The Wet Mountains Range

The Wet Mountain Range is a small but beautiful and lush group of mountains in southern Colorado which rise to an average peak elevation of around 11,000 ft. They are found in Custer County running from Highway 50 to Walsenburg. On the western side of the range you will find the Wet Mountain Valley which shares some space with the next spectacular range, The Sangre de Cristo mountains. The valley in the middle of these two beautiful ranges is stunning no matter where you look, and a drive from the Bighorn Sheep Canyon heading south will take you into Westcliffe and Silver Cliff and beyond. The San Isabel National Forest is part of the area, and attractions abound including: Greenhorn Mountain, Lake Isabel, Bishop’s Castle, Hardscrabble Canyon and Florence.

The Wet Mountains are also called the Sierra Mojadas, and the tallest peak is known as the Greenhorn at 12,346 feet. The other tallest peaks include St. Charles Peak and North Peak. In the Wet Mountain Valley, you’ll find historic ranches that take in the best of the views all around. The Beckwith Ranch was one of the first settlements in the entire valley area, and is a wonderful place to visit. Restoration is now beginning on the property and its many outbuildings and stock areas. Even though you can’t access the interior at this time, the visit is still awe inspiring. Historic information is available to explain the significance of the property. Beyond Beckwith Ranch, if you pass through Westcliffe and Silver Cliff driving along Hwy. 96, you can access Hardscrabble Canyon. If you take a drive down Hwy. 165, in the heart of San Isabel National Forest you will reach Rye and Bishop’s Castle, Colorado City, and Lake Isabel. Additionally, old ghost towns like Rosita are in the area.

As you make your way to the east side of the range through the Beulah Valley, you will be in Pueblo County. Here the Wet Mountain Open Space Coalition Land Protection Project was founded in 1999 to protect important land on the eastern slope of the Wet Mountain range. Around 40,000 acres of agricultural lands and significant biological resources are protected, along with threatened or endangered species of wildlife. The eastern slope of the range provides a beautiful mountain backdrop to the city of Pueblo and driving along the I-25 corridor through Pueblo County, these are the mountains you see. The Open Space Coalition is working hard to make sure the critical wildlife habitats and migration routes are protected for the species who need them. They are also involved in the preservation of historic ranches and Centennial ranches, (where the ranch has been owned by the same family for over 100 years) and maintaining the well being of the St. Charles River. More detailed information can be found at http://www.coloradoopenlands.org In any direction you travel, the Wet Mountains provide a beautiful Colorado experience.

Wet Mountains Photo Gallery

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Wet Mountain Range East of Westcliffe

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