La Garita Wilderness
{{Short description|Protected area in southwestern Colorado, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox protected area
| name = La Garita Wilderness
| iucn_category = Ib
| photo = LaGaritaWilderness.jpg
| photo_caption = View of the La Garita Wilderness area from the parking lot at the terminus of Forest Road 787
| map = USA
| relief = 1
| map_caption =
| location = Hinsdale / Saguache / Mineral counties, Colorado, United States
| nearest_city = Monte Vista, CO
| coordinates = {{coord|38|00|N|106|53|W|region:US|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coords_ref = {{cite gnis|190506|La Garita Wilderness|August 7, 2012}}
| area = {{convert|129626|acre|km2}}
| established = 1964
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = U.S. Forest Service
}}
The La Garita Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the La Garita Mountains of southern Colorado. The {{convert|129626|acre|km2|adj=on}} wilderness established in 1964 in Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests includes segments of the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide Trail. At {{convert|14014|ft|m}}, San Luis Peak is the highest point in the wilderness area.{{cite web |title=La Garita Wilderness |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/gmug/recarea/?recid=80856 |access-date=May 31, 2021}}{{cite web |title=La Garita Wilderness |publisher=Wilderness.net |url=http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=303 |access-date=August 7, 2012 |url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107142629/http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=303 |archive-date=November 7, 2012}}{{cite book| last=Warren| first=Scott S.| title=Exploring Colorado's Wild Areas: A Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Climbers, X-C Skiers, and Paddlers| location=Seattle, Washington| publisher=The Mountaineers| year=2002| edition=2nd| isbn= 0898867843}}
One entrance to the wilderness area is via Forest Road 787 from Saguache Park and Cochetopa Park off State Highway 114 west of Saguache, Colorado. There is a parking lot for visitors to the wilderness area at the south end of FS 787. Cochetopa Park may also be entered from the east over Cochetopa Pass via Saguache County Road NN14.
Climate
La Garita Peak, {{cvt|13710.|ft}},{{cite web|url= https://www.summitpost.org/la-garita-peak/305126|title= La Garita Peak |author= summitpost.org |access-date= November 3, 2023}} is the eponymous peak of the La Garita Wilderness and the La Garita Mountains. La Garita Peak has an Alpine climate (Köppen ET). There is no weather station at the summit, but this climate table contains interpolated data for an area around the summit.
{{Weather box
|location = La Garita Peak 37.9342 N, 106.8651 W, Elevation: {{cvt|13579|ft}} (1991–2020 normals)
|single line = y
|Jan high F = 23.6
|Feb high F = 23.1
|Mar high F = 28.0
|Apr high F = 33.2
|May high F = 41.7
|Jun high F = 53.1
|Jul high F = 58.1
|Aug high F = 55.8
|Sep high F = 50.1
|Oct high F = 40.4
|Nov high F = 30.2
|Dec high F = 23.8
|Jan mean F = 11.9
|Feb mean F = 11.1
|Mar mean F = 15.5
|Apr mean F = 20.4
|May mean F = 29.1
|Jun mean F = 39.6
|Jul mean F = 44.7
|Aug mean F = 43.1
|Sep mean F = 37.4
|Oct mean F = 28.1
|Nov mean F = 18.9
|Dec mean F = 12.4
|Jan low F = 0.1
|Feb low F = -0.8
|Mar low F = 3.1
|Apr low F = 7.7
|May low F = 16.4
|Jun low F = 26.0
|Jul low F = 31.4
|Aug low F = 30.4
|Sep low F = 24.8
|Oct low F = 15.8
|Nov low F = 7.7
|Dec low F = 1.0
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 2.36
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.77
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.12
|May precipitation inch = 2.24
|Jun precipitation inch = 1.11
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.73
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.23
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.97
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.32
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.95
|Dec precipitation inch = 2.79
|source=PRISM Climate Group{{cite web
|url= http://prism.oregonstate.edu/explorer/
|title= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|publisher= PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University
|access-date= November 3, 2023
|quote= To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.}}
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Protected areas of Colorado}}
{{Colorado}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Wilderness areas of Colorado
Category:Gunnison National Forest
Category:Rio Grande National Forest
Category:San Juan Mountains (Colorado)
Category:Protected areas of Hinsdale County, Colorado
Category:Protected areas of Saguache County, Colorado
Category:Protected areas of Mineral County, Colorado
Category:Protected areas established in 1964
Category:1964 establishments in Colorado
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