The Unfug Dike

The Unfug Dike viewed from County Road 346. On the left, you can see a smaller, unnamed dike that is on the north side of the main ridge.

According to the Colorado Geological Survey, there are over 500 dikes in the Spanish Peaks Region. Only a few have been given names. One of these is the Unfug Dike.

The United States Geological Survey refers to the feature as "Unfug Ridge" and lists its elevation at 6,811 feet. It's located just southwest of Walsenburg, south of Highway 160.

A topographic map of the dike. It trends from southwest to northeast. A smaller dike is visible on the north side of the main dike. (Map from My Topo.)

According to the 1968 book Geology of the Igneous Rocks of the Spanish Peaks Region Colorado, "Unfug dike ... is a medium-olive-brown minette belonging to the subparallel dike system. The rock is a highly altered holocrystalline aphanite that contains microphenocrysts of red biotite, 16 percent, and olivine, 4 percent." 

A 2017 article in the Huerfano World Journal by Carolyn Noonan tells the story of the Unfug family's arrival in Walsenburg in the 1870s. I presume the dike is named for this family — or perhaps for a member of the family.

A view of the Unfug Dike from Lathrop State Park. The picture also shows the Spanish Peaks Medical Center.

The rocky part of the dike itself is not visible. It's covered by dirt and by trees. However, you can tell it's a dike from the shape: a long, level ridge with steep sides, in an area known to contain numerous dikes.