Browse Map

Explore away

Explore Map Collection

Check out our basemaps

Print a Map Plus

Generate a high-quality PDF

Field Guide

Discover local flora, fauna, geology, and more

Local Flora & Fauna

Learn the ecology of your area

Local Geology

Learn the geologic formation at your feet

Get Started or Sign In

Welcome

Continue with Apple

Already have an account? Sign In

MAP

Topo

Measure

Topo

Ecoregions

Public Lands

...

BASEMAPS

Default Weather

Temperature

Smoke

...

WEATHER

Needle Rock

Remains of a 28 Million Year Old Volcano

Volcanic Plug on Colorado Plateau, Needle Rock WSA near Crawford, CO

This is a highly unique geologic feature believed to be a neck of intrusive igneous rock, or a laccolith. Needle Rock originated in the late Miocene as molten rock which remained below the earth’s surface and intruded into sedimentary formations. Gradually, with the passing of several million years, the overlying sedimentary beds eroded away, leaving this core of igneous rock that abruptly rises nearly 1,000 feet above the Smith Fork River valley. – BLM Overview

Print Map

Generate High-Quality PDF

On the Web

On Wikipedia

Needle Rock is an intrusive of rhyodacite volcanic plug located in the Needle Rock Natural Area, 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east-northeast (bearing 68°) of the Town of Crawford in Delta County, Colorado, United States. It stands 800 feet (240 m) tall above the floor of the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River valley. It originated as the throat of a large volcano about 28 million years ago in the Miocene geological epoch, when molten rock intruded between existing sedimentary rocks. The plug may represent the eroded conduit of a laccolith.

Classified As

Volcanic Plug

Geologic Formations

Mancos Shale (COKm;0)

Geologic Formation

Mancos Shale

Geologic Formation