder Creek on a bridge. Dogs are welcome, but must be on a leash. --Bill The Butcher, Routes Wilderness be with you". No other wilderness area in Colorado offers such a vast display of the ecosystem. Contact Webmaster. Click the bell icon in the nav bar, at any time to change your settings. Please help keep Wilderness wild by followingLeave No Tracepractices.. Soaring dramatically from the plains of Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain rises from 7,600 to 12,347 feet in the center of the northern section. We provide tools and tips to discover About half a mile from the trailhead actually its just a wide spot in the access road the road crosses Lemon Creek. There are 11 miles (18km) of trails, all in the northern half of the wilderness.[3][4][5]. Size: 22,040 acres. Theres no bridge, but we had no trouble getting across the diminutive stream with dry feet. ). As for the name greenhorn, there does . Mule Deer and Elk. Generally considered a moderately challenging route, it takes an average of 2 h 32 min to .