Slumgullion Earthflow - Lake City, CO - U.S. National Natural Landmarks on Waymarking.com

Approximately 700 years ago, a large part of Mesa Seco became supersaturated from heavy rains and broke loose. Millions of tons of rock and mud flowed four miles into the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and forming Lake San Cristobal, Colorado's second largest natural lake. About 400 years later a second slide occurred within the existing earthflow. There is no other site like it anywhere else in the world and geologists come from all over to study the feature. If you look closely at the trees growing within the flow, you can see that it is still moving and many are bent in unusual directions. In fact, the earth is moving at a rate of about half an inch per day or up to 20 feet per year.

The area was designated as a National Natural Landmark in 1965 [visit link] and is visible from a large turnout off of State Highway 149 east of Lake City. The name Slumgullion comes from a multi-colored stew and is also the name of the debris left in the sluice boxes used by miners.

Sources: National Park Service, Lake City official website & Silver Thread Scenic Byway Guidebook

Predominate Feature: Earthflow/mudslide Parking/Access Location: N 37° 59.170 W 107° 15.808 Ownership: Federal Terrain Rating: Admission Charged: no Landmark's Website: [Web Link]

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At least one photograph personally taken by the Waymarker must be posted.

Visitor should describe the experience of their visit.

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Date Logged Log User Rating   09/07/2015 LT_Dream visited it