Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Area The southern half of the Williams Fork Mountain Range is filled with wet meadows and beaver dams. The terrain varies from slightly less than 12,000ft to . (10). Did it Saturday 5-22-21. Human Waste and Trash Poop and litter is piling up in popular destinations. Tall bushes are an important feature for willow ptarmigan. I was also going to locate water holes and scout these out as well. Normally, there is water everywhere and water holes don't see much action. The last third climbs above the treeline into a high meadow, and the grade seems to ease a little. Good view of Lake Dillon. National Forest 900 Grand Ave. The vast expanse of land in the Arapaho National Forest means that you'll be on your own out there. Hunting is allowed in our local wilderness areas such as Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan Peak and Holy Cross, subject to the regulations of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the White River National. Another interesting point along the trail is the burned area from the 2021 fire above Silverthorne. All of our Mule Deer areas are a 3 point minimum. There are waiting lists for certain licenses and we can fill you in on all the information we have available. We also offer day trips. Quite a few false summits on the way up too, haha. Let us do the planning and you can focus on your hunting. Tough because of the distance and elevation gain but manageable. The trail is in great shape. Environmentalists had sought a larger Wilderness Area containing 74,770 acres, extending eastward over the ridge into the Williams Fork Valley and farther down the western flank of the Williams Fork Mountains. Traveling north up Colorado Highway 9, the. The Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy Act would help preserve these quintessential sights and values in the San Juan Mountains, serving a wide range of local interests. The southern half of the Williams Fork Mountain Range is filled with wet meadows and beaver dams. %%EOF Nice and cold and great 360 views at the top. Add to cart Add to Wishlist Compare You must log in or register to reply here. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 7 h 21 min to complete. All Rights Reserved. Hunting is allowed in our local wilderness areas such as Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan Peak and Holy Cross, subject to the regulations of Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the White River National Forest. go get it. The trail itself is in good shape and relatively smooth, allowing for a pretty quick pace if you're in good shape. This area is known for its high peaks and alpine lakes. Please try again. Dec 31, 2022. Hunt planner. Every contribution, no matter the size, will make a difference. The first reports of smoke sightings from Ptarmigan Mountain, just outside the border of the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Area, came in at around 4:30 p.m., according to Summit Fire & EMS Chief Travis Davis. This offers both a great getaway from crowds and unsurpassed views. a]c_kn#(uzaJcc1N:. The bill would protect thousands of acres of public land as wilderness or under other protected statusin San Miguel, Ouray, and San Juan counties. Proposed Spraddle Creek addition to the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness, Colorado. "This legislation would protect some of the best that Colorados public lands have to offer, including pristine watersheds and key wildlife habitat along the Continental Divide, three popular fourteeners, and the rugged mountains and ranching heritage of the Thompson Divide," said Jim Ramey, Colorado state director for The Wilderness Society, in a statement. The hike was pretty monotonous and the views were alright; most of it is unshaded although there are sections through some trees. It is also advised to be aware of environmental "leave no trace" practices. The desert elk hunt is based from the . The landscape is home to bighorn sheep, moose, lynx, black bears and elk. 181.212.136.34 It's a rare moment when you bump into another hunting group because there's so much accessible area from which to choose. The views at the top make it totally worth it. The CORE Act, which has yet to pass through both houses of congress, would include environmentally important additions to the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness into the lower elevations and extensions farther north along the Williams Fork Ridge. Want to report conditions for this trail? Hiked on June 25. Still some down trees if you go the steep trail up. The Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness has many charms. Visitors to the area can enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, and horseback riding. Hunters use this area during hunting season. The sensory delights of the Continental Divide are varied and bracing--from dramatic mountain peaks and the snowmelt they channel to rushing creeks in the valleys below to regal, dark-jacketed spruce-fir stands harboring wild elk, lynx and peregrine falcons. After a single hunting trip to this pristine natural habitat, visitors boast of the ease of access to remote areas, the local services for visitors, and the high quality hunting. Exiting nps.gov. Weather was good and didn't need many clothes. Excellent Trail - we started at 5 am - the trails in great shape with lots of wildflowers. We relocated nearly a thousand feet higher at 8,700 feet. PTARMIGAN PEAK WILDERNESS AREA This area was designated Wilderness in 1993 and has a total of 12,760 acres. We operate out of GMU's 37 & 371 under a special use permit with the USFS Dillon Ranger District. The San Juan Mountains region is renowned for camping, backpacking and big-game hunting alike and harbors a vital watershed providing clean water to the surrounding communities. The fully packed in camp allows for less travel and more hunting time, shoot either a cow or bull! If there's one thing that unites Colorado, it's an abiding love for the outdoors. Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Mount Evans Wilderness Holy Cross Wilderness Lost Creek Wilderness Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Raggeds Wilderness West Elk Wilderness Fossil Ridge Wilderness Mount Sneffels Wilderness La Garita Wilderness Lizard Head Wilderness Greenhorn Mountain . It was a crisp fall day and I was enjoying a quiet hike in the Eagles Nest wilderness. hb`````*g``` Huge area and is a well used TH by a lot of horsebackers. Also we clocked in 12,5 miles around trip. Wilderness Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Mount Evans Wilderness Holy Cross Wilderness Lost Creek Wilderness Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Buffalo Peaks Wilderness Collegiate Peaks Raggeds West Elk Wilderness Fossil Ridge . Read boundary descriptions, biologist notes, population and harvest statistics, management objectives and more. This still wild swath of lung-busting country is nearly 90 miles long and 50 miles wide with 1.3 million acres of designated wilderness and roadless areasone of the largest tracts of high elevation wildlands left in the United States. For example, theAconcagua mountain page has the 'Aconcagua Group' and the 'Seven Summits' asparents and is a parent itself to many routes, photos, and Trip Reports. Hi Mas, Hiked with Sandra Grogan and dogs;, Piper; didn't think we'd make it, but we kept going; training hike for my CT adventure with Bob, 3:15 up 2:45 down. The Silverthorne Town Hall, located at 601 . In response, the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance has provided funds for the Forest Service to extend the ranger season further into hunting season. 1x1 Archery Elk Hunt '23 Montana, United States 9.6 Package price $5,550 for 7 days, 1 hunter. Hunting in Summit County can be facilitated more easily by Gore Range Outfitters. Introduced in the Senate and House by Sen. Michael Bennet and Rep. Joe Neguse, respectively, the Colorado Outdoor Recreation & Economy Act, or CORE Act, would protect parts of the Continental Divide, Thompson Divide and San Juan Mountains landscapes. My dad and I are planning an archery elk hunt in September in Unit 74, specifically in the Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area. Hunting specific trips are offered throughout the fall. They suspect smaller. Outfitters will provide all of the necessary gear, and some will assist in obtaining the necessary permits and licenses. A few open spaces provide great views of the Gore Range or the lower Blue River valley. I really enjoyed this hike. Pike National Forest 1.1 million acres, located near Denver Includes numerous wilderness areas, including the 106,000-acre Lost Creek wilderness Excellent trout fishing and big game hunting opportunities Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest 2.9 million acres in north-central Colorado Extends into Wyoming grasslands habitat The range is dominated by Ptarmigan Peak (12,458 feet) on the southern end and Ute Peak (12,297 feet) on the northern end. Ptarmigan Peak Elevation: 12,498 ft Roundtrip Length: 12.0 miles Start Elevation: 9,155 ft Elevation Gain: 3100 ft Ptarmigan Peak (12,498') straddles the border between Summit and Grand Counties, offering 360 degree views of every mountain range located within the Dillon Ranger District. If you spend time on the tundra and pay attention you will encounter White-tailed Ptarmigan. If you hike past the wilderness sign at 4.4 miles, you can climb onto a small knoll and get 360-degree views. I didnt see any cooldown until just before reaching the wilderness boundary after ~2500 of elevation gain where the temps dropped about 10 degrees and the wind picked up. CO Peaks - List by County. Where to go Hunting First, you need to call us to discuss your options. There are a few spots on the way up with great views of Silverthorne and the Gore range across the valley. Like the other ptarmigan species, the willow ptarmigan nests in sparsely timbered or treeless areas. Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness is located near Silverthorne. I wouldn't spend too much time in that area sitting water holes. All of this wilderness is located in Colorado and is managed by the Forest Service. The lower elevation slopes have beautiful Aspen groves and open sagebrush meadows. One of the few creatures that live on alpine mountaintops almost their whole life, the white-tailed ptarmigan is the smallest bird in the grouse family. Eagle and Summit counties, which contain the tracts covered in the bill, are skiing hotbeds, and backcountry skiing as well as snowshoeing, mountain biking and other recreational activities would be highlighted in a special management area along the Tenmile Range west of Breckenridge. The vast majority of Parks and Wildlifes wildlife revenues comes from hunting and fishing related fees. Long but not otherwise difficult or hazardous. Summit Daily is embarking on a multiyear project to digitize its archives going back to 1989 and make them available to the public in partnership with the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. I would assume during the heat of the day, the elk will be in the shade in the dark timber. Given these limitations and the rugged terrain that is often involved, hunting in wilderness areas is a more challenging, primitive and, some say, rewarding experience. This year , myself and a buddy are planning a DIY OTC archery elk hunt in the Mt. long hike,good elevation gain. The first 2/3 of the hike to the peak are wooded until you hit treeline. Parks and Wildlife also uses hunting to help manage wildlife populations to levels that the land can support, and to assist with disease management efforts. Avoiding the domestic sheep is the hard part! Discover 69 wilderness areas--including seven new ones--showcasing everything from mountains to canyons, rushing rivers to desert landscapesA comprehensive guide to Colorado's wild areas Totally updated and revised Includes 74 maps and 90 photosMuch has changed in the landscape of Colorado's wilderness designations since the first edition of this book appeared in 1992. Bring clothing layers because the wind can be very chilly on top. In October we switch gears and move into muzzleloader and modern firearm seasons. Bear (Add-on) Archery and Muzzleloader Add-On Bear licenses are available in unlimited numbers. Gourmet meals with a cook at every camp, deluxe camps, quality sleeping quarters, and transportation to and from the hunting camps via horse. Good news - all dead fallen tree branches have been removed from steep trail. This was a hard one but has stunning views. Colorado Wilderness Hunting Maps. There's definitely better hikes around here and I wouldn't go out of my way to do this hike. Requires hunting license and wild pig tag. The range runs for approximately 60 miles (100 km) northwest-to-southeast, through western Grand and Summit counties, and eastern Routt and Eagle counties. Search for a hunt by species, weapon or number. The Big Horn National Forest and Cloud Peak Wilderness Area provide a pristine setting to hunt one of the most treasured big game animals in the U.S. We outfit both archrey and rifle hunters. Elk Hunting . Sadly, Forest Service rangers regularly report hunter camps left in messy condition. About 9 in 10 Coloradans regularly participate in outdoor recreation, helping to drive a slice of the economy that supporteda half-million jobs and $62 billion to Colorados economyin 2017. The long hike is rewarded by beautiful vistas from the top, including four 14,000 - foot peaks, much of the craggy Gore Range, the Tenmile Range, and Dillon Reservoir. Explore This Park. But hunters, just like other users, must honor and protect wilderness ethics and values so that future generations can enjoy this enduring resource. the Eagles Nest Wilderness and the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness . If you are in a dry drainage, there probably won't be any elk there. The remoteness of these camps, in prime elk habitat areas, has been our key to success over the years. Nothing about this hike is "hard" except for the continuous vertical gain with few breaks. $18.15 $15.43 (Save 15%) Like. First (and last) 2 miles youre pretty close to Silverthorne and get a good bit of noise.. good workout, not terribly serene. And I've taken a few in season. The area is home to wildlife such as moose, elk, deer, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, coyotes, wild turkeys, and smaller animals like rabbits and squirrels. Bear. Elk, mule deer, moose, and other big game are plentiful in this region. the flowers are blooming in the first half and everything is green and its so magical! If you just want to enjoy the views, hike 2.4 miles to a spot where a viewing log is stationed. $ 29.95 1:100,000 scale maps for Colorado's Wilderness areas. The Thompson Divide comprises large tracts of roadless land in the White River National Forest west of Aspen. Antlerless elk-control permits. United States. It was very Smokey due to all the fires in the area. Beginning years before they helped bring German forces to their knees in Italy, soldiers in that light infantry division cut their teeth at Camp Hale and the surrounding landscape, most of which lies in Colorado's White River National Forest. All donations made in 2023 will go directly toward this project. Map of areas protected under Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, Proposed Whitehouse addition to Mount Sneffels Wilderness in Uncompahgre National Forest, Colorado. Although it may take years of waiting and a hefty price, tags are also available for bighorn sheep, mountain lions and bears. At tree line this trail enters the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness Area where you can either hike up to Ptarmigan Peak or Ptarmigan Pass. Would it be beneficial to start the day at a higher elevation and work down or vice versa? Thoroughly revised to include 3 new wilderness areas, 47 new hikes, and 45 new color photographs, The Complete Guide to Colorado's Wilderness Areas continues to serve as the foremost guide to the Centennial State's magnificent backcountry. The Eagles Nest Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in the Gore Range near Vail, Copper Mountain, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Heeney, in Summit and Eagle Counties, Colorado.Eagles Nest Wilderness falls within the jurisdiction of Dillon Ranger District and Holy Cross Ranger District, White River National Forest.The 135,114-acre (546.79 km 2) wilderness with 180 miles (290 km) of trails . Go the steep trail other Ptarmigan species, weapon or number information have. Until you hit treeline from hunting and fishing related fees is also advised to be aware of environmental `` no... Provide all of the Gore Range or the lower Blue River valley an average of 7 h 21 to! 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