Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range

Some of the most stunning views in Colorado are in the Sangre de Cristo Mountain area located in southern Colorado near Westcliffe. The range is bold and rugged, a very impressive sight in the Wet Mountain Valley to the west. It’s amazing to know that this mountain range is part of the longest mountain chains on earth. It contains many peaks in excess of 14,000 feet and more that two dozen peaks over 13,000 ft. high. Some of the Colorado peaks include Mt. Herard at 13,325 feet and Bushnell Peak at 13,111 feet.  The range crosses a few National Forest areas including Rio Grande National Forest and San Isabel National Forest in Colorado and two more in New Mexico.

The Sangres run from Poncha Pass, Colorado down to Glorieta Pass, New Mexico. Because of the vast amount of forest that is in the area, the hiking trails seem endless and rock climbing, skiing and wildlife watching are also favorite activities. Here you will find a variety of animals including the Colorado State Animal – the Big Horn Sheep, Black Bears, Cougars, Hawks, Eagles, Coyotes, Owls, Elk, Deer, and many more species. These mountains have been a part of many landscapes. Geologists say the San Luis Valley itself is a huge gravel pit full of eroded materials from the Sangre de Cristos on the east and the San Juan Mountains on the west. They have also been the site of many prospectors looking for gold, silver and other precious metals.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Spanish for “The Blood of Christ”) seem to be named for the red color of the range at sunrise and sunset. An optical illusion called Alpenglow is credited for the horizontal glowing red band on the horizon when the sun is just setting behind the mountain range. This is most visible during the wintertime as the snow covers the peaks. One part of the southern mountain range are the Spanish Peaks, which are also breathtakingly beautiful. They can be seen clearly from Colorado’s first State Park: Lathrop State Park outside of Walsenburg, Colorado. There are many towns and areas to visit in the area of the Sangre de Cristo mountains, and it makes a nice road trip to wander through this beautiful range. The Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Area and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve are two nice areas to take a family trip. Beginning at Salida, and dropping south along the Sangres, you will encounter Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, Obstruction Peak, Great Sand Dunes, Huerfano Peak, LaVeta, San Luis, Leaning South Peak, Lomo Liso Mountain, and Alamosito.

Sangre de Cristos Photo Gallery

Terrain Map of Sangre Range

Related Sangre De Cristo Articles

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