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.
| Cimarron Ridge | |
|---|---|
 Part of the ridge as viewed from the west | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,710 m (12,170 ft)[1] |
| Coordinates | 38°12′36″N 107°34′32″W / 38.21000°N 107.57556°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Cimarron Ridge Location in Colorado | |
| Location | Southwestern Colorado |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains |
| Topo map(s) | USGS Courthouse Mountain Washboard Rock Buckhorn Lakes |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Ridge |
Prominent peaks
edit
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
editThe 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
edit- ^ a b "Courthouse Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ a b "Cimarron Ridge". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Chimney Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ^ "Courthouse Mountain". Retrieved April 22, 2011.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.