Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
Snuggled in between the more spectacular Colorado Wildernesses of Holy Cross on the north, Maroon Bells-Snowmass on the west, and Collegiate Peaks on the south, Hunter-Fryingpan lies all but forgotten....
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 82,496 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.2090, -106.6340 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 16) |
Boundary map
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 38 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
26 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 day hiking. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 5 miSpruce Creek TH #1927 ↗Day hiking
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireWillow
11 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
- 10.8 miTabor Opera House ↗National Historic Landmark
- 2.4 miUte Cemetery ↗Aspen, CO
- 2.6 miBoat Tow ↗Aspen, CO
- 2.8 miSheely Bridge ↗Aspen, CO
- 2.9 miLa Fave Block ↗Aspen, CO
- 2.9 miWheeler Opera House ↗Aspen, CO
- 2.9 miNew Brick--The Brick Saloon ↗Aspen, CO
- 3 miArmory Hall, Fraternal Hall ↗Aspen, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
82,496 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Lost Man Campground, 0.3 miles out. 38 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 Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 day hiking. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.209, -106.634. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Willow at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 16 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness?
37 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Tabor Opera House and Ute Cemetery.
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.