Got altitude? The Upper Arkansas Valley sure does, with enough 14ers to keep any mountain hiker happy for years.
Not a fan of the big stuff? Well, the region features plenty of “hills” under 14,000 feet along with canyons, cascading creeks, waterfalls, sheer rock faces and abundant adventure to boot.
Whether on horseback, foot, skis, mountain bike, jeep or ATV, visitors have plenty of roaming room to find a remote mountain getaway or to enjoy wildflowers, aspen glades, alpine lakes or historic ghost towns and mining sites.
Formed and sculpted by uplifts and volcanoes millions of years back, then carved by glaciers and runoff over the eons, Colorado’s Rocky Mountains and the Sawatch Range are the dominant feature in the valley’s wild and rugged terrain.
Fifteen Sawatch Range peaks tower 14,000-feet or more, high enough to set your calves screaming and your eyes tearing with awe-inspiring vistas. Approximately 80 percent of Chaffee County is public land. It is no wonder the valley attracts outdoor enthusiasts galore.
Towering Douglas fir, aspen glades, Engelmann spruce, pinon, cottonwood, juniper and the elusive bristlecone pine are among the wide variety of trees found in the forests of Chaffee County.
Elk, deer, fox, marmot and bighorn sheep are among the many wildlife species that share the hills, meadows and high-desert regions in the
heart of the Rockies.
Most trailheads are easily accessible with a two-wheel-drive vehicle and are clearly marked with informative maps helping novice hikers navigate the backcountry. At Greens Creek Trail and Ptarmigan Lake Trail, among dozens of others, backpackers and day hikers alike can find the solace and natural experience they crave in their visit to the Colorado mountains.
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