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Red Mountain & Crystal Lake, San Juan Mountains, Colorado    ID# 617-CO-SJ-154
Red Mountain, San Juan Skyway, Colorado. Located just above the town of Ouray, Colorado in the heart of the San Juan Mountains, snow-dusted Red Mountain reflects in the clear waters of Crystal Lake. The last week of September is the best time to witness the spectacular display of aspen-cloaked 13,000 foot mountains which rise along both sides of this section of the San Juan Skyway between the towns of Ouray and Silverton. Once the scene of extensive small-scale mining operations at the end of the 19th century, Red Mountain creek still runs red from acid runoff seeping from abandoned mine sites. Many of these old mines can be seen near the top of Red Mountain Pass several miles up-canyon from here. The bright red rock of the mountain results from its volcanic origins as the San Juans began to rise about 60 million years ago at the beginning of the Laramide Orogeny. The heat associated with volcanic activity concentrates various elements such as gold, silver, copper, lead, and zinc into recoverable veins within the mountains. All photos in these galleries may be ordered as fine art framed prints or for stock photography usage.

This image is from James Kay Gallery 4 - Rocky Mountains of North America