Calf Creek Plateau
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| Calf Creek Plateau | |
|---|---|
 Calf Creek Plateau viewed from the northeast. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,661 ft (3,859 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 909 ft (277 m)[2] |
| Isolation | 6.45 mi (10.38 km)[2] |
| Coordinates | 38°07′35″N 107°12′26″W / 38.126312°N 107.207145°W[2] |
| Geography | |
  Calf Creek Plateau | |
| Location | Hinsdale County, Colorado, U.S.[1] |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains[2] |
| Topo map(s) | USGS 7.5' topographic map Powderhorn Lakes[1] |
Calf Creek Plateau is a mountain in the northern San Juan Mountains of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The mountain is located in Hinsdale County, and at an elevation of 12,661 feet (3,859 m), it is the high point of the Powderhorn Wilderness.[1][3][4]
Calf Creek Plateau is within the San Juan volcanic field and volcanic rocks dominate the region. The mountain itself is composed of basaltic lava flows of the Hinsdale Formation, which are dated as 16 to 19 million years old. These lava flows are thought to be among the last volcanic events in the area and are some of the best preserved. The Hinsdale Formation lava flows form an expansive alpine highland where the two highest ridges are Calf Creek Plateau and nearby Cannibal Plateau. Calf Creek Plateau was glaciated, and the most prominent glacial cirques are located on the north side of the plateau. Powderhorn Lakes, a popular hiking destination, are located in one of these cirques.[5][6]
