Needle Rock
Location: Delta County
Size: 80 acres
Designated: October 1992
Land Manager: Bureau of Land Management
Needle Rock towers 800 feet 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 (Miocene epoch) when molten rock intruded between existing sedimentary formations. As the surrounding country rocks eroded over millions of years, the resistant igneous core was exposed.
This site is featured in the Colorado State Parks and Natural Areas Book 
Colorado State Parks & Natural Areas
by Frank Weston
Published September 1, 2008
Click here to purchase.