Top 20 Natural Monuments in the San Juan Mountains

La Garita (or La Ventana) Natural Arch is different from many of the natural rock arches scattered around Colorado. Rather than being formed from uplifted sandstone as most arches are, the Ventana Arch formed within a magma intrusion called a volcanic dike. Lava from the Summer Coon volcanic complex intruded into cracks in the surrounding alluvial and volcanic deposits about 30 million years ago. Parts of the magma cooled at different rates and separated from the rest of the wall, and when the surrounding deposits eroded away, the inner part of the arch collapsed, leaving a hole in the dike. The end result was a 40-foot-tall, 30-foot-wide arch. From the end of La Ventana Road, a steep scramble leads to the arch, rewarded with views across the San Luis Valley to the Sangre de Cristo mountains and the Great Sand Dunes National Park. The arch itself is difficult to see from any direction except directly in front of or behind it, quite clearly from the parking at the end of La Ventana Road. If you want to scramble up to the rock wall, bikes can be left at the end of the road, ideally locked in an elevated position, and can be seen when looking back while hiking up. The arch is a sacred site for the Jicarilla Apache and Ute tribes and is still used for ceremonies. The arch is about 11 miles northwest of Del Norte, Colorado, on Forest Service Road A23, a.k.a. La Ventana Road. The road is rough rocky gravel, but doable on most bikes. Signs in the area point to the arch. When hiking to the arch, wear sturdy shoes with good grip. Caution is warranted when climbing to the arch and when descending. Loose rock requires caution and stable footing. To get to the Arch from Monte Vista – head north out of Monte Vista on Highway 285 for 18 miles to County Road G. Turn left and go west to the “Y” just past the La Garita Store. Take the dirt road south and follow the signs to the Natural Arch.

At 13,271 feet you reach the official highest point of the Colorado Trail. Neither the ascent nor the descent are particularly steep, so you might think that you didn’t climb up that much. Nevertheless, enjoy the view and celebrate your achievement! If you like, you can hike up to the nearby summit to find a geological marker.

In the 20th century, Ghost Ranch was the summer home and studio of artist Georgia O'Keeffe, as well as the subject of many of her paintings. It often serves as a location for movie production. Ghost Ranch is owned by the Presbyterian Church (USA) and leased to and managed by The National Ghost Ranch Foundation. Ghost Ranch is known for a remarkable concentration of fossils, most notably that of the theropod dinosaur Coelophysis, of which it has been estimated that nearly a thousand individuals have been preserved in a quarry at Ghost Ranch. Today Ghost Ranch is a 21,000-acre (85 km2) retreat and education center with two museums, the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology and the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology, in addition to the Ghost Ranch Library. Tues-Sat: 9am-5pm; Closed 12pm-1pm Sun: 1pm-5pm; Closed Monday The Day Pass fee of $10 per adult over 18 grants guests access to both Museums, the labyrinth, and all Ghost Ranch hiking trails https://www.ghostranch.org

Surprisingly large and diverse exhibits considering this remote area. Excellent info panels. Ghost Ranch is host to two museums, the Ruth Hall Museum of Paleontology and the Florence Hawley Ellis Museum of Anthropology, in addition to the Ghost Ranch Library. The Museums of Ghost Ranch are dedicated to advancing research, education and public engagement in Anthropology, Archaeology and Paleontology. Ghost Ranch is a world‐renowned site for Triassic paleontology. Its low, red‐grey mounded hills and washes boast three fossil quarries that are famous among scholars and amateur paleontologists, and a number of other sites where isolated skulls, bones, or skeletons have been found. The three major quarries are the Canjilon Quarry (now situated on U.S. Forest Service land), the Coelophysis Quarry, and the Hayden Quarry. Dozens of different kinds of fossil reptiles, amphibians, and other vertebrates have been discovered, as well as fossil plants and invertebrates. Its quarries have, in recent years, given a whole new perspective to our understanding of how the dinosaurs began to take dominance of the terrestrial realm in the Late Triassic, over 200 million years ago. Tues-Sat: 9am-5pm; Closed 12pm-1pm Sun: 1pm-5pm; Closed Monday The Day Pass fee of $10.00 per adult over 18 grants guests access to both Museums, the labyrinth, and all Ghost Ranch hiking trails. https://www.ghostranch.org/museums

Box Canyon Falls is where Canyon Creek cascades 85 feet into a narrow quartzite canyon surrounded by 100-foot walls. This developed park offers hiking trails, picnic areas, and a visitor center, which operates seasonally, closing in November. The park is also a significant bird area, recognized by the National Audubon Society for hosting Black Swifts, the largest swifts in North America, which migrate from Brazil each summer. Keep in mind that dogs are not allowed in the park.

A small sign on a wooden post marks the High Point of the Colorado Trail. This is an amazing place to pause and catch your breath (if you can at 13,271 feet!), take in the stunning panoramic views, and bask in your amazing accomplishment.

Little Molas Lake is a high-altitude body of water at about 11,000 feet. It is located nearby parking lots and provides easy access to the Colorado Trail. It is the ideal place to enjoy a packed lunch before or after your ride.

Island lake is a cerulean-blue alpine lake nestled just north of Ice Lake below Grant Peak. This is one of the best views you will get in the Ice Lakes Basin.