Gunnison National Forest
Wilderness Areas

The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness covers some 166,938 acres, of which 48,986 acres are part of the Gunnison National Forest. This Wilderness has eight peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation: Huron Peak (14,005 ft), Missouri Mountain (14,067 ft), Mt Columbia (14,073 ft), Mt. Oxford (14,153 ft ), Mt Yale (14,196 ft), Mt Belford (14,197 ft), La Plata (14,340 ft), and Mt Harvard (14,420 ft). With lots of timberline lakes and high mountain streams, the fishing and scenery are world-class. The Brown's Pass, Red Mountain Creek, Texas Creek and Magdalena Trails are also in this Wilderness.

Fossil Ridge Wilderness is a small wilderness of about 32,000 acres located about 16 miles northeast of Gunnison. The area contains several high mountain lakes. There are 26 miles of trail within the wilderness open to foot and horse travel. The wilderness is surrounded by the BLM Fossil Ridge Recreation Management Area which is about 44,000 acres in size. Roads and trails within the Recreation Management Area are open to mechanized and motorized uses. The Fossil Ridge Trail is a very popular motorcycle trail within the RMA.

The La Garita Wilderness is a gorgeous and pristine 128,859 acre area located in the Gunnison and Rio Grande National Forests. La Garita is Spanish for "the overlook." The Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail pass through this Wilderness. The Skyline, Cebolla and Rough Creek Trails are also in this area. San Luis Peak (14,104 ft), Stewart Peak, Organ Mountain, Machin Lake and Mineral Creek are just a few of the many attractions in the La Garita Wilderness. This Wilderness receives less use than most others because it's more remote. Those seeking the solitude of a true wilderness experience may want to explore the La Garita Wilderness.

Raggeds Wilderness is a 64,992 acre area on the Gunnison and White River National Forests. Elevations range from 7,000 to about 13,000 feet. There are more than 90 miles of constructed foot and horseback trails in this Wilderness. Some points of interest in this Wilderness are: Dark Canyon, Chair Mountain, Marcellina Mountain, Mount Justice, Treasury Mountain, and Oh-Be-Joyful Pass.

West Elk Wilderness on the Gunnison National Forest contains about 176,000 acres ranging in elevation from 7,000 to more than 13,000 feet. More than 200 miles of constructed trails are available for both foot and horse travel through often rugged terrain. Mill Castle Trail is one of the most rugged and scenic trails in this Wilderness. Points of interest include: the Castles, West Elk Peak, Sheep Lake, North, Middle and South Baldy Mountains, and East and West Beckwith Mountains.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness contains more than 181,000 acres on the Gunnison and White River National Forests. The great majority of the area (almost 162,000 acres) is part of the White River National Forest. Elevations range from 9,000 to 14,000+. There are more than 100 miles of trails for foot and horse travel through a lot of extremely rugged terrain. The Conundrum Trail provides excellent scenery, but wanders along hillsides full of loose rocks. There is also very little water along the way. The Twin Lakes and Copper Creek Trails also offer excellent views.

The Powderhorn Wilderness is located about 10 miles northeast of Lake City and occupies 60,100 acres. The wilderness is approximately 23% National Forest and 77% BLM. Elevations vary from 8,699 feet in the north to 12,600 feet in the south.

Trails include the Powderhorn Lakes, East Fork, Powderhorn Park, North Calf Creek, Canyon Inferno and Devil's Creek Trails. Points of interest include the Powderhorn Lakes, Cannibal Plateau and Calf Creek Plateau. The Cannibal and Calf Creek Plateaus contain one of the largest, least disturbed, and relatively flat alpine tundra areas in the contiguous United States.