Cold Spring Mountain facts for kids

Cold Spring Mountain is a tall peak, or "summit," located in Moffat County, Colorado. It's also known by its Native American name, O-WI-YU-KUTS Plateau. You can find it on special maps called "topographic maps" made by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). These maps show the shape of the land, and Cold Spring Mountain appears on several of them, like those for Sparks and Irish Canyon.

West Cold Spring Wilderness Area

In 1980, a special area called the West Cold Spring Wilderness Study Area was set up by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). This area covers a huge space: about 3,200 acres in Daggett County, Utah and over 18,000 acres in Moffat County, Colorado. It's located about 65 miles northwest of Maybell and 95 miles northwest of Craig, Colorado.

Fun Activities

The West Cold Spring area is a great place for outdoor adventures! You can enjoy many activities here, such as:

• Backpacking
• Hiking
• Fishing
• Camping
• Hunting

Nature and Wildlife

This wilderness area is found on the western side of the O-Wi-Yu-Kuts Plateau. It has deep canyons and ridges that lead down to the Green River valley. The elevation, or height above sea level, ranges from about 5,749 feet to 8,212 feet.

The area is home to many different types of plants. Along Beaver Creek Canyon and Spitzie Draw, you'll find plants that grow near water. There are also wide areas of sagebrush steppe, saltbush, aspen trees, pine trees, and oakscrub.

You can spot many animals here too! There are various songbirds and snakes. Larger animals include black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, beaver, elk, fox, and coyote. If you like fishing, Beaver Creek is known for its trout.

History of the Mountain

Cold Spring Mountain has a rich history, with signs of people living here long ago.

Ancient People

There are prehistoric sites from the Paleo-Indian people. These are some of the earliest people who lived in North America. Later, the Shoshone and Ute tribes also lived in this area.

Cowboys and the Old West

A famous cowboy named Isam Dart lived near the top of Cold Spring Mountain. He had a horse ranch close to Browns Park, a well-known hideout in the Old West. In 1900, Isam Dart died near the mountain. He was shot by Tom Horn, who was a stock investigator and a former detective.