Colorado

The United States Congress designated the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness (map) in 1978 and it now has a total of 82,026 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Colorado in the Williams Mountains and is managed by the White River National Forest.

Settled between the spectacular Colorado Wildernesses of Holy Cross on the north, Maroon Bells-Snowmass on the west, and Collegiate Peaks on the south, Hunter-Fryingpan is all but forgotten. It rises to the Continental Divide, sharing its eastern border and the divide with Mount Massive Wilderness.

The area contains the headwaters of Hunter Creek and the Fryingpan River, and many streams in this area provide excellent habitats for large numbers of trout. Here you'll find many of the unnamed and jagged peaks of the Williams Mountains. This area encompasses forests of aspen in the lower elevations and thick spruce and fir at the higher elevations as well as open areas of unique alpine tundra that display colorful wildflowers in the summer. In the silence of this Wilderness, you'll likely see wildlife that includes elk, mule deer, and secretive smaller, fur-bearing animals.

About 65 miles of trail leave from 11 trailheads and climb up drainages into the Williams Mountains. The Lost Man Trail up Lost Man Creek crosses South Fork Pass and continues down the South Fork of the Fryingpan River (about 10 miles distance), providing access to the heart of the area. Many opportunities for solitude exist here.

Protect this special place for the future by always using Leave No Trace techniques and following all special Wilderness restrictions.

Lost Man Lake in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
Lost Man Lake in the Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
Fredlyfish4, Lost Man Lake – panoramio, CC BY-SA 4.0
When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 82,026 acres US Forest Service
Aspen Ranger District
Sopris Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed on leash 99 8,890ft - 14,170ft
Location overviews of Hunter-Fryingpan / Mount Massive Wilderness Map

Hunter - Fryingpan Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
2 - Chapman Gulch Trail #1920.1
3 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
4 - Chapman Trail #1923.1
5 - Frying Pan River Trail - PRIMITIVE
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
2 - Chapman Gulch Trail #1920.1
3 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
4 - Chapman Trail #1923.1
5 - Frying Pan River Trail - PRIMITIVE
6 - Fryingpan Lakes Trail #1921.1
7 - Granite Lakes Trail #1922.1
8 - Hunter Creek Trail #2194.2
9 - Hunter Valley Trail #1992
10 - Independence Lake Access Trail
11 - Johnson Creek Trail #2184.1
12 - Lily Pad Lake Trail
13 - Linkins Lake Trail
14 - Lost Man Lake Access Trail
15 - Lost Man Loop Trail #1996.1
16 - Lower Granite Lake Spur Trail
17 - Margys Hut Spur Trail #1927.1
18 - Midway Spur Trail
19 - Midway Trail #1993.1
20 - Montgomery Flats Trail #1902.1
21 - Sawyer Lake Trail #1926.1
22 - Slab Park Trail
23 - South Fork Pass Trail #1940.1
24 - Spruce Creek Norrie Trail #1927.1
25 - Warren Lakes Trail - PRIMITIVE
26 - Woody Creek Trail #1994.1
Area Trailheads:
1 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
2 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
3 - Chapman Gulch Trail #1920.1
4 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
5 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
Area Trailheads:
1 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
2 - Chapman Campground to South Fork Road Trail #1925.1
3 - Chapman Gulch Trail #1920.1
4 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
5 - Chapman Interpretive Trail
6 - Chapman Trail #1923.1
7 - Chapman Trail #1923.1
8 - Frying Pan River Trail - PRIMITIVE
9 - Granite Lakes Trail #1922.1
10 - Hunter Creek Trail #2194.2
11 - Hunter Valley Trail #1992
12 - Johnson Creek Trail #2184.1
13 - Johnson Creek Trail #2184.1
14 - Lily Pad Lake Trail
15 - Lost Man Loop Trail #1996.1
16 - Lost Man Loop Trail #1996.1
17 - Margy's Hot Spur Trail #1927.1
18 - Montgomery Flats Trailhead
19 - Sawyer Lake Trail #1926.1
20 - South Fork Pass Trail #1940.1
21 - Spruce Creek Norrie Trail #1927.1
22 - Woody Creek Trail #1994.1
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Chapman Campground and Group Campground
2 - Dearhamer Campground
3 - Difficult Campground and Group Campground
4 - Elk Wallow Campground
5 - Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Chapman Campground and Group Campground
2 - Dearhamer Campground
3 - Difficult Campground and Group Campground
4 - Elk Wallow Campground
5 - Lincoln Creek Dispersed Campground
6 - Lincoln Gulch Campground
7 - Lost Man Campground
8 - Weller Campground