Colorado is truly a mecca for incredible natural wonders… but natural wonders with a story as colorful as the landmarks themselves? Yep, we got those, too! Take, for example, this gorgeous natural wonder that comes complete with its own historic legend:
Located along southwestern Colorado’s Ute Mountains lies the easy-to-recognize Sleeping Ute, a series of peaks situated near the northern edge of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Reservation.
Wikimedia Commons
Thanks to its location near such popular spots as the Four Corners Monument and Mesa Verde National Park, the Sleeping Ute has become a state icon, not only as an area marker and place to photograph, but also…
Flickr/Don Graham
…as a popular place to climb and hike, since the peaks boast an elevation of nearly 10,000 feet!
Flickr/Mouser Williams
As if the aforementioned wasn’t reason enough to visit, the Sleeping Ute also holds an important part of both state history and culture, with the mountain range running alongside the Ute Mountain Reservation, which is home to the descendants of the historic Colorado Weeminuche Band.
Photo Credit
As per Ute Indian legend, the Sleeping Ute Mountain is the shape it is because it resembles a Great Warrior God who fell asleep while recovering from a battle injury, only to turn into a rocky form whose open wounds became rivers.
Courtesy of HomeToGo Illustration courtesy of HomeToGo.
(Can you see it now? I can!)
Flickr/DaylilyFan
Ready to hear even more Colorado legends? Click on This May Just Be The Wildest Legend To Ever Come Out Of Colorado!
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Flickr/Don Graham
Flickr/Mouser Williams
Photo Credit
Courtesy of HomeToGo
Illustration courtesy of HomeToGo.
Flickr/DaylilyFan
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