USFS · Wilderness area · Colorado

Eagles Nest Wilderness

Heavy snow accumulates on the heights of Eagles Nest Wilderness in the Gore Range, providing a major contribution to the waters of the Colorado River. Melting snow in spring plunges from the heights to...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Wilderness135,104 acresUSFSCODesignated 197625 campgrounds within 10 mi7 Forest Service sites
Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Eagles Nest Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
1fire
active
Willow · 33 mi from the center · 7,389 acres
Interagency incident data as of 2026-09-17
Incident details ↓

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateColorado
Size135,104 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1976, by Congress
Center point39.6993, -106.2717
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 26)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 25 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

FS · 0.2 mi
Gore Creek Campground
Reservable25 sites
FS · 0.2 mi
Cataract Creek Campground
First-come5 sites
FS · 1.2 mi
Heaton Bay
Reservable87 sites
FS · 1.9 mi
Blue River Campground
Reservable24 sites
FS · 1.9 mi
Pine Cove Campground
First-comeCO
FS · 2 mi
Peak One
Reservable115 sites
FS · 2.3 mi
Prairie Point Campground
Reservable22 sites
FS · 2.4 mi
Columbine Landing Recreation Site
First-comeCO
Show 4 more

13 more within ten miles are not listed here.

Trailheads and sites

Forest Service directory · 7

The Forest Service lists 7 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 6 day hikings, 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.

Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Wildfire
    Willow

    33 mi from the center point · 7,389 acres · 80% contained

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 10 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Eagles Nest Wilderness?

135,104 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Eagles Nest Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Eagles Nest Wilderness in?

Colorado.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Eagles Nest Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1976.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Eagles Nest Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Gore Creek Campground, 0.2 miles out. 25 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

Where are the trailheads in Eagles Nest Wilderness?

The Forest Service lists 7 recreation sites here, including 6 day hikings and 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.

Source: Trailheads and sites

How do I get to Eagles Nest Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 39.699, -106.272. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Eagles Nest Wilderness right now?

1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Willow at 33 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Eagles Nest Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 26 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near Eagles Nest Wilderness?

10 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Frisco Schoolhouse and Wildhack's Grocery Store-Post Office.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.