Cannibal Plateau
{{Short description|Summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado, U.S.}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Cannibal Plateau
| other_name =
| photo = Cannibal Plateau, Powderhorn Wilderness, Hinsdale County, Colorado, USA 02.jpg
| photo_size =
| photo_alt = Photo of Cannibal Plateau.
| photo_caption = Cannibal Plateau viewed from the east
| elevation_ft = 12533
| elevation_ref = {{cite gnis|id=188743|name=Cannibal Plateau|access-date=11 February 2021}}
| prominence_ft = 402
| prominence_ref = {{cite peakbagger|pid=5864|title=Cannibal Plateau, Colorado|access-date=11 February 2021}}
| isolation_mi = 1.56
| range = San Juan Mountains
| parent_peak =
| location = Hinsdale County, Colorado, U.S.
| map = Colorado
| map_caption = Colorado
| coordinates = {{coord|38.1065742|N|107.2290596|W|type:mountain_region:US-CO_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| range_coordinates =
| topo = USGS 7.5' topographic map
Cannibal Plateau
| type =
| volcanic_arc/belt=
| age =
| last_eruption =
| first_ascent =
| easiest_route =
}}
Cannibal Plateau is a summit in Hinsdale County, Colorado, in the United States. The broad {{convert|12533|ft|0|adj=on}} mountain is located in the San Juan Mountains and within the Powderhorn Wilderness, a protected area managed by the Bureau of Land Management Gunnison Field Office and the Gunnison National Forest.{{cite web | url=https://wilderness.net/visit-wilderness/?ID=473| title=Powderhorn Wilderness | publisher=wilderness.net | access-date=11 February 2021}}
Cannibal Plateau was named after an incident of cannibalism by Alferd Packer. The massacre site is near Lake City, {{convert|8|mi|km}} southwest of the plateau.{{cite book|last=Dawson|first=John Frank|title=Place names in Colorado: why 700 communities were so named, 150 of Spanish or Indian origin|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015051116740;view=1up;seq=18|year=1954|publisher=The J. Frank Dawson Publishing Co.|location=Denver, CO|page=12}}
Geology
Cannibal Plateau is composed of basaltic lava flows of the Hinsdale Formation, which are dated as 16 to 19 million years old. These lava flows are thought to be among the last volcanic events within the San Juan volcanic field and are therefore some of the best preserved. The Hinsdale Formation lava flows form an expansive alpine highland where the two highest ridges are Cannibal Plateau and nearby Calf Creek Plateau.{{cite book| last1=Steven| first1=T. A.| last2=Hail| first2=W. J. Jr. | title=Geologic map of the Montrose 30' X 60' quadrangle, southwestern Colorado| location=Reston, Virginia| publisher=U.S. Geological Survey| year=1989| url=https://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_10013.htm| access-date=12 February 2021}}{{cite book| last1=Pearson| first1=Mark| last2=Fielder| first2=John| title=The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas| location=Englewood, Colorado| publisher=Westcliffe Publishers| year=2005| edition=2nd| isbn=978-1-56579-516-7}}
Hiking
File: Cannibal Plateau, Powderhorn Wilderness, Hinsdale County, Colorado, USA 03.jpg
The easiest route to the summit starts at the Powderhorn Lakes Trailhead located at the northern edge of the wilderness area. The Powderhorn Lakes Trail can be taken southwest {{convert|1.4|mi|km}}. Where the trail turns southeast toward Powderhorn Lakes, leave the trail and continue {{convert|3.0|mi|km}} up the ridge through meadows and eventually alpine tundra to the broad summit of Calf Creek Plateau. From there it is a {{convert|2.3|mi|km}} hike southwest across the tundra to Cannibal Plateau. This requires descending to the {{convert|12080|ft|0|adj=on}} saddle before climbing {{convert|450|ft|0}} up to the Cannibal Plateau summit. The elevation gain on this {{convert|13.5|mi|km}} round trip is {{convert|2,600|ft|0}}. This includes the climb of {{convert|600|ft|0}} back up to Calf Creek Plateau on the return. The views along this alpine hike are expansive.Trailhead and trail information is available at [https://trails.colorado.gov/places/na~1455631 Colorado Trail Explorer]. This includes information on the [https://trails.colorado.gov/trailheads/powderhorn-lake-1193 Powderhorn Lake Trailhead] and the [https://trails.colorado.gov/trails/powderhorn-lakes-15898 Powderhorn Lakes Trail]. Off-trail distances can also be computed. Accessed 15 February 2021
Cannibal Plateau can also be reached from the Devil’s Creek Trailhead to the west and the Deer Lakes, Brush Creek, and Powderhorn Park trailheads to the south. All these routes begin in subalpine forests before emerging into the scenic alpine landscape of the Powderhorn Wilderness.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline|Cannibal Plateau}}
{{Mountains of Colorado|state=collapsed}}