Location: Baca & Prowers Counties
Size: 2960 acres
Designated: 2009
Landowner: Private
The Two Buttes represent the top of an arching dome of sedimentary rocks uplifted by an unexposed laccolith approximately 10 miles across. The site was recommended for National Natural Landmark status for this feature alone. Hybridization between the southern plains woodrat (
Neotoma micropus) and the white-throated woodrat (
N. albigula) has been reported from Two Buttes. The Mexican woodrat (
N. mexicana) also occurs there. The reservoir supports wintering bands of geese, including Canada, Ross', and Snow geese. A population of Colorado green gentian (
Frasera coloradensis) was discovered on state lands south of the buttes in 1990.