Buena Vista & Salida, Colorado

SANGRE DE CRISTO MOUNTAINS

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the southernmost range of the Rocky Mountains. Named for the Blood of Christ, they offer tremendous reds for sunrise and sunset and especially when covered with snow and the alpenglow sets in. One of the longest ranges on earth, they run from Poncha Pass and into New Mexico.

The 220,000 acres of Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is the third largest in Colorado. It’s a very desolate area. The only roads that traverse this range are for four-wheel drive.

Unlike most Colorado mountains, the Sangres were uplifted suddenly in massive blocks. It created dramatic peaks with a lack of foothills, much like the Teton range in Utah. It is still being uplifted today as faults remain active.

Sangre De Cristo Mountains

The Sangres being so desolate means there is lots of land for the wildlife to roam about. Take your chance on elk and deer, or bighorn sheep. Some of the challenge in hunting them is adapting to the stark terrain you track them in.

Crestone Needle offers some of the best climbing in Colorado and is ranked as one of the top five hardest fourteeners. Kit Carson is often tackled with Challenger Point making for a long but rewarding day. Make sure you’re experienced when facing these double black diamond trails.

You can take the kids on the short Zapata Falls trip to fill a day at the Sand Dunes. Hike the Willow Lake Trailhead and enjoy incredible views as you reach the alpine meadows. Don’t forget your fishing pole, as the lake is great for fishing.

Colony Lakes is great for 4×4 roads and leads you to two lakes offering stunning views of surrounding mountains like Milwaukee Peak, Marble Mountain, and the fantastic Humboldt Peak. There’s plenty of dispersed camping and you can take in the excellent views from all directions.

National Forest Service