| Hesperus Mountain | |
| Elevation Ft: | 13237 |
| Elevation Ref: | [1] [2] |
| Prominence Ft: | 2852 |
| Isolation Mi: | 24.53 |
| Location: | High point of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States |
| Range: | Highest summit of the La Plata Mountains |
| Map: | Colorado |
| Coordinates: | 37.445°N -108.089°W |
| Coordinates Ref: | [3] |
| Topo: | USGS 7.5' topographic map La Plata, Colorado |
| Easiest Route: | Scramble |
Hesperus Mountain (Navajo: meaning "Big Mountain Sheep"[4]) is the highest summit of the La Plata Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent 13237feet thirteener is located in San Juan National Forest, 21.2km (13.2miles) northeast by east (bearing 59°) of the Town of Mancos in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Hesperus Mountain is the highest point in Montezuma County.[1] [2] [3]
Though not of particularly high elevation for the region, Hesperus Mountain is visually quite prominent, as it is near the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains and rises over 7000feet above the area.
Hesperus is notable as the Navajo People's Sacred Mountain of the North, , which marks the northern boundary of the Dinetah, their traditional homeland. It is associated with the color black, and is said to be impregnated with jet. When First Man created the mountain as a replica of mountains in the Fourth World, he fastened it to the ground with a rainbow and covered it in darkness.[5]
The San Juan Mountains have been the traditional homeland of the Ute People. http://www.dargnet.orghttp://uintahbasintah.org/maps/ubsw.jpg
Along with Ute the La Plata Mountain Range has also been the early homeland of the Navajo People who had settled on and near this mountain and the La Plata Mountain Range.