Wheeler Geologic Area

Your efforts are rewarded by views of a remarkable geologic formation of moderately coarse volcanic tuff eroded into many different shapes. Advice is to plan a whole day trip in order to travel into Wheeler, enjoy the formations, and then get back out. It is not a short, easy trip. ROAD IS EXTREMELY ROUGH WITH DEEP RUTS HIGH CLEARANCE JEEP OR ATV TRAVEL IS RECOMMENDED. In addition to trail # 790, East Bellows Creek Trail, from Hansons Mill, # 789 Wason- Wheeler Trail from north of Creede there are several trails that either lead to Wheeler or from Wheeler on into the La Garita Wilderness. Check out the details for the following trails, 871, 912, 784, 783 and 888. There is a lot of information available on the internet, the following are two good sites to visit: www.gorp.com/parks-guide/travel-ta-rio-grande-national-forest-colorado-sidwcmdev_066105.html and www.sangres.com/features/wheelergeologic.htm At the end of the Wheeler Road #600 there are several dispersed campsites for the public to use. You are not allowed to camp or have campfires inside the area of the formations. Dispersed camping is allowed at Hansons Mill site located just south of the East Bellows Creek trailhead.