Colorado

South of the famous Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness is the southern extension of the Elk Mountains with far fewer visitors than the Wilderness area. East of Crested Butte, CO and west of Taylor Reservoir is a large expanse of the Gunnison National forest with 12er and 13er peaks an plenty of alpine terrain to explore. Many trailheads in this area are off of County Road 740 - about 2/3 of the way from Gunnison, CO to Crested Butte, CO - that leads deep into the mountains, turning into a 4x4 road that dead ends in a box canyon over 11,000ft. County Road 742 just north of Gunnison (turning off at the small town of Almont) also winds its way deep into the high country with a number of trailheads into this area on the north and access to the Fossil Ridge Wilderness to the south.

When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 76,632 acres US Forest Service:
Gunnison Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed - must be on leash in developed areas 126 8,420ft - 13,530ft

Elk Mountains South Area Hiking Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Bear Creek Trail #9415
2 - Block and Tackle Trail #9545
3 - Bowman Creek Trail #9570
4 - Brush Creek Connector Trail #9627
5 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Bear Creek Trail #9415
2 - Block and Tackle Trail #9545
3 - Bowman Creek Trail #9570
4 - Brush Creek Connector Trail #9627
5 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
6 - Cement Creek Access Trail
7 - Cement Creek Trail #9612
8 - Cement Mountain Trail #9553
9 - Crystal Peak Trail #9583
10 - Cumberland Basin Trail #9579
11 - Deadman Gulch Trail #9420
12 - Death Pass Trail
13 - Doublerop Alt Trail
14 - Doubletop Trail #9405
15 - Doubletop Walrod Spur Trail #9405.2A
16 - Doubletop Walrod Spur Trail #9405.3A
17 - Flag Creek Trail #9422
18 - Granite Basin Trail #9558
19 - Horse Basin Trail #9471
20 - Hunters Creek Trail #9410
21 - Italian Connector Trail #9648
22 - Lily Pond Trail #9534 - MOTORIZED
23 - Lower Cement Creek Trail #9636
24 - Mount Tilton Spur Trail
25 - Mount Tilton Spur Trail #9582.1A
26 - Mount Tilton Trail #9582
27 - Opas Taylor Hut Trail
28 - Reno Ridge Trail #9607
29 - Roaring Judy Trail #9552
30 - Rosebud Trail #9423
31 - Star Lily Connector Trail #9623 - MOTORIZED
32 - Star Trail #9411 - MOTORIZED
33 - Taylor Divide Trail #9440
34 - Teocalli Ridge Trail #9557
35 - Twin Lakes Trail #9402
36 - Walrod Cutoff Trail #9418
37 - Walrod Gulch Trail #9412
38 - Warm Springs Trail #9406
39 - Waterfall Creek Trail #9555
40 - Waterfall Cutoff Trail #9638
Area Trailheads:
1 - Block and Tackle Trail #9545
2 - Bowman Creek Trail #9570
3 - Brush Creek Connector Trail #9627
4 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
5 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
Area Trailheads:
1 - Block and Tackle Trail #9545
2 - Bowman Creek Trail #9570
3 - Brush Creek Connector Trail #9627
4 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
5 - Brush Creek Trail #9400
6 - Cement Creek Access Trail
7 - Crystal Peak Trail #9583
8 - Cumberland Basin Trail #9579
9 - Deadman Gulch Trail #9420
10 - Death Pass Trail
11 - Flag Creek Trail #9422
12 - Flag Creek Trail #9422
13 - Granite Basin Trail #9558
14 - Horse Basin Trail #9471
15 - Hunters Creek Trail #9410
16 - Italian Connector Trail #9648
17 - Italian Connector Trail #9648
18 - Lily Pond Trail #9534
19 - Lower Cement Creek Trail #9636
20 - Lower Cement Creek Trail #9636
21 - Mount Tilton Trail #9582
22 - Mount Tilton Trail #9582
23 - Reno Ridge Trail #9607
24 - Star Trail #9411
25 - Star Trail #9411
26 - Taylor Divide Trail #9440
27 - Twin Lakes Trail #9402
28 - Walrod Cutoff Trail #9418
29 - Walrod Gulch Trail #9412
30 - Warm Springs Trail #9406
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Cement Creek Campground - Gunnison RD
2 - Dorchester Campground - Gunnison RD
3 - Mosca Campground - Gunnison RD
4 - Spring Creek Campground - Gunnison RD