USFS · Wilderness area · Colorado

Flat Tops Wilderness

Arthur Carhart's 1919 visit to Trappers Lake in the verdant embrace of the Flat Tops prompted him to be the first U.S. Forest Service official to initiate a plea for Wilderness preservation. No wonder...

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

Wilderness230,829 acresUSFSCODesignated 197520 campgrounds within 10 mi21 Forest Service sites
Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Flat Tops Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net

Facts

Where each comes from ↓
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateColorado
Size230,829 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1975, by Congress
Center point39.9523, -107.2685
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 24)

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. 20 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

FS · 0.1 mi
Himes Peak Campground
First-come11 sites
FS · 0.1 mi
South Fork Campground & Trailhead
First-comeCO
FS · 0.2 mi
Trappers Lake / Cutthroat Campground
First-come14 sites
FS · 0.2 mi
Trappers Lake / Trapline Campground
First-come13 sites
FS · 0.2 mi
Sheriff Reservoir Campground
First-come5 sites
FS · 0.2 mi
Trappers Lake / Bucks Campground
First-come10 sites
FS · 0.3 mi
Marvine Campground
Reservable23 sites
FS · 0.3 mi
Trappers Lake / Horse Thief Campground
First-come5 sites
Show 4 more

8 more within ten miles are not listed here.

Trailheads and sites

Forest Service directory · 21

The Forest Service lists 21 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 20 day hikings, 1 viewpoint. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.

Show all 21

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

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 8 in all · Register Atlas

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

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Flat Tops Wilderness?

230,829 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Flat Tops Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Flat Tops Wilderness in?

Colorado.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Flat Tops Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1975.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Flat Tops Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Himes Peak Campground, 0.1 miles out. 20 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 Flat Tops Wilderness?

The Forest Service lists 21 recreation sites here, including 20 day hikings and 1 viewing scenery. Each one links to its Forest Service page.

Source: Trailheads and sites

How do I get to Flat Tops Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 39.952, -107.269. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Flat Tops Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 24 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 Flat Tops Wilderness?

8 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Pyramid Guard Station and Antlers Cafe and Bar.

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.