Silver Mountain: An Underappreciated Huerfano County Peak

Silver Mountain, viewed from County Road 520. The view is to the west. Snow-capped Mount Mestas photobombs the picture on the left. 

I think Silver Mountain — elevation 10,525 feet — is pretty cool. Viewed from the east, the mountain appears to be three-peaked. It looks like a headless bat standing on a branch, lifting its wings, ready for takeoff. Silver Mountain lies directly west of Walsenburg, east of La Veta Pass, and northwest of La Veta.

According to the Colorado Geological Survey, the mountain used to be called "Dike Mountain" for the numerous dikes that radiate out from its base. The mountain is similar to the Spanish Peaks in this respect, and Silver mountain might be considered as a third Spanish Peak that just didn't make it.

Its distance from the Spanish Peaks means it hides in their shadows. A good place to see Silver Mountain is County Road 520. I've heard that mountain lions live near the mountain, attracted by the numerous sheep and deer in the area.

One of the dikes that radiates out from Silver Mountain. This one is on the mountain's northeast flank. 

Several magmatic dikes radiate out from Silver Mountain, like the one pictured here. They're too big for the deer to jump over, so the mountain lions use them as a natural corral to trap animals.

The Geological Survey says that gold and silver were once mined here, thus the name. Now the area around the mountain produces cattle. There are a few ranches and homes in the area, and it seems a quiet and peaceful area to ranch and live in.