Sangre De Cristo Wilderness Area

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Located in Rio Grande and San Isabel National Forests

Neighboring towns: Salida, Poncha Springs, Wellsville, Howard, Coaldale, Alamosa, Westcliffe

From the San Luis Valleys, the Sangre de Cristo Mountains extend literally to the ends of the horizon. The wilderness area, one of Colorado's newest, includes the entire range north of Blanca Peak, spanning 70 miles to its terminus at Salida.

Sangre de Cristo is Spanish for "Blood of Christ", but no one is quite sure why the region was given this name. Was it because of the bloody hues washing the slopes at sunset,, or the cry of the dying priest, "sangre de Cristo", as his martyred blood flowed onto the ground near here? Of the long and colorful Spanish influence in these mountains and in the San Luis Valley below ther is no doubt. Two four-wheel-drive roads over Medano Pass and Hayden Pass, as well as acces to Lily Lake, were slim exclusions from wilderness designation and split the area into four distinct sections. Unlike most of Colorado's mountains, the high and magnificently rugged Sangres were uplifted suddenly in massive blocks, creating a range of dramatic vertical proportions. Four fourteeners are clumped together in the midsection of the wilderness, including Crestone Needle (14,197 feet). Many climbers consider the Needle to be Colorado's most challenging 14,000-foot peak. Three more fourteeners stand together just south of the boundary. Melting snow feeds many creeks and small lakes, and nourishes a forest of oak, aspen and spruce. Black bears and a few mountain lions live here, along with elk, deer and bighorn sheep.

Long and narrow describes the area, the state's third largest, and the going is rough for the hiker. Most of the 180 miles of trails end at alpine lakes set against virtually unclimbable walls. Great Sand Dunes National Monument lies west of the southern boundary.

Size: 226,420 acres

Elevation: 8,000 to 14,294 feet

Miles of trails: 180

Year designated: 1993

Hunting areas: 82, 86