Sangre de Cristo Wilderness

The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness is a long and narrow wilderness area covering 220,803 acres (893.56 km2) of the Sangre de Cristo Range centered about Saguache and Custer counties, Colorado. Smaller areas are located in Fremont, Alamosa, and Huerfano counties. The wilderness area is located on in the San Isabel and Rio Grande National Forests and Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. The wilderness area is home to several fourteeners and quite a few thirteeners. Crestone Needle is considered the most difficult.

Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Map showing the location of Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
Map showing the location of Sangre de Cristo Wilderness
LocationColorado, United States
Coordinates37°59′18″N 105°36′20″W / 37.98833°N 105.60556°W / 37.98833; -105.60556[1]
Area220,803 acres (893.56 km2)[2]
Established1993
Governing bodyU.S. Forest Service, National Park Service

Flora & Fauna

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This wilderness is home to black bears, cougars, elk, and bighorn sheep. Forested areas consist predominantly of spruce and aspen.

History

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The Peaks had traditional and religious significance to the region's early Spanish settlers, hence the name, which means "Blood of Christ".

Geology

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The faulted and uplifted mountains of the Sangre de Cristo are geologically distinct from the Spanish Peaks range to the east.

References

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  1. ^ "Sangre de Cristo Wilderness". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  2. ^ "Sangre de Cristo Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Retrieved August 7, 2012.