Colorado

The United States Congress designated the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in 1964 as one of the original areas protected under the Wilderness Act. It has a total of 159,935 acres. All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service.

This Wilderness area is home to the headwaters of the Elk, Encampment and North Platte Rivers, as well as some 70 lakes, high mountain peaks (including the 12,180-foot-tall Mount Zirkel for which it is named) and a portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. It straddles the Continental Divide and encompasses the rugged Sawtooth Range, as well as portions of the Park and Sierra Madre ranges.

Dispersed camping opportunities are widespread or many developed campgrounds are nearby, such as Big Creek Lakes, Seedhouse, Summit Lake and Teal Lake Campgrounds.

Mount Zirkel Wilderness
"Mt Zirkel Wilderness" (CC BY 2.0) by jwstang31
When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 159,935 acres US Forest Service:
Hahns Peak-Bears Ears Ranger District
Parks Ranger District
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed on leash 343 7,390ft - 12,190ft
Location overview for Mount Zirkel Wilderness Hiking Map

Mount Zirkel Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - 15- MOTORIZED
2 - 17- MOTORIZED
3 - 18- MOTORIZED
4 - 20- MOTORIZED
5 - Aqua Fria Spur Trail
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - 15- MOTORIZED
2 - 17- MOTORIZED
3 - 18- MOTORIZED
4 - 20- MOTORIZED
5 - Aqua Fria Spur Trail
6 - Auqa Fria Trail #1229.1 - MOTORIZED
7 - Bear Creek Trail #1180.1
8 - Bear Creek Trail #1206.1
9 - Bear Lakes Trail #1159.1
10 - Beaver Creek Trail #1124.1
11 - Big Creek Lake Trail #1184.1
12 - Big Creek Lakes Loop Trail #1125.1A
13 - Bighorn Lake Trail #1040.1
14 - Blue Lake Trail #1178.1
15 - Buffalo Ridge Trail #1151.1
16 - Chilton Trail #1170.1
17 - Coulton Creek Trail #1188.1
18 - Crags Trail #1182.1
19 - Cutover Trail #1188.1A
20 - Ditch Creek Trail #1099.1
21 - Elk Park Trail #1118.1
22 - Elk River North Fork Trail #1189
23 - Farwell Mountain Trail #1203.1 - MOTORIZED
24 - Fish Hawk Trail #1168.1A
25 - Frying Pan Basin Trail #1127.1
26 - Gem Lake Trail #1152.2A
27 - Gilpin Lake Spur Trail
28 - Gilpin Trail #1161.1
29 - Gold Creek Lake Trail #1150.1
30 - Grizzly-Helena Trail #1126.1 - MOTORIZED
31 - Hare Trail #1199.1 - MOTORIZED
32 - Helena Spur Trail
33 - Hinman Creek Trail #1177.1
34 - Hot Springs Access Trail
35 - Hot Springs Spur Trail
36 - Hot Springs Trail #1169.1
37 - Lake Access Trail
38 - Lake Katherine Trail #1157.1
39 - Lone Pine Trail #1129.1
40 - Lost Ranger Trail #1131.1
41 - Luna Lake Trail #1168.1
42 - Main Fork Trail #1152.1
43 - Manzanares Connector Trail #1204.1A
44 - Manzanares Cutoff Trail #1204.2A
45 - Manzanares Trail #1204.1
46 - Manzanares Trail #1204.1 - MOTORIZED
47 - Mica Basin Trail #1162.1
48 - Newcomb Creek Trail #1132.1
49 - Overlook Trail #1190
50 - Pearl Lake Trail
51 - Primitive Trail to Priv Prop
52 - Rainbow Lakes Shore Trail
53 - Rainbow Lakes Trail #1130.1
54 - Red Dirt Pass Trail #1142.1
55 - Red Dirt Trail #1171.1
56 - Roaring Fork Trail #1166.1
57 - Roxy Ann Lake Trail #1179.1
58 - Saddle Cutoff Trail #1140.1A
59 - Saddle Trail #1140.1
60 - Seven Lakes Spur Trail #1125.2A
61 - Seven Lakes Trail #1125.1
62 - Slide Lake Trail
63 - South Fork Trail #1100.3A
64 - Spur Trail - PRIMITIVE
65 - Swamp Park Trail #1100.1
66 - Three Island Lake Trail #1163.1
67 - Trail Creek Trail #1154.1
68 - Twin Lakes Trail #1148.1
69 - Ute Pass Trail #1128.1
70 - Vista Verde Guest Ranch Hinman Lake Trail
71 - West Fork Trail #1153.1
72 - Wyoming Trail #1101.1
Area Trailheads:
1 - Bear Creek Trailhead
2 - Beaver Creek Trail #1124.1
3 - Big Creek Lakes Loop Trail #1125.1A
4 - Buffalo Ridge Trail #1151.1
5 - CDT Buffalo Pass to North Lake (CO Sec. 43)
Area Trailheads:
1 - Bear Creek Trailhead
2 - Beaver Creek Trail #1124.1
3 - Big Creek Lakes Loop Trail #1125.1A
4 - Buffalo Ridge Trail #1151.1
5 - CDT Buffalo Pass to North Lake (CO Sec. 43)
6 - CDT North Lake to Wyoming Border (CO Sec. 44)
7 - CDT Rabbit Ears Pass to Buffalo Pass (CO Sec. 42)
8 - Chilton Trail #1170.1
9 - Coulton Creek Trail #1188.1
10 - Elk Park Trail #1118.1
11 - Elk River North Fork Trail #1189
12 - Elk River North Fork Trail #1189
13 - Farwell Mountain Trail #1203.1 - MOTORIZED
14 - Farwell Mountain Trail #1203.1 - MOTORIZED
15 - Gilpin Trail #1161.1
16 - Grizzly-Helena Trail #1126.1 - MOTORIZED
17 - Grizzly-Helena Trail #1126.1 - MOTORIZED
18 - Hare Trail #1199.1 - MOTORIZED
19 - Hinman Creek Trail #1177.1
20 - Hot Springs Trail #1169.1
21 - Lone Pine Trail #1129.1
22 - Main Fork Trail #1152.1
23 - Main Fork Trail #1152.1
24 - Manzanares Connector Trail @1204.1A - MOTORIZED
25 - Newcomb Creek Trail #1132.1
26 - Pearl Lake Trailhead
27 - Pitchpine Trailhead
28 - Rainbow Lakes Trail #1130.1
29 - Red Canyon Trailhead
30 - Red Dirt Trail #1171.1
31 - Roaring Fork Trail #1166.1
32 - Seedhouse Trailhead
33 - Seven Lakes Trail #1125.1
34 - South Fork Trail #1100.3A
35 - Swamp Park Trail #1100.1
36 - Swamp Park Trail #1100.1
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Big Creek Lakes Campground
2 - Hidden Lakes Campground
3 - Hinman Park Campground
4 - Hog Park Campground
5 - Pearl Lake State Park Campground
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Big Creek Lakes Campground
2 - Hidden Lakes Campground
3 - Hinman Park Campground
4 - Hog Park Campground
5 - Pearl Lake State Park Campground
6 - Seedhouse Campground
7 - Seedhouse Group Campground
8 - Summit Lake Campground
9 - Teal Lake Campground