Nature
The Castles are a prominent geological formation in Colorado’s West Elk Mountains, rising to 12,296 feet in the West Elk Wilderness northwest of Gunnison. Named for a cluster of natural stone pillars, the formation is known for its fortress-like silhouette, with pillars about 500 feet tall and a summit that climbs 2,500 feet above South Castle Creek in just one mile. Runoff flows from Castle Creek to Ohio Creek and then the Gunnison River. In an alpine subarctic climate with snowy winters and summer thunderstorms, The Castles stand out for their height, isolation, and sheer walls as one of the wilderness area’s defining landmarks.
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Colorado · United States
