Red Mountain (Ouray County, Colorado) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Red Mountain Number 3
Red Mountain Number 3
Highest point
Elevation	12,896 ft (3,931 m)
Geography
Red Mountain Number 3 Location in Colorado
Location	Ouray and San Juan counties, Colorado, U.S.
Parent range	San Juan Mountains
Topo map	USGS 7.5' topographic map Ironton, Colorado

Red Mountain Number 1
Red Mountain Number 1
Highest point
Elevation	12,598 ft (3,840 m)
Geography
Location	Ouray and San Juan counties, Colorado, U.S.

Red Mountain Number 2
Red Mountain Number 2
Highest point
Elevation	12,225 ft (3,726 m)
Geography
Location	Ouray County, Colorado, U.S.

Red Mountain is a set of three peaks in the San Juan Mountains of western Colorado in the United States, about five miles (8.0 km) south of Ouray. The mountains get their name from the reddish iron ore rocks that cover the surface. Several other peaks in the San Juan Mountains likewise have prominent reddish coloration from iron ore and are also called "Red Mountain".

Nearby Red Mountain Pass is named after Red Mountain, and the ghost town mining camp of Red Mountain Town is located around Red Mountain.

Red Mountain Town

Following sporadic settling of the region in the 1870s, a series of permanent mining towns were founded in what became known as the Red Mountain Mining District. Among these was Red Mountain Town, which was founded following discoveries of silver in 1882. Other communities in the area included Ironton and Guston, which were eventually connected with the larger towns of Silverton and Ouray via the Silverton Railroad and later the Million Dollar Highway.

Gallery

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  West aspect, from Imogene Pass

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  Red Mountain Number 3 with the ghost town of Red Mountain.

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  Red Mountain reflected in Crystal Lake