Near Fort Lyon in Bent County, Colorado — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Pike's First View

Photographed by Jeffrey Beall, March 23, 2025

1. Pike's First View Marker

Inscription. On November 15, 1806, Zebulon Montgomery Pike saw the mountain later named for him. His view was from the hills close to the Arkansas River in this vicinity.

From Pike's journal—
“When our small party arrived on the hill, they with one accord gave three cheers to the Mexican mountains.”

From this point, Pikes Peak is 117 miles distant.

Erected 2006 by Santa Fe Trail Assn., Bents Fort Chapter SFTA, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bent County Government, Pike National Forest, Pikes Peak America's Mountain.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. A significant historical date for this entry is November 15, 1806.

Location. 38° 4.094′ N, 103° 6.922′ W. Marker is near Fort Lyon, Colorado, in Bent County. It can be reached from County Road Ff.5 5 miles east of Colorado State Highway 101 and Bent County Road FF. South of the Arkansas River, north of the railroad tracks, South of Fort Lyon Colorado. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Las Animas CO 81054, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Eastern Plains.

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It is also in the American Mountain West,

on the Great Plains,

on the Southern Plains,

on the High Plains,

and on the Santa Fe Trail Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Comanchería,

the Dust Bowl,

and the Republic of Texas.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Santa Fe Trail (approx. 3.7 miles away); Welcome to Boggsville (approx. 5.4 miles away); From Trail to Town (approx. 5½ miles away); Boggsville (approx. 5.6 miles away); Welcome to Bent County (approx. 5.8 miles away); a different marker also named Santa Fe Trail (approx. 8.4 miles away); a different marker also named Santa Fe Trail (approx. 8.4 miles away).

More about this marker. The marker is made of Pikes Peak Granite

Additional keywords. Pike Expedition

Pike's First View Historical Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jeffrey Beall, March 23, 2025

2. Pike's First View Historical Marker

Photographed by Jeffrey Beall, March 23, 2025

3. Pike's First View Historical Marker

Broader view of the location

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2025, by Jeffrey Beall of Walsenburg, Colorado. This page has been viewed 320 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on March 27, 2025, by Jeffrey Beall of Walsenburg, Colorado. 2, 3. submitted on March 26, 2025, by Jeffrey Beall of Walsenburg, Colorado. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.