Red Mountain, pictured here, has lost its signature reddish hue to a early autumn snowfall. Located halfway between Silverton and Ouray Colorado, Red Mountain tops the 11,000 foot mark. This elegant peak is part of the San Juan Mountain Range and has similar qualities as its northern Rocky Mountain neighbors, the Maroon Bell Peaks. These huge granite outcrops, once covered by a layer of sedimentary rock, are made of a core of igneous and metamorphic rock. These peaks are flanked by prominent angular ridges called hogbacks. The distinct shades of red or maroon rock are colored by imbedded oxidized iron, called hematite.