Hogback on Horse Creek Road SR-211 Cheyenne, Wyoming

A classic "hogback" exposed on the west side of Horse Creek Road (SR-211) out of Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wow! I had to stop the car and take in the sight of that classic exposure of a hogback extending from one side of this picture to the other. For those of you that are not familiar with the term "hogback" let me help you a bit. According to "Webster": a hogback is: "a ridge of land formed by the outcropping edges of tilted strata; broadly : a ridge with a sharp summit and steeply sloping sides".

I will explain more about what we are viewing in a moment. For the moment gaze at that dark streak stretching from one side of this picture to the other. That is nothing short of awesome. I want my grandchildren to see this.

Hogback exposed on the west side of Horse Creek Road (SR-211) out of Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Keep in mind that "hogback" is a geological description of a geological phenomena. Several things have occurred to create this "hogback". In terms of how this happened we must go back 50 to 100 million years ago when this area was an inland sea where over millions and millions of years layers of sediment formed that would eventually become layers of sedimentary rock. Over millions of more years the inland see rose and dried out. Then the mountain building began in this area that created the Laramie Mountain Range -- we are looking west at the eastern exposure or foothills of the Laramie Mountains. As the mountains rose those once flat layers of sedimentary rock were thrust up until they broke. Some of those layers of sedimentary rock were much harder than others. With those layers of sedimentary rock now in an almost vertical position instead of laying flat, erosion started carrying away the softer layers exposing the almost vertical side of the much harder layer of sedimentary layer (now sedimentary rock like limestone or sandstone). What we see now is the vertical edge of that harder layer of sedimentary rock that is eroding much slower than the softer surrounding layers.

Awesome hogback exposed on the west side of Horse Creek Road (SR-211) out of Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So that "hogback" that you see exposed across the entire length of this picture is the result of mountain building forces that thrust the once flat sedimentary rocks into a vertical position then erosion that carried away the softer sedimentary rocks exposing the much harder layer of sedimentary rock.

A classic "hogback" exposed on the west side of Horse Creek Road (SR-211) out of Cheyenne, Wyoming

 

 

 

Awesome example of a hogback exposed on Horse Creek Road (SR-211) northwest of Cheyenne, WY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Close-up of a hogback exposed on the west side of Horse Creek Road (SR-211) near Cheyenne, WY

 

 

 

 

We see these hogbacks up and down the eastern slope of the Rockies in Canada and along I-25 & the Big Horn Mountains here in Wyoming. Another beautiful exposure can be seen west of Big Horn, Wyoming at the end of Little Goose Canyon Road on land owned by Little Goose Ranch. A few miles west of Loveland, Colorado off Big Thompson Canyon Road, is an exceptional hogback called Devil's Backbone. In Canon City, Colorado near Royal Gorge there is a scenic drive called Skyline Drive that is a one-way drive along that hogback. Do not miss that scenic drive and experience when you visit Canon City and or Royal Gorge. Another great "hogback" is located a few miles southwest of Denver in a place called Dinosaur Ridge in Morrison, Colorado. Dinosaur Ridge is indeed a spectacular hogback that beautifully exposes dinosaur-bearing rock. Both bones and tracks of a variety of animals from the Age of Dinosaurs are visible. This is a great (must do) place for both adults and children. There is a Dinosaur Ridge Discovery Center on site that really helps both children and adults understand what they have seen and are about to see.

Awesome example of a hogback exposed on Horse Creek Road (SR-211) near Cheyenne, WY

 

 

 

 

What a beautiful view of a beautiful ranch with this awesome hogback being displayed across the entire viewing area. We were viewing this from SR-211 or Horse Creek Road out of Cheyenne, Wyoming between the small towns of Horse Creek and Farthing. We were taking this sight seeing drive on Horse Creek Road one afternoon while in Cheyenne for Frontier Days the huge rodeo event staged every year over a 10-day period starting in mid-July. Frontier Days Rodeo, and Parades are something that you need to put on your bucket list. Do not get the idea that you will just drift into town and enjoy things. People make their reservations a year in advance. RV-Parks and hotels are FULL and demanding premium prices for this time period. You have been warned. :-)

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Mike & Joyce Hendrix

 

 

 

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