Fort Peabody

Fort Peabody stands at 13,365 feet elevation on the border between Ouray and San Miguel Counties and features the remains of a wooden structure reinforced with stone walls. The site sits on a high, exposed ridge with sparse vegetation.

The National Guard constructed this military post in 1904 during labor strikes to monitor and prevent deported union members from returning. Its creation was a direct response to tensions in the mining region.

The site reflects a period of intense labor disputes between mining companies and worker unions in early 20th-century Colorado. Visitors walking through the remains can sense the social tensions that once dominated this remote location.

Access requires high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles via Tomboy Road from Telluride or Camp Bird Mine road from Ouray. Visitors should prepare for extreme weather and harsh conditions at this elevation.

This site holds the record as the highest elevation military post ever established in the United States at 13,365 feet. Its extreme altitude made it one of the most remote and difficult positions to maintain.