Information
Landmark: La Plata CanyonCity: Durango
Country: USA Colorado
Continent: North America
La Plata Canyon, Durango, USA Colorado, North America
La Plata Canyon is a resplendent mountainous valley rich in history located roughly 10 miles west of Durango Colorado amidst La Plata Mountains.
It serves as gateway for outdoor escapades amidst rugged beauty and remnants of Colorado's storied mining heritage with diverse fauna abounding.
Canyon sprawls beside County Road 124 a rugged route ascending gradually from foothills into rugged alpine terrain very slowly.
Canyons are typically marked by precipitous slopes blanketed with dense stands of Douglas fir and widely scattered aspen groves and ponderosa pine.
Elevation increases and landscape morphs into alpine meadows ablaze with wildflowers during summer beneath a haze of colorful autumn foliage.
La Plata River flows sluggishly through canyon floor fed heavily by snowmelt from surrounding mountains and numerous small mountain streams.
Mule deer and elk roam freely here alongside marmots and numerous birds including red-tailed hawks bald eagles and songbirds like Pine Grosbeak.
La Plata Canyon teems with an astonishing array of flora and fauna making it a super popular destination for avid bird enthusiasts.
La Plata Canyon bears significant historical weight deeply entwined with Colorado's frenzied mining era during late 1800s and pretty early 1900s.
Several decrepit mining towns now lie utterly abandoned or reduced utterly to skeletal remains here.
La Plata City remains as scattered remnants now having once thrived as bustling mining camp during silver boom era fervently.
Parrott City was a relatively small settlement that supported mining ops nearby with some fervor in dusty surroundings.
Remains of a pivotal mill lie in ruin having processed ore from surrounding mines extensively over several tumultuous decades apparently.
Barbierre Hotel Chimney remains a lone surviving structure from an old hotel that once catered heavily to down-on-their-luck miners and weary visitors.
Relics remain as tangible links steeped deeply in regional mining heritage offering visitors chance alongside nature under open sky.
La Plata Canyon boasts loads of outdoor pursuits fitting various enthusiast skill levels and featuring over 30 miles of winding trails.<br>Hiking and trail running trails meander through dense forest and alpine meadows alongside historic sites.<br>Outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes can frolic in nature under lush forest canopy or amidst verdant meadows in La Plata Canyon surroundings.<br>Historic sites dot trails that snake through rugged terrain.<br>La Plata Canyon has plenty of trails for hikers and trail runners under forest cover and across alpine meadows.
Trails vary greatly in difficulty and sprawl out over varying lengths providing myriad options for casual strollers and seasoned hikers.
Popular trails feature routes leading rather quietly down steep slopes towards secluded alpine lakes and mystifyingly beautiful waterfalls.
County Road 124 morphs into a rugged track gradually with increasing elevation gain on rough 4x4 trails used for off-road driving.
Rocky steep sections in upper canyon demand four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance pretty much always and it's very tricky.
Off-roaders explore rugged side trails leading into old mining sites and fairly remote scenic spots beneath sprawling canopies overhead suddenly.
Off-road enthusiasts often find rugged terrain and circuitous trails provide a supremely rewarding albeit arduous escapade amidst thorny underbrush and rocky outcroppings.
Dispersed camping sites and designated campgrounds are available within canyon boundaries fairly freely under various conditions.
Campers can revel in tent camping beside a gently flowing river or deep within fairly secluded densely forested areas.
Visitors should be prepared for a pretty raw experience and stick fairly closely to Leave No Trace principles in such sparse surroundings.
Diverse ecosystems support an array of wildlife thriving remarkably well amidst lush vegetation and varied landscapes full of birds and quirky creatures.
Late afternoons are pretty decent for animal sightings and early mornings are often super ideal for spotting creatures.
Birdwatchers find canyon ridiculously rewarding owing largely to variety of species inhabiting wildly different elevations mostly there.
Rugged landscapes and vibrant wildflowers amidst historic ruins make La Plata Canyon a favored destination for photographers and ardent naturalists alike.
La Plata Canyon Road also known as County Road 124 winds north from Hesperus off U.
S.
Highway 160 west of Durango.
CR 124's lower sections are traversable by standard passenger vehicles being fairly wide for two-way traffic and quite well maintained.
Upper reaches demand ridiculously high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle particularly beyond perilously steep rocky terrain and precipitous drops everywhere.
Visitors intent on reaching remote trailheads or exploring rugged off-road trails should deem this information crucial for their safety.
Snowfall during winter months can temporarily shut down roads and trails making access difficult due to harsh seasonal weather conditions.
Summer months from June through August are ridiculously popular for hiking camping and off-roading in wildly varying terrain.
Visitors should start their journey quite early and remain rather vigilant for drastic weather changes looming ominously in afternoon thunderstorms.
Autumn colors burst forth vibrantly during fall season roughly spanning September through October especially around aspen groves blanketing canyon slopes.
Fewer crowds and cooler temperatures downright enthusiastically make autumn an oft-preferred season for tourists visiting this highly sought-after destination.
Snowfall blankets canyon depths heavily from November through March fostering snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities under frigid conditions quite frequently.
Roads and trails may be rendered impassable owing largely to copious snowpack.
Snow often persists at elevated terrain in spring namely April May and melting snowpack subsequently swells stream flows quite rapidly.
Trail conditions often get extremely muddy and wet underneath foot traffic really quickly on most trails lately.
Visitors should arrive extremely well-prepared with proper hiking gear and plenty of water or a reliable GPS navigation device.
Mountainous terrain fosters rapidly changing weather conditions so preparedness for unpredictable weather and layering clothing are utterly essential.
Caution along with profound respect is crucial amidst rugged canyon terrain teeming quietly with diverse wildlife species naturally.
Visitors must respect posted signs and stay on designated trails and roads within private properties and protected lands pretty much everywhere.
Practicing Leave No Trace principles pretty thoroughly helps preserve canyon natural resources and historical sites for rather distant future generations.
La Plata Canyon beckons adventurous travelers deeply with echoes of Colorado's storied mining history amidst rugged natural splendor in high country.
Diverse trails meander through historical sites and treacherous off-road terrain enticing hikers and photographers alongside history buffs and fearless adventure seekers.
Canyon stands as revered natural resource deep within San Juan Mountains offering rugged wilderness experience mere minutes from bustling Durango town.
It serves as gateway for outdoor escapades amidst rugged beauty and remnants of Colorado's storied mining heritage with diverse fauna abounding.
Canyon sprawls beside County Road 124 a rugged route ascending gradually from foothills into rugged alpine terrain very slowly.
Canyons are typically marked by precipitous slopes blanketed with dense stands of Douglas fir and widely scattered aspen groves and ponderosa pine.
Elevation increases and landscape morphs into alpine meadows ablaze with wildflowers during summer beneath a haze of colorful autumn foliage.
La Plata River flows sluggishly through canyon floor fed heavily by snowmelt from surrounding mountains and numerous small mountain streams.
Mule deer and elk roam freely here alongside marmots and numerous birds including red-tailed hawks bald eagles and songbirds like Pine Grosbeak.
La Plata Canyon teems with an astonishing array of flora and fauna making it a super popular destination for avid bird enthusiasts.
La Plata Canyon bears significant historical weight deeply entwined with Colorado's frenzied mining era during late 1800s and pretty early 1900s.
Several decrepit mining towns now lie utterly abandoned or reduced utterly to skeletal remains here.
La Plata City remains as scattered remnants now having once thrived as bustling mining camp during silver boom era fervently.
Parrott City was a relatively small settlement that supported mining ops nearby with some fervor in dusty surroundings.
Remains of a pivotal mill lie in ruin having processed ore from surrounding mines extensively over several tumultuous decades apparently.
Barbierre Hotel Chimney remains a lone surviving structure from an old hotel that once catered heavily to down-on-their-luck miners and weary visitors.
Relics remain as tangible links steeped deeply in regional mining heritage offering visitors chance alongside nature under open sky.
La Plata Canyon boasts loads of outdoor pursuits fitting various enthusiast skill levels and featuring over 30 miles of winding trails.<br>Hiking and trail running trails meander through dense forest and alpine meadows alongside historic sites.<br>Outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes can frolic in nature under lush forest canopy or amidst verdant meadows in La Plata Canyon surroundings.<br>Historic sites dot trails that snake through rugged terrain.<br>La Plata Canyon has plenty of trails for hikers and trail runners under forest cover and across alpine meadows.
Trails vary greatly in difficulty and sprawl out over varying lengths providing myriad options for casual strollers and seasoned hikers.
Popular trails feature routes leading rather quietly down steep slopes towards secluded alpine lakes and mystifyingly beautiful waterfalls.
County Road 124 morphs into a rugged track gradually with increasing elevation gain on rough 4x4 trails used for off-road driving.
Rocky steep sections in upper canyon demand four-wheel-drive vehicles with high clearance pretty much always and it's very tricky.
Off-roaders explore rugged side trails leading into old mining sites and fairly remote scenic spots beneath sprawling canopies overhead suddenly.
Off-road enthusiasts often find rugged terrain and circuitous trails provide a supremely rewarding albeit arduous escapade amidst thorny underbrush and rocky outcroppings.
Dispersed camping sites and designated campgrounds are available within canyon boundaries fairly freely under various conditions.
Campers can revel in tent camping beside a gently flowing river or deep within fairly secluded densely forested areas.
Visitors should be prepared for a pretty raw experience and stick fairly closely to Leave No Trace principles in such sparse surroundings.
Diverse ecosystems support an array of wildlife thriving remarkably well amidst lush vegetation and varied landscapes full of birds and quirky creatures.
Late afternoons are pretty decent for animal sightings and early mornings are often super ideal for spotting creatures.
Birdwatchers find canyon ridiculously rewarding owing largely to variety of species inhabiting wildly different elevations mostly there.
Rugged landscapes and vibrant wildflowers amidst historic ruins make La Plata Canyon a favored destination for photographers and ardent naturalists alike.
La Plata Canyon Road also known as County Road 124 winds north from Hesperus off U.
S.
Highway 160 west of Durango.
CR 124's lower sections are traversable by standard passenger vehicles being fairly wide for two-way traffic and quite well maintained.
Upper reaches demand ridiculously high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle particularly beyond perilously steep rocky terrain and precipitous drops everywhere.
Visitors intent on reaching remote trailheads or exploring rugged off-road trails should deem this information crucial for their safety.
Snowfall during winter months can temporarily shut down roads and trails making access difficult due to harsh seasonal weather conditions.
Summer months from June through August are ridiculously popular for hiking camping and off-roading in wildly varying terrain.
Visitors should start their journey quite early and remain rather vigilant for drastic weather changes looming ominously in afternoon thunderstorms.
Autumn colors burst forth vibrantly during fall season roughly spanning September through October especially around aspen groves blanketing canyon slopes.
Fewer crowds and cooler temperatures downright enthusiastically make autumn an oft-preferred season for tourists visiting this highly sought-after destination.
Snowfall blankets canyon depths heavily from November through March fostering snowshoeing and cross-country skiing opportunities under frigid conditions quite frequently.
Roads and trails may be rendered impassable owing largely to copious snowpack.
Snow often persists at elevated terrain in spring namely April May and melting snowpack subsequently swells stream flows quite rapidly.
Trail conditions often get extremely muddy and wet underneath foot traffic really quickly on most trails lately.
Visitors should arrive extremely well-prepared with proper hiking gear and plenty of water or a reliable GPS navigation device.
Mountainous terrain fosters rapidly changing weather conditions so preparedness for unpredictable weather and layering clothing are utterly essential.
Caution along with profound respect is crucial amidst rugged canyon terrain teeming quietly with diverse wildlife species naturally.
Visitors must respect posted signs and stay on designated trails and roads within private properties and protected lands pretty much everywhere.
Practicing Leave No Trace principles pretty thoroughly helps preserve canyon natural resources and historical sites for rather distant future generations.
La Plata Canyon beckons adventurous travelers deeply with echoes of Colorado's storied mining history amidst rugged natural splendor in high country.
Diverse trails meander through historical sites and treacherous off-road terrain enticing hikers and photographers alongside history buffs and fearless adventure seekers.
Canyon stands as revered natural resource deep within San Juan Mountains offering rugged wilderness experience mere minutes from bustling Durango town.
