Powderhorn Wilderness
Gunnison National Forest

The Powderhorn Wilderness is located about 10 miles northeast of Lake City and occupies some 62,250 acres. The wilderness is approximately 23% National Forest and 77% BLM. Elevations vary from 8,699' in the north to 12,600' in the south.

This is the northern edge of the San Juan Mountains, where the mountains fade down into the sagebrush meadows and fish-filled lakes of the Gunnison Basin. The Cannibal and Calf Creek Plateaus are among the largest expanses of flat and undisturbed alpine tundra in the lower 48 states. The Cannibal Plateau was named for the Cannibal of Lake City, Alferd Packer. Packer and 5 men he was supposedly guiding through the San Juans in heavy winter weather got lost near here in 1874. The next spring, Packer finally walked out, leaving behind 5 partially eaten human bodies. Today, the stands of fir, spruce, aspen, and pine that blanket the lower reaches of this countryside are roamed by small herds of mule deer and large herds of elk.

Among the 45 miles of hiking trails that access the seldom-visited Powderhorn Wilderness are the Powderhorn Lakes, East Fork, Powderhorn Park, North Calf Creek, Canyon Inferno and Devil's Lake Trails. Points of interest for fishermen and photographers include the Powderhorn Lakes and Devil's Lake.