TH Little
Cimarron
UNCOMPAHGRE
WILDERNESS
858
861
868
Fa
ll C
ree
k
arron
River
Sheep
Mountain
228
Big Blue Creek
Fork C
im
Middle
219
231
River
West Fork Cimarron River
rron
River
Cimarron
Owl Creek
Pass
868
Cima
254
Little
Elk
TH
232
Little
East Fork
219
Stealey
Mountain
867
Fall
TH Creek
149
A
12
WARNING: Do not use this map for wilderness
navigation. It is intended for general reference
only. Detailed maps are available at the locations
shown on the back panel.
864
229
East
Fork
TH
863
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre,
& Gunnison National Forests
Straley 03/14/11
TH Big
Blue
253
233
Middle TH
Fork
244
Elk Creek
860
218
Courthouse
Mountain
218
Pinnacle
Ridge
Dunsinane
Mountain
144
Slide
Lake
229
218
Precipice
Peak
857
211
550
243
Dixie
Ridge
258
227
Porphory
Basin
Silver Jack
Mine Ruins
212
216
232
216
138
235
Silver
Mountain
226
234
TH Independence
231
233
228
137
244
220
227
232
236.3A
132
217
142
Matterhorn
Peak
w
Co
871
k
205
Larson
Lakes
239
236
TH Uncompahgre
Peak
239
233
ahg
omp
Unc
Bighorn
Ridge
149
233
Crystal
Peak
256
136
re R
215
228
Uncompahgre
Peak
14,309 Ft
233
226
214
135
Wetterhorn
Peak
14,015 Ft
Wetterhorn
Basin
ee
Cr
14
Fork
Gun
nis
Coxcomb
Peak
Lake
216
235
on R
236
872
B
iver
Redcliff
Peak
Cutler
TH
245
241
Crystal
Lake
238
Broken
Hill
235
Crystal
Larson
TH
North
236
Bridge of
Heaven
877
iver
226
140
USFS
TH Matterhorn
Ouray
Lake City
1 Mile
BLM
Blackwall
Mountain
870
215
TH Bear
Creek
C
He n
se
eek
n Cr
241
NOTICE: Sheep grazing is permitted in the Uncompahgre Wilderness,
and livestock protection dogs may be encountered near bands of
sheep. To minimize potential conflicts, please keep your distance.
Do not approach, harass, or in any way threaten the sheep or dogs.
Keep pets under physical restraint.
550
American
Flats
242
Darley Varden
Mountain
Sunshine
Mountain
Darley
Mountain
A1
A2
A3
A4
Dallas
Courthouse Mountain
Sheep Mountain
Alpine Plateau
B1
B2
B3
B4
Ouray
Wetterhorn Peak
Uncompahgre Peak
Lake City
C1
C2
C3
C4
Ironton
Handies Peak
Recloud Peak
Lake San Cristobal
MAP LEGEND
BLM
Wildhorse
Peak
20 Alpine Loop
Scenic Byway
Capitol City
(Site)
TOPO MAP INDEX
USFS
Primary Highway
Summit Over 13,000 Feet
Improved Road
Stock May Be Restricted
Primitive Road
TH
Trailhead
National Forest Trail
235
National Forest Trail
Forest Boundary
118
Wilderness Boundary
Butterfly Collection Closure
20
1
2
3
National Forest Road
4
“We have a profound, fundamental need for areas
of wilderness -- a need that is essential to our
understanding of ourselves, our culture, our own
natures, and our place in nature.”
Howard Zahniser
RECREATION OPPORTUNITY GUIDE
F
Ouray Ranger District
2505 S. Townsend Avenue
Montrose, CO 81401
(970) 240-5300
Forest Supervisor’s Office
2250 Highway 50
Delta, CO 81416
(970) 874-6600
Gunnsion Ranger District
216 N. Colorado Street
Gunnison, CO 81230
(970) 641-0471
BLM Gunnison Field Office
216 N. Colorado Street
Gunnison, CO 81230
(970) 641-0471
Visit us on the web at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/gmug.
Learn more about wilderness or find more information on this wilderness at: www.wilderness.net.
AMERICA’S
Ouray Chamber Visitor Center
PO Box 145
1230 Main Street
Ouray, CO 81427
(970) 325-4746
(800) 228-1876
ouray@ouraycolorado.com
RESOURCE
UNCOMPAHGRE WILDERNESS
US Department of Agriculture
Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre,
& Gunnison National Forests
WILDERNESS
ENDURING
LEAVE NO TRACE
Outdoor Ethics
RESTRICTIONS
Uncompahgre Wilderness
RESPECT RESTRICTIONS
Please Keep It Wild
Violations are punishable by a maximum fine of $5,000
and/or six months imprisionment (Title 16 USC 551).
Other restrictions may apply.
For more information, contact the Ouray Ranger District:
970-240-5300.
NOTICE
Mechanized transportation or motorized
equipment. This includes, but is not limited to:
motor vehicles, bicycles, carts, and chainsaws.
Building any structure or improvement. This
includes, but is not limited to: hitchrails, camp
furniture, and shelters.
Damaging any natural feature. This includes,
but is not limited to: falling or damaging trees,
trenching, and vandalism.
Collecting or harming butterflies in any stage
of their life cycle from June 1 to August 30.
Shortcutting a switchback in a trail.
Failing to properly dispose of all garbage (pack
it out) and leaving human waste in an exposed
or unsanitary manner.
Groups exceeding 15 persons and/or 25
heartbeats, including pack and saddle stock.
Larger groups must separate into smaller groups
and remain at least one mile apart at all times.
Restraining a saddle or pack animal within 100
feet of a water source or designated trail or
in violation of posted instructions. Animals
must not be permitted to damage trees, soil,
or vegetation.
Building a campfire within 100 feet of a water
source or designated trail or above treeline.
Camping within 100 feet of a water source or
designated trail. Over 200 feet is preferred.
To protect wildness and the experiences of others,
the following acts are PROHIBITED within the
Uncompahgre Wilderness:
Wilderness Is
America’s Enduring Resource
PRACTICE LEAVE NO TRACE
Please Keep It Wild
BE CONSIDERATE OF OTHER VISITORS
Don’t let your fun disturb others.
Preserve the natural quiet. When
you meet horses on the trail, step
off the downhill side and speak
softly until they pass.
RESPECT WILDLIFE
Watch wildlife from a distance and never
approach, feed, or follow it. Seal food tightly
and store it out of reach. Control pets at
all times or consider leaving them at home.
MINIMIZE USE & IMPACTS OF FIRE
Use a lightweight stove, instead
of a fire. If you build a fire, use
only small dead wood found on the
ground and use existing fire rings.
LEAVE WHAT YOU FIND
Do not damage, deface, or remove natural
objects or cultural artifacts. Leave them
for others to enjoy. Don’t build structures,
dig trenches, or alter natural features.
DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY
“Pack it in, pack it out!” Bury human waste
in a cathole 6-8 inches deep and at least
200 feet from water. Wash yourself and
your dishes at least 200 feet from water.
TRAVEL & CAMP ON DURABLE SURFACES
Use established campsites and
trails, where available. Avoid sites
just beginning to show impacts.
Keep campsites small and at least
200 feet from water, designated
trails, and occupied campsites.
PLAN AHEAD & PREPARE
“Know before you go!” Learn everything you
can about the area you plan to visit and the
regulations for its use.
Wilderness offers sanctuary for wildlife, protects
watersheds, and is a living link to our natural heritage.
It preserves a piece of a lost landscape and possesses
ecological, cultural, scientific, educational, recreational,
and/or spiritual values.
Wilderness areas are designated by Congress to
protect places with rare primeval character from an
expanding human civilization. They are managed to
preserve their “wildness” and to provide opportunities
for primitive recreation and solitude. Wilderness is
an Amercian legacy.
Many Lasting Things
The Uncompahgre Wilderness is located in the
spectacular San Juan Mountains of southwestern
Colorado. It boasts two of Colorado’s famed
“fourteeners” and many other peaks over 13,000 feet.
This is a landscape defined by towering rock,
expansive alpine tundra, and forested canyons.
Originally known as the Big Blue Wilderness, it was
added to the National Wilderness Preservation System
by Congress in 1980 and expanded in 1993 to include
adjacent land administered by the Bureau of Land
Management. The Uncompahgre Wilderness now
totals 102,721 acres.
The San Juan Mountains were born of fire and shaped
by ice. The origins of the San Juans lie in an immense
dome formed by tectonic activity during the Laramide
Orogeny about 65 million years ago. About 35 million
years ago, the dome cracked and bulged as it yielded
to tremendous pressure from the magma below. After
millions of years of volcanic fury, the San Juans were
covered in massive glaciers that carved the rugged
landscape seen today.
The San Juans are highly mineralized and were at
the heart of Colorado’s silver and gold mining history.
Many relics of the past can still be seen in these
mountains, adding a unique human dimension to the
wilderness experience.
What Is Wilderness?
Please help protect this special area
by practicing Leave No Trace
outdoor ethics and respecting all
Restrictions. Thank you for your
cooperation, and have a safe and
enjoyable visit!
Expect to encounter the challenges
and inherent risks of mountain
weather, wild and rugged terrain,
wildife, and other natural hazards.
Your safety is your responsibility.
Be prepared!
This area was designated as
“wilderness” by Congress to provide
you and future generations with the
benefits of an enduring primitive
resource that is unimpaired by
human civilization.
Know Before You Go
Uncompahgre Wilderness
Location
Southwestern Colorado
Ouray, Gunnison, & Hinsdale Counties
Access
10 Trailheads
110 Miles of Designated Trail
Season
Late June to Mid September
Passes May Remain Snowbound
Weather
30-80 Degrees (F)
Frequent Rain, Occasional Snow
Use
Moderate to High
High on Weekends & Holidays
Difficulty
Moderate to Severe
Rugged Terrain, High Altitude
Restrictions
Special Restrictions Apply
See Below for More Information
Wilderness Wise
Welcome To The Wild