The Big Wall is a great wall

West Spanish Peak, the Wahatoya Valley, and The Big Wall dike. Note the horizontal strata on the mountain, an indication it's not a volcano.

One of the most amazing geological dikes in the world is one called The Big Wall. It's just southwest of La Veta and is a towering structure that defines the western extent of the Wahatoya Valley.  

Some refer to the dike as "The Great Wall," but that's not the official name, at least in the eyes of the United States Geological Survey. It's The Big Wall.

A close look at the east side of the dike showing erosional gaps.

The dike is close to La Veta, just a few minutes' drive away, in fact. It's perhaps the largest of the many dikes that radiate out from West Spanish Peak, and there are a bunch of smaller dikes that run parallel to it. 

Driving south on County Road 360, one parallels the dike until the road turns towards the southeast after passing a school and crossing Wahatoya Creek.

A view of a ranch and the east face of the dike, which makes a natural border for the valley and the ranch. The view is from County Road 360.

The road goes over a ridge (probably another buried dike) and brings one to Lovers Leap, a large granite rock that overlooks the creek. This is about there the pine trees start, and it's close to the National Forest boundary. 

After Lovers Leap is Wahatoya Camp, a bunch of remote cabins along the creek. ⚒