West Elk Mountains
Mountain in the state of Colorado / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about West Elk Mountains?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
The West Elk Mountains are a high mountain range in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Colorado. They lie primarily within the Gunnison National Forest, and part of the range is protected as the West Elk Wilderness. The range is primarily located in Gunnison County, with small parts in eastern Delta and Montrose counties.
West Elk Mountains | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Peak | West Elk Peak |
Elevation | 13,042 ft (3,975 m) |
Coordinates | 38°43′05″N 107°11′57″W |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | Colorado |
Counties | Gunnison, Delta and Montrose |
Parent range | Rocky Mountains |
Borders on | Elk Mountains |
The West Elks are surrounded by tributaries of the Gunnison River. The range is bounded on the north by the North Fork of the Gunnison and on the east by the East River, another tributary of the Gunnison. On the south and west it is contiguous with Black Mesa and Fruitland Mesa, both part of the uplift in which sits the Black Canyon of the Gunnison. On the northeast it is contiguous with the Elk Mountains, being separated from them by Anthracite Creek and Coal Creek. Nearby towns include Gunnison, Paonia, and the ski resort of Crested Butte.