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San Juan Volcano Tour
Length: 4-6 hours Distance: 22.2 miles round trip Elevation: 8,700’ – 10,900’ Location(s): Windy Point Overlook, Slumgullion Earthflow Overlook, Lake San Cristobal Overlook, Lake San Cristobal, San Juan Ranch Estates Difficulty: Easy, mostly driving to locations with a short walk at some locations. Overview: This is the Slumgullion Center’s flagship program! Join Harvey DuChene, Geologist and LFVC President, as he unveils the origins of the mighty San Juan Mountains during a series of stops along Highway 149 and County Road 30. Itinerary: 9 am - Meet at Windy Point 10:30 am - Drive to Slumgullion Earthflow Overlook 11:30 - Picnic lunch at the Overlook 12:30 pm - Drive to Lake San Cristobal Overlook 1:30 pm - Drive to Lake San Cristobal 2:30 pm - Drive to San Juan Ranch Estates 3:00 pm - End of trip Driving Directions to meeting location: From Lake City drive south on HWY 149 and up Slumgullion pass (about 8.6 miles from town). Windy Point overlook is on the north side of HWY 149. |
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Mesa Seco Escarpment Hike
Length: 4-6 hours Distance: 4.4 miles round trip from Slumgullion Campground following County Road 50 to the Cannibal Plateau Trailhead. Alternate route follows the ridge above the Slumgullion Campground and is only 4 miles round trip (no trail). Elevation: 11,000’ - 12,200’ (1200’ vertical gain) Location(s): Meet at the old Slumgullion Campground on Deer Lakes Road (CR 50), just off the turnoff from HWY 149. Difficulty: Difficult; Steep, Alpine hiking; Trail is in good condition with solid footing. Alternate route follows the ridge line above the campground and there is no trail but fairly open. Overview: This short and steep hike up to 12,000’ provides a view of the Slumgullion Earthflow that will take your breath away! The trailhead starts at a stream and winds its way through alpine meadows and forest until it reaches treeline, where it continues to climb gradually as you walk through the high alpine tundra of Cannibal Plateau. Topics of discussion include geology, botany, and history behind the namesake of Mesa Seco, Slumgullion Earthflow and Cannibal Plateau. Itinerary: 8 am - Meet at the US Forest Service bathroom on Deer Lakes Road (CR 50), at the turnoff from HWY 149. 8:30 am - Arrive at Cannibal Plateau Trailhead #7464 11:00 am - Arrive at Escarpment; Snacks/Lunch 12:30 pm - Hike back to trailhead 3:00 pm - End of trip Directions to meeting location: Drive south from Lake City on HWY 149 up Slumgullion Pass; turn left on Deer Lakes Road (CR 50); bathrooms are visible in the parking area on the left. |
Slumgullion Earthflow Geology Hike
Length: 3-4 hours
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation: 9,658’ - 10,400
Location(s): Slumgullion Earthflow (See map for directions)
Difficulty: Moderate - short walk along uneven terrain with loose footing, mostly downhill.
Overview: Join us for the unique opportunity to stand on a landslide that is still moving! This short hike leads up and onto the actual Slumgullion Earthflow to the USGS monitoring site where scientists are monitoring rates of movement. We the hike down the earthflow to learn about landslide geomorphology and ecology. The tour ends at Highway 149.
Itinerary:
9 am - Meet in Lake City at the Town Park
9:30 am - Drive to Peniston Park on Highway 149, about 4.4 miles SE of Lake City. There is a road that ends at a picnic/parking area next to the highway (see map).
11:00 - Lunch/snacks on the earthflow
1:00 pm - Return to vehicles at Peniston Park and return to Lake City
Driving Directions: The parking area where we begin the hike is 4.4 miles SE of Lake City along Highway 149. There is a dirt road that drops down to a picnic area with plenty of room for parking. There are no public bathrooms here so LFVC will provide wag bags for participants to be disposed of upon return to Lake City.
Length: 3-4 hours
Distance: 1.5 miles
Elevation: 9,658’ - 10,400
Location(s): Slumgullion Earthflow (See map for directions)
Difficulty: Moderate - short walk along uneven terrain with loose footing, mostly downhill.
Overview: Join us for the unique opportunity to stand on a landslide that is still moving! This short hike leads up and onto the actual Slumgullion Earthflow to the USGS monitoring site where scientists are monitoring rates of movement. We the hike down the earthflow to learn about landslide geomorphology and ecology. The tour ends at Highway 149.
Itinerary:
9 am - Meet in Lake City at the Town Park
9:30 am - Drive to Peniston Park on Highway 149, about 4.4 miles SE of Lake City. There is a road that ends at a picnic/parking area next to the highway (see map).
11:00 - Lunch/snacks on the earthflow
1:00 pm - Return to vehicles at Peniston Park and return to Lake City
Driving Directions: The parking area where we begin the hike is 4.4 miles SE of Lake City along Highway 149. There is a dirt road that drops down to a picnic area with plenty of room for parking. There are no public bathrooms here so LFVC will provide wag bags for participants to be disposed of upon return to Lake City.
