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This article is about the entire Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. For the northern-most portion with the same name, see Sangre De Cristo Range The Sangre de Cristo Mountains ( Spanish for "blood of Christ ") are the southernmost Subrange of the Rocky Mountains . They are located in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado in the United States . The mountains run from Poncha Pass in South-Central Colorado, trending southeast and south, ending at a point southeast of Santa Fe, New Mexico . The mountains contain a number of Fourteen Thousand Foot Peaks in the Colorado portion, as well as all of the peaks in New Mexico which are over thirteen thousand feet. The name, Spanish for "blood of Christ ", is said to come from the red color of the range at some sunrises and sunsets, especially when the mountains are covered with snow, Alpenglow . However the particular origin of the name is unclear, and the name in fact only dates back to the early 19th century. Before that time the terms "La Sierra Nevada", "La Sierra Madre", "La Sierra", and "The Snowies" (used by English speakers) were used.Robert Julyan, ''The Place Names of New Mexico'', University of New Mexico Press, 1998. Sometimes the archaic Spanish spelling "Christo" is used. NOTABLE PEAKS LAND MANAGEMENT AND RECREATION OVERVIEW Much of the mountains are within various National Forests: the Rio Grande and San Isabel in Colorado, and the Carson and Santa Fe in New Mexico. These publicly accessible areas are popular for Camping , Hiking , Backpacking , Climbing , and Cross-country and Downhill Skiing . The mountains include two large wilderness areas, the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness in Colorado and the Pecos Wilderness in New Mexico, as well as some smaller wilderness areas. The Great Sand Dunes National Park And Preserve lies on the southwest side of the mountains in Colorado. SUBRANGES The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are divided into various subranges, described here from north to south. Use of the terms "Sangre de Cristo Range" and "Sangre de Cristo Mountains" is inconsistent and either may refer to either the northernmost subrange, the southernmost subrange, or the mountains as a whole. Sangre de Cristo Range The Sangre de Cristo Range, the largest and most northerly subrange of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, runs directly along the east side of the Rio Grande Rift , extending southeast from Poncha Pass for about 75 miles (120 km) through south-central Colorado to La Veta Pass , approximately 20 miles (32 km) west of Walsenburg . They form a high ridge separating the San Luis Valley on the west from the watershed of the Arkansas River on the east. Culebra Range The Culebra Range runs almost due north and south, with its northern limit at , with conical shapes and prominent Dike s radiating outward. These peaks were important landmarks on the mountain branch of the Santa Fe Trail . Taos Mountains The Taos Mountains span the western lobe of the range from Costilla Creek in the north, to maps. They include the highest point in New Mexico, Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet/4,012 m), which is part of the small Wheeler Peak Wilderness. Other notable peaks include Pueblo Peak (12,305 feet/3,751 m), which rises dramatically above Taos Pueblo , and Latir Peak (12,708 feet/3,873 m). Taos Ski Valley lies just to the west of Wheeler Peak. Much of the central portion of the Taos Mountains are on Taos Pueblo land. The southern portion of the Taos Mountains, between Palo Flechado Pass and Tres Ritos ( US Route 64 and NM Route 518), is lower and less dramatic than the northern section, with its high point being Cerro Vista, . The Fernando Mountains are a small subrange lying in this section, just south of US Route 64. Cimarron Range The Cimarron Range lies across the Moreno Valley to the east of the Taos Mountains. It is a lower range, with its highest point being Baldy Mountain (12,441 feet/3,792 m). The Philmont Scout Ranch lies on the east side of the Cimarron Range. Rincon Mountains This is a minor subrange, significantly lower than the rest of the Sangre de Cristos; it lies east of the southernmost portion of the Taos Mountains. Santa Fe Mountains Rounding out the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are the Santa Fe Mountains, which include all peaks south of NM Route 518.Butterfield, Mike, and Greene, Peter, ''Mike Butterfield's Guide to the Mountains of New Mexico'', New Mexico Magazine Press, 2006, ISBN 978-0-937206-88-1 This group lies near Santa Fe and surrounds the Pecos Wilderness , which protects the source Watershed of the Pecos River . The peaks include Truchas Peak (13,102 feet/3,994 m) as their highest point. Other notable peaks are Santa Fe Baldy (12,622 feet/3,847 m) and Jicarita Peak (12,835 feet/3,912 m). The Pecos Wilderness is crossed by many trails and is popular for backpacking and for fishing in its high alpine lakes. IN CULTURE The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are referenced in the Paul Simon song, Hearts And Bones . SEE ALSO
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