Spanish Peaks Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in southern Colorado, United States.
Spanish Peaks Wilderness covers 19,226 acres in Huerfano and Las Animas counties, 20 miles southwest of Walsenburg within San Isabel National Forest. Its two granite stocks, West Spanish Peak at 13,623 feet and East Spanish Peak at 12,708 feet, rise about 7,000 feet above the plains. Radiating dikes extend outward like wheel spokes, and Apishapa Arch on the south side can be driven through.
Congress designated this area as protected wilderness in the year 2000, adding it to the National Wilderness Preservation System. The designation ensured the land would remain in its natural state for future generations.
The Apache, Comanche and Ute peoples used the twin summits as a landmark and held them in religious regard. The name appears in accounts as Wahatoya, Huajatolla or Guajatoyah; it is often said to mean "breasts of the earth", but it is a Comanche name meaning "double mountain".
Visitors should bring sufficient water, navigation tools, and emergency supplies before entering, as developed facilities are absent throughout the area. Cell phone reception is unreliable, so self-reliance and proper planning are essential for safety.
The area features rare radiating dikes of dolerite that extend outward from the peaks like natural stone walls across the landscape. These geological formations create an unusual pattern that becomes visible when trekking through different parts of the wilderness.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 94,015 contributors worldwide.