Hermosa Creek Wilderness
Hermosa's crimson-colored red shale and sandstone formation define the landscape as well as it being home to the Colorado cutthroat trout, peregrine falcon and large herds of elk. The mid-elevation wilderness ranges from 7,000 feet to almost 12,000 feet with a diverse forest of old-growth ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, white fir, aspen, blue spruce and Gambel oak. As one of the largest unprotected roadless areas left in the entire Southern Rocky Mountains, the area's spectacular beauty and remoteness attributed to its inclusion into the National Wilderness Preservation System.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 37,344 acres |
| Designated | 2014, by Congress |
| Center point | 37.52° N, 107.97° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
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
None of the 9 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 18 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Salt Creek ↗ | 10.1 | |
| Clear Creek ↗ | 7.6 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedGroundhog Piles Rx
25 mi from the center point · 30 acres
- PrescribedSalter Rx
32 mi from the center point
- WildfireGold Mountain
40 mi from the center point · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- PrescribedUpd Baldy Mountain Piles Rx
43 mi from the center point · 120 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
- 5.1 miRico City Hall ↗Rico, CO
- 5.1 miKauffman, William, House ↗Rico, CO
- 5.2 miDey Building ↗Rico, CO
- 6 miAnimas Canon Toll Road ↗Durango, CO
- 8.9 miCascade Boy Scout Camp ↗Durango, CO
- 11.4 miColorado Ute Power Plant ↗Durango, CO
- 11.5 miSmiley Junior High School ↗Durango, CO
- 11.6 miDurango High School ↗Durango, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
37,344 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hermosa Creek Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hermosa Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2014.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 37.517° N, 107.973° W. Mesa Verde National Park is 28 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hermosa Creek Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Groundhog Piles Rx at 25 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
Mesa Verde National Park (28 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Hermosa Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 13 listings within 15 miles, including Rico City Hall and Kauffman, William, House.
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.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- 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.