Lizard Head, Mountain summit in San Juan Mountains, Colorado

Lizard Head is a 13,119-foot (3,999 m) rock spire in the San Miguel Mountains of the San Juan range, Colorado, on the drainage divide between San Juan National Forest and Uncompahgre National Forest. The spire is composed of extrusive volcanic ash flows of Oligocene age resting on older Eocene sedimentary rocks. It stands just southeast of Mount Wilson, Wilson Peak and El Diente Peak, and 2.84 miles northwest of Lizard Head Pass.

Lizard Head's first ascent was made by Albert Ellingwood's party, who described the rock as a rotten mass where pebbles rained down from the sides. The peak's profile changed in 1911 when the taller northern spire collapsed in a landslide; residents near Ophir heard grinding noises and thought it was an earthquake. Before-and-after photographs from the north show the earlier squared-off top that resembled a lizard's head.

The mountain's shape became recognizable to railroad workers and travelers passing through the region, turning it into a natural landmark that people used to orient themselves. Locals grew familiar with its outline as a symbol of the San Juan Mountains.

Reaching the summit requires technical climbing skills and proper equipment because the rock faces are steep and exposed. Plan your visit for late summer through fall when snow and ice are less of an obstacle.

In 1911 a major rockslide reshaped the mountain and created such loud sounds that nearby residents thought an earthquake had struck. This event became part of the local history of the area.