La Plata Mountains

La Plata Mountains
Highest point
PeakHesperus Mountain
Elevation13,232 ft (4,033 m)
Coordinates37°27′6″N 108°0′41″W / 37.45167°N 108.01139°W / 37.45167; -108.01139
Geography
Map
CountryUnited States
StateColorado
Parent rangeSan Juan Mountains

The La Plata Mountains are a small subrange of the San Juan Mountains in the southwestern part of Colorado, United States. They are located on the border between Montezuma and La Plata counties, about 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Durango. Their name is Spanish for silver.

The peaks of the range are easily visible from U.S. Route 160, which skirts the range on the south. The La Plata River and the Mancos River have their headwaters in the range. The Colorado Trail accesses even towards the northern peaks.

The best-known and highest peak in the La Plata Mountains is Hesperus Mountain, which is the Navajo sacred mountain of the north. The seven highest summits are listed below.

Seven highest peaks

The Tomahawk Mill in La Plata Canyon, Colorado

See also

References

  • "La Plata Mountains". Peakbagger.com.
  • Colorado Atlas and Gazetteer (1st ed.), DeLorme Publishing, 1991, ISBN 0-89933-206-4.