Mount Evans Wilderness
Mount Evans Wilderness is located approximately 40 miles west of Denver. The Mt. Evans Scenic Byway ascends a non-wilderness corridor into the center of the Wilderness. The road, two 14,000 foot peaks (14,264' Mt. Evans and 14,060' Mt. Bierstadt), and the close proximity to Denver have contributed to very heavy use. Despite the likelihood of encountering other users, the area offers several unique features worthy of a visit. Evidence of past glaciers can be seen in the steep granite cirques and glacial moraines surrounding the high peaks. The Wilderness contains small regions of arctic tundra, rare south of the Arctic Circle.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 73,416 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.57° N, 105.62° W |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
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.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
1 federal campground sits inside the boundary and 16 more 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
5 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
24 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 100 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Cub Creek ↗ | 15.3 | |
| Rosalie ↗ | 13.1 | |
| Abyss Lake ↗ | 8.4 | |
| Captain Mountain ↗ | 8.2 | |
| Threemile ↗ | 7.1 | |
| Resthouse Meadows ↗ | 5.9 | |
| Beartrack Lakes ↗ | 4.9 | |
| Summit Flats | 4.3 | |
| Chicago Lakes | 4 | |
| Hells Hole | 4 |
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
- PrescribedHarris Park Broadcast Rx
7 mi from the center point · 390 acres
- PrescribedO'Brien 2 Broadcast Rx
43 mi from the center point · 267 acres
- PrescribedRoad Gulch 2 Rx
48 mi from the center point
- WildfireWillow
50 mi from the center point · 7,359 acres · 92% 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
- 2.7 miGeorgetown Schoolhouse ↗National Historic Landmark
- 8.8 miWilliam's Stables ↗National Historic Landmark
- under 0.1 miMiner Street Bridge ↗Idaho Springs, CO
- 2.2 miMcClellan House ↗Georgetown, CO
- 2.3 miOre Processing Mill and Dam ↗Georgetown, CO
- 2.4 miLebanon and Everett Mine Tunnels ↗Silver Plume, CO
- 2.4 miSilver Plume Depot ↗Silver Plume, CO
- 2.6 miHamill House ↗Georgetown, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Colorado
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mount Evans Wilderness?
73,416 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Evans Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Evans Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Evans Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mount Evans 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 Mount Evans Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.575° N, 105.618° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Evans Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Harris Park Broadcast Rx at 7 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mount Evans Wilderness?
The National Register has 31 listings within 15 miles, including Georgetown Schoolhouse and William's Stables.
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.