Hiking
Season: Summer to early autumnGuided hike in the San Juan Mountains
- Alpine lakes and wildflower meadows
- A guide who knows the altitude and weather
Why go
The formations are made of tuff, volcanic ash laid down by enormous eruptions in the San Juan Mountains tens of millions of years ago and since carved by rain, frost and snowmelt. In 1908 the area became Wheeler National Monument, one of the first in Colorado. So few people could reach it that the monument was abolished in 1950, and today it is protected as part of the La Garita Wilderness.
Getting there
From Creede, drive about 7 miles southeast on Highway 149, then turn left onto Pool Table Road, Forest Road 600. After about 10 miles of gravel you reach Hanson’s Mill, an old sawmill site with a campground and the trailhead. Ordinary cars can usually reach Hanson’s Mill in dry weather.
- On foot or horseback: East Bellows Trail 790 leads about 7 miles to the formations, crossing East Bellows Creek. It is a long day there and back at high altitude, or an overnight trip.
- By four-wheel drive: a rough road of about 14 miles continues from Hanson’s Mill to a fence near the formations. It needs a high-clearance 4×4 and an experienced driver, and it is often the last road on the forest to open and the first to close.
Visiting safely
- The area sits above 11,000 feet. Take time to adjust to the altitude and carry plenty of water.
- Start early: summer thunderstorms build in the afternoon, and lightning is dangerous in open country.
- Stay on the paths. The soft tuff erodes easily and is easy to damage.
- Check road and trail conditions with the Divide Ranger District of the Rio Grande National Forest before you go.
