Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness
Soaring dramatically from the plains of Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain rises from 7,600 to 12,347 feet in the center of the northern section. Its summit is the highest point in the Wilderness, and nowhere...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 23,116 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1993, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.8589, -105.0211 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 15) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 6 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAspen Acres
11 mi from the center point · 102,004 acres · 82% contained
- PrescribedBlanca Wetlands Rx
42 mi from the center point · 208 acres
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
- 12.2 miMaitland Arroyo Bridge ↗Walsenburg, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
23,116 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1993.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Ponderosa Group, 4.2 miles out. 6 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
How do I get to Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.859, -105.021. Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Aspen Acres at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 15 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Which national parks are near Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness?
1 National Register listing within 15 miles, including Maitland Arroyo Bridge.
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.