Colorado

The United States Congress designated the Flat Tops Wilderness in 1975 and it now has a total of 235,214 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Colorado and is managed by the White River and Routt National Forests. Flat Tops is Colorado's second largest Wilderness, a precious expanse of open land.

The White River National Forest has a longstanding tradition of promoting wilderness stewardship. In 1919, Arthur Carhart, a Forest Service landscape architect, realized the uniqueness of the location when he stood on the shoreline of Trappers Lake. Carhart’s task was to survey the area to build a recreational housing development of summer cottages. However, what Carhart saw and experienced at Trappers Lake compelled him to strongly recommend to his supervisors that the area remain undeveloped. Flat Tops, also known as the “Cradle of Wilderness,” is where the idea of wilderness was first applied to public land.

It’s no wonder Carhart found the area so entrancing: behind Trappers Lake loom steep volcanic cliffs and beyond them a vast subalpine terrain yields to alpine tundra. The Flat Tops are part of the White River Plateau with an average elevation of about 10,000 feet. Approximately 110 lakes and ponds, often unnamed, dot the country above and below numerous flat-topped cliffs. Roughly 100 miles of fishable streams are in the Wilderness.

The valleys and relatively gentle land above the cliffs offers over 160 miles of trails. Thousands of recreationists in search of hiking, camping, horseback, hunting and fishing visit each year. The land is ideal for stock-users and traveling cross-country. Elk, deer and moose visit the area in the summer.

A skeletal forest of dead spruce and fir stretches across the higher slopes below the tundra, the eerie legacy of a 1940s bark beetle epidemic. In 2002 more than 17,000 acres burned around Trappers Lake and over 5,500 acres in the vicinity of Lost Lakes in the East Fork of the Williams Fork drainage amounting to almost 10% of the Flat Tops Wilderness.

Flat Tops Wilderness Flat Top Mountain

(c) Outdoor Trail Maps LLC

When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 235,214 acres US Forest Service
Yampa Ranger District
Blanco Ranger District
Rifle Ranger District
Eagle Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed only if kept under verbal control 580 7,610ft - 12,350ft
Location overview for Flat Tops Wilderness Map

Flat Tops Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Anderson Reservoir Trail #2260
2 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
3 - B Trail #N1813.2B
4 - BIg Fish Trail #1819.1
5 - Bailey Lake Trail #1859.1
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Anderson Reservoir Trail #2260
2 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
3 - B Trail #N1813.2B
4 - BIg Fish Trail #1819.1
5 - Bailey Lake Trail #1859.1
6 - Baldy Spur Trail
7 - Baldy Trail #1200.1
8 - Bear Park Trail #1836.1
9 - Bear River Trail #1120.1
10 - Big Fish Lake Spur Trail
11 - Big Fish Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
12 - Big Marvine Trail #1822A
13 - Big Ridge Cutoff Trail #1820.1A
14 - Big Ridge Trail #1820.1
15 - Black Mandall Lake Trail
16 - Black Mountain Creek Trail #1117.1
17 - Blair Lake Trail #2048.1
18 - Boulder Lake Connector Trail
19 - Buck Lake Route - PRIMITIVE
20 - Bunker Basin Trail #1109.1
21 - Burro Mountain Trail #1833
22 - Camp Loop Trail - PRIMITIVE
23 - Chinese Wall - Picket Pin Connector Trail
24 - Chinese Wall Trail #1803.1
25 - Cliff Lake Trail #1831.1
26 - Coburn Rim Trail #2033.1
27 - Connector Trail
28 - Crater Lake Spur Trail
29 - Crooks Park Trail #1240
30 - Cross Creek Access Trail
31 - Cross Creek Trail #1855.1
32 - Cutoff Trail
33 - Deep Lake Spur Trail
34 - Deer Lake Spur Trail
35 - Deer Lake Trail #1802.1
36 - Derby Ridge Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
37 - Derby Ridge Spur Trail 2
38 - Derby Ridge Trail #2038.1
39 - Devils Causeway Trail #1803.3
40 - Doe Creek Trail #2259.1 - PRIMITIVE
41 - Duck Lake Trail #2261.1
42 - Duck Lake Trail #2261.1A
43 - East Fork Trail
44 - East Fork Trail #1119.1
45 - East Lost Lake Spur Trail
46 - East Marvine Trail #1822.1
47 - Edge Lake Trail #1879.1
48 - Farm Access Trail
49 - Fawn Creek Spur Trail
50 - Fawn Creek Trail #1838.1
51 - Flat Tops Upper Trail - PRIMITIVE
52 - Florence Lake Shore Trail
53 - Fowler Bench Spur Trail
54 - Fowler Bench Spur Trail 2 - PRIMITIVE
55 - Fowler Bench Trail #2253
56 - Fowler Creek Trail #2254
57 - Fowler Spur Trail 1 - PRIMITIVE
58 - Hack Lake Spur Trail
59 - Hack Lake Trailhead Connector Trail
60 - Harolds Trail #2029.1
61 - Hill Creek Trail #2255.1
62 - Himes Peak Trail #1877.1
63 - Hooper Lake Trail #1860.1
64 - Horseshoe Lake Trail
65 - Indian Cliffs Trail #1877.1
66 - Island Lakes Trail #1842.1
67 - Johnny Meyers Trail #2067.1
68 - Johnson Pasture Trail #1852.1
69 - Keener Lake Trail
70 - Lake Of The Woods Trail
71 - Little Causeway Lake Spur Trail
72 - Little Trappers Lake Spur Trail
73 - Little Trappers Trail #1814.1
74 - Lost Lakes Trail #1116.1
75 - Lost Lakes Trail #1812.1
76 - Lost Solar Trail #1828.1
77 - Lost Solar-Nichols Creek Connector Trail
78 - Luark Trail #2043.1
79 - Mandall Lakes Trail #1121.1
80 - Marvine - Muskrat Lakes Connector Trail
81 - Marvine Trail #1823.1
82 - Mary Loch Lake Trail
83 - McGinnis Lake Trail
84 - McMillan Lake Spur Trail
85 - Middle Derby Trail #1858.1
86 - Mirror Lake Alt Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
87 - Mirror Lake Alt Trail - PRIMITIVE
88 - Mirror Lake Spur Trail
89 - Mirror Lake Trail #1821
90 - Mirror Lake Trail #1821.3P
91 - Mosquito Lake Spur Trail
92 - Mud Lake Spur Trail
93 - Muskrat Lakes Trail #1269
94 - Nellies Trail #1839.1
95 - Nichols Creek Trail #1830.1
96 - North Derby Trail #1122.1
97 - North Fork Derby Ceek Access Trail
98 - Old Road - Wagon Wheel Connector Trail - PRIMITIVE
99 - Old Road Trail - PRIMITIVE
100 - Oyster Lake Trail - PRIMITIVE
101 - Oyster Lakes Trail #1825.1
102 - Papoose Creek Trail #2248.1
103 - Paradise Lake Cutoff Trail - PRIMITIVE
104 - Paradise Lake Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
105 - Park Creek Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
106 - Park Creek Trail #1829.1
107 - Park Creek Upper Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
108 - Park Creek Upper Trail - PRIMITIVE
109 - Parvin Lake Access Trail
110 - Parvin Lake Area Trail 1
111 - Parvin Lake Area Trails 2
112 - Parvin Lake Area Trails 3
113 - Peltier Lake Trail #1826.1
114 - Picket Pin Lily Pond Trail #1811.1
115 - Pine Isle Lake Trail
116 - Prospect North Trail #1867.1
117 - Prospect South Trail #1867.1
118 - Red Dirt Trail
119 - Rim Lake Trail #1856.1
120 - Roberts Trail #2076.1
121 - Round Lake Spur Trail
122 - Sand Creek Trail #1123.1
123 - Sawtooth Trail #1165.1
124 - Scotts Lake Cutoff Trail
125 - Scotts Lake Trail
126 - Shingle Lake Trail - PRIMITIVE
127 - Shingle Peak Trail #2042.1
128 - Skinny Fish Lake Trail #1813.1
129 - Smith Lake Trail #1194.1
130 - Solitary Lake Trail #1846.1
131 - South Derby Trail #1857
132 - South Fork Trail #1827
133 - South Fork Trail #1827.1
134 - South W Mountain Trail #2060.1 - PARTLY PRIMITIVE
135 - Spur Trail
136 - Stock Driveway Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
137 - Stock Driveway Trail #2259.1 - PARTLY PRIMITIVE
138 - Sunnyside Lakes Trail #1861.1
139 - Sweetwater Trail #1854.1
140 - Trail #1837
141 - Trail #197
142 - Trail #8573
143 - Trail #8574
144 - Trail #8576
145 - Trail #8581
146 - Trail #8582
147 - Trail #8582A
148 - Trail #8583
149 - Trail #8586
150 - Trail #8588
151 - Trail #8589
152 - Trail #N1615.1
153 - Trail #N193.1
154 - Trail #N6061.1
155 - Transfer Trail #1172.1
156 - Trappers Lake Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
157 - Trappers Lake Spur Trail 2 - PRIMITIVE
158 - Trappers Lake Spur Trail 3 - PRIMITIVE
159 - Trappers Lake Trail
160 - Trappers Lake Trail #1816.1
161 - Turret Creek Trail #1832.1
162 - Turret Crescent Trail #2269.1
163 - Turrett Creek Spur Trail
164 - Twin Lakes - East Marvine Cutoff Trail - PRIMITIVE
165 - Ute Creek Trail #1824.1
166 - Ute Deep - Harolds Connector Trail
167 - Ute Deep Trail #2031.1
168 - Ute Sunnyside Trail #2034.1
169 - Ute Sweetwater Trail #2032.1
170 - Ute-Heart Lake Trail #1110.1 - MOTORIZED
171 - W Mountain Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
172 - W Mountain Trail #1817.1 - PARTLY PRIMITIVE
173 - Wagon Wheel Trail #2049.1
174 - Wall Lake - Trappers Lake Cutoff Trail
175 - Wall Lake North Shore Trail
176 - Wall Lake Trail #1818.1
177 - West Lost Lake Spur Trail
178 - West Lost Lake Trail #1103.1
179 - West Marvine Trail #1868.2
180 - West Marvine Trail #1888
181 - White Creek Trail #N7200.1
182 - Wild Cow - East Marvine Cutoff Trail - PRIMITIVE
183 - Wild Cow Park Area Trails 1 - PRIMITIVE
184 - Wild Cow Park Area Trails 2 - PRIMITIVE
185 - Wild Cow Park Area Trails 3 - PRIMITIVE
186 - Wild Cow Park Area Trails 4 - PRIMITIVE
187 - Wild Cow Park Area Trails 5 - PRIMITIVE
188 - Wild Cow Park Trail #1862.1
Area Trailheads:
1 - Anderson Reservoir Trailhead
2 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
3 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
4 - BIg Fish Trail #1819.1
5 - Baldy Trail #1200.1
Area Trailheads:
1 - Anderson Reservoir Trailhead
2 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
3 - Arthur H Carhart Trail #1815.1
4 - BIg Fish Trail #1819.1
5 - Baldy Trail #1200.1
6 - Bear Park Trail #1836.1
7 - Big Ridge Cutoff Trail #1820.1A
8 - Big Ridge Trail #1820.1
9 - Blair Lake Trail #2048.1
10 - Blair Lake Trail #2048.1
11 - Bunker Basin Trail #1109.1
12 - Burro Mountain Trail #1833
13 - Chinese Wall Trailhead
14 - Cliff Lake Trail #1831.1
15 - Coburn Rim Trail #2033.1
16 - Coburn Rim Trail #2033.1
17 - Crooks Park Trailhead
18 - Duck Lake Trail #2261.1
19 - Duck Lake Trail #2261.1A
20 - East Fork Trail
21 - East Fork Trail #1119.1
22 - East King Mountain Trailhead
23 - East Marvine Trail #1822.1
24 - Egeria Creek Trailhead
25 - Fawn Creek Trail #1838.1
26 - Fowler Bench Trail #2253
27 - Fowler Creek Trail #2254
28 - Hack Lake Trailhead
29 - Harolds Trail #2029.1
30 - Hill Creek Trail #2255.1
31 - Hooper Lake Trail #1860.1
32 - Indian Cliffs Trail #1877.1
33 - Johnson Pasture Trail #1852.1
34 - Johnson Pasture Trail #1852.1
35 - King Creek Trailhead
36 - Lake Of The Woods Trail
37 - Mandall Lakes Trail #1121.1
38 - Marvine Trail #1823.1
39 - Middle Derby Trail #1858.1
40 - Mirror Lake Trail #1833
41 - Oyster Lakes Trail #1825.1
42 - Peltier Lake Trail #1826.1
43 - Picket Pin Lily Pond Trail #1811.1
44 - Prospect South Trail #1867.1
45 - Red Dirt Trail
46 - Roberts Trail #2076.1
47 - Sand Creek Trail #1123.1
48 - Scotts Lake Trail
49 - Sheriff Reservoir Trailhead
50 - Skinny Fish Lake Trail #1813.1
51 - Smith Lake Trail #1194.1
52 - Smith Lake Trail #1194.1
53 - South Fork Trail #1827
54 - South Fork Trail #1827.1
55 - Sunnyside Lakes Trail #1861.1
56 - Trail #1837
57 - Trail #197
58 - Transfer Trail #1172.1
59 - Trappers Lake Trail #1816.1
60 - Turret Creek Trail #1832.1
61 - Turret Crescent Trail #2269.1
62 - Ute Creek Trail #1824.1
63 - Ute Deep Trail #2031.1
64 - Ute Deep Trail #2031.1
65 - Ute Sunnyside Trail #2034.1
66 - Ute Sunnyside Trail #2034.1
67 - Ute Sweetwater Trail #2032.1
68 - Ute Sweetwater Trail #2032.1
69 - Ute-Heart Lake Trail #1110.1
70 - Ute-Heart Lake Trail #1110.1
71 - Wagon Wheel Trail #2049.1
72 - Wall Lake Trail #1818.1
73 - West Marvine Trail #1888
74 - White Creek Trail #N7200.1
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Chapman Reservoir Campground
2 - Cold Springs Campground
3 - Deep Lake Campground
4 - East Marvine Campground
5 - Himes Peak Campground
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Chapman Reservoir Campground
2 - Cold Springs Campground
3 - Deep Lake Campground
4 - East Marvine Campground
5 - Himes Peak Campground
6 - Horseshoe Campground
7 - Marvine Campground
8 - Meadow Lake Campground
9 - Meadow Ridge Campground
10 - North Fork Campground
11 - Sheriff Reservoir Campground
12 - South Fork Campground & Trailhead
13 - Sweetwater Lake Campground
14 - Trappers Lake / Bucks Campground
15 - Trappers Lake / Cutthroat Campground
16 - Trappers Lake / Horse Thief Campground
17 - Trappers Lake / Shepherds Rim Campground
18 - Trappers Lake / Trapline Campground