Huerfano Butte
| Huerfano Butte | |
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,174 ft (1,882 m) |
| Prominence | 181 ft (55 m) |
| Coordinates | 37°45′14″N 104°49′37″W / 37.7539441°N 104.8268349°W |
| Geography | |
| Location | Huerfano County, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | Spanish Peaks area |
| Topo map(s) | USGS 7.5' topographic map Huerfano Butte, Colorado |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Volcanic plug or hypabyssal plug |
Huerfano Butte (/ˈwɛərfənoʊ/; Spanish pronunciation: [ˈweɾfano]) is a volcanic plug or hypabyssal plug located 8.8 miles (14.1 km) north of Walsenburg in Huerfano County, Colorado, United States. Named Huérfano (English: orphan) by early Spanish explorers, it rises above the south side of the Huerfano River with its peak about 200 feet (61 m) above the floodplain.
A historical marker was placed on the east side of Interstate 25 to commemorate its position near the Trapper's Trail to Taos, New Mexico. It was passed by John Williams Gunnison and John C. Frémont during their surveys for the railroads. Other places are now also named after the butte, Huerfano County and Huerfano River.