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Cimarron Ridge

Coordinates: 38°12′36″N 107°34′32″W / 38.21000°N 107.57556°W / 38.21000; -107.57556
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Cimarron Ridge
Part of the ridge as viewed from the west
Highest point
Elevation3,710 m (12,170 ft)[1]
Coordinates38°12′36″N 107°34′32″W / 38.21000°N 107.57556°W / 38.21000; -107.57556[2]
Geography
Cimarron Ridge is located in Colorado
Cimarron Ridge
Cimarron Ridge
Location in Colorado
LocationSouthwestern Colorado
Parent rangeSan Juan Mountains
Topo map(s)USGS Courthouse Mountain
Washboard Rock
Buckhorn Lakes
Geology
Mountain typeRidge

Cimarron Ridge[2] is a ridge in the San Juan Mountains in southwestern Colorado. The ridge runs north-south and occupies parts of Gunnison, Montrose, Ouray, and Hinsdale counties. The ridge parallels U.S. Highway 550, and parts of the ridge can be seen from points along the highway.

Prominent peaks

Sunset at Chimney Rock, Colorado, in autumn

Peaks along the ridge include Courthouse Mountain, elevation 12,172 ft (3,710 m),[1] and Chimney Rock, elevation 10,958 ft (3,340 m).[3] Chimney Rock is known for appearing in the 1969 western motion picture True Grit and is considered among the most difficult peaks to climb in Colorado.[4]

Geology

The ridge is made up of green and gray tuff breccia and is the "erosional remains of a larger volcanic pile that surrounded several volcanoes."[5] The Cimarron Ridge Formation takes its name from the ridge.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b "Courthouse Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  2. ^ a b "Cimarron Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  3. ^ "Chimney Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  4. ^ "Courthouse Mountain". Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  5. ^ "Geologic Unit: Cimarron Ridge, Geolex — Significant Publications". National Geologic Map Database. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-04-21.
  6. ^ "Geologic Unit: Cimarron Ridge, Geolex — Unit Summary". National Geologic Map Database. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-04-21.