Lizard Head Colorado Wonder

Lizard Head Pass, elevation 10,222 feet, is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, on the border between Dolores and San Miguel... more

by Janice Pariza

Title

Lizard Head Colorado Wonder

Artist

Janice Pariza

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Lizard Head Pass, elevation 10,222 feet, is a mountain pass in the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, on the border between Dolores and San Miguel counties.
I drive this route, the San Juan Scenic Byway quite often, it is lovely to watch the changes in the rocks and trees as well as peaks in each Season.
A 400 feet tall rock pinnacle gave rise to the name Lizard Head. In the 1890's the peak apparently resembled a lizard. The RGS even chose this formation for its logo.

One story goes that one night a loud rumble filled the area and local residents thought there had been an earthquake. However the next day it became apparent that there had been a large rock fall at the peak and it may have lost its lizard like appearance.

Located along the divide between the Dolores and San Miguel watersheds, the area at Lizard Head Pass is a large gently sloping meadow. It was heavily logged in the early days and became a favorite summer grazing spot for sheep ranchers. The open nature of the land led to cold winters and significant snow drifts.

There was a 1549' long snow shed built at the site to help keep the tracks clear in those winters. A log Section House also doubled as the Depot. There was a log Bunk House and Tool Shed to support the section crews. This was a busy shipping point in spring and fall for sheep that had grazed over the summer and there was a stock yard to facilitate loading and unloading on the train.

South of the pass the railroad crosses the west fork of the Dolores River using two large wooden trestles at Gallagher. The site was also called Murphy at one time.

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Uploaded

October 1st, 2014