title: The Castles (Colorado)
text: # The Castles (Colorado)
  
  The Castles are pillars in Gunnison County, Colorado, United States.
  
  ## Description
  
  The Castles, elevation 12,296-feet (3,748 m), are situated in the West Elk Mountains which are a subrange of the Rocky Mountains. The landform is located 18 miles (29 km) northwest of Gunnison in the West Elk Wilderness on land managed by Gunnison National Forest. These 500-ft high pillars are the signature landmark of the West Elk Wilderness, and are one of Colorado's most unique rock formations. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains into Castle Creek → Ohio Creek → Gunnison River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,500 feet (762 m) above South Castle Creek in one mile (1.6 km). The landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
  
  ## Climate
  
  According to the Köppen climate classification system, The Castles is located in an alpine subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and cool to warm summers. Due to its altitude, it receives precipitation all year, as snow in winter, and as thunderstorms in summer, with a dry period in late spring.
  
  