GC1YYEJ East Elk Cr. Pinnacles - Blue Mesa Reservoir Area
Type: Traditional | Size: Regular | Difficulty: | Terrain:
By: Flutiste @ | Hide Date: 09/20/2009 | Status: Available
Country: United States | State: Colorado
Coordinates: N38° 29.253 W107° 10.034 | Last updated: 06/19/2022 | Fav points: 0
                       

---

The road off of HWY 50 to East Elk Creek campground is a well-graded dirt car road. However, just past the campground there is a 20' stretch which requires 4-wheel drive. Past that, it's an easy road. The cache is a hikeable distance from the campground. The gradual uphill hike from the road to the cache is brushy and rocky, with one shallow water crossing which may or may not be dry. Be aware of cactus. Elevation of cache is 7780'

---

The pinnacles at East Elk Creek are composed of volcanic breccia from mud and debris flows which came from the now extinct West Elk Volcano located approximately 10 - 15 miles to the north. The breccia is capped by layers of welded tuff which are solidified red-hot ash flows belched out of the San Juan volcanic centers located 40 - 50 miles away to the south. Erosion along vertical cracks in the rock layers created the pinnacles.

At the base of the pinnacles is an old ditch which carried water from upper East Elk Creek to the old cattle ranches in the Gunnison River valley which are now submerged under the Reservoir. (As of summer 2011, the ditch may or may not be running -- the Parks Service has renovated it and is occasionally using the water.)

This cache is one of several caches around Blue Mesa Reservoir. The cache is in a red metal box.

***Hunting Season Advisory***
Hunting seasons in Colorado are in September and October. If you venture out during hunting season, be sure to wear some blaze orange and be noisy.

05/11/2018 By sjclimber
Camping nearby so decided to try this. Easy walk from the gate to find a well hidden cache. Breccia near Ouray is much more dense. Amazing how far the ash traveled. Thanks

10/11/2016 By flutiste
Replaced cache container.

09/21/2016 By KiskaMaru
Found this geocache with the help of the Columbine M.S. 6th grade Gifted Talented Class that was camping at the park in the valley. Spectacular view of the valley and lake from the pinnacles. Thanks so much for this cache - a favorite

07/03/2016 By AZ4X4s
Thanks, flutiste. Went for a short outing and got a couple caches above the Blue Mesa Recreational Ranch. Then went west on the highway and got a couple more and back home before the afternoon thundershowers arrived. I think the terrain on this one should be much more than 2.5. It was pretty dang steep and slippery. Should at least be a 4.0.

07/03/2016 By GotWine
Woooo what a climb, so glad AZ4x4 spotted this. Dark clouds were coming, but hated to leave with a DNF after that climb. Thanks for the smiley face here.