Mount Sneffels Wilderness
The United States Congress designated the Mount Sneffels Wilderness in 1980 and it now has a total of 16,566 acres. Mount Sneffels, a 14,150-foot intrusion of igneous rock on the eastern verge of this...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 16,486 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 38.0118, -107.8740 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 22) |
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. 7 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
- WildfireGold Mountain
11 mi from the center point · 39,747 acres · 92% contained
- WildfireElk
29 mi from the center point · 7,257 acres · 73% 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
- 2.5 miOld Bank of Telluride Building ↗National Historic Landmark
- 14.3 miShenandoah--Dives Mill ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.7 miSmuggler-Union Hydroelectric Power Plant ↗Telluride, CO
- 5.3 miFort Peabody ↗Telluride, CO
- 6.7 miBeaumont Hotel ↗Ouray, CO
- 6.8 miOuray City Hall and Walsh Library ↗Ouray, CO
- 7 miLewis Mill ↗Telluride, CO
- 7.4 miJackson, George, House ↗Ridgway, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
16,486 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Sneffels Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Sneffels Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Angel Creek Campground, 5.4 miles out. 7 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 Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 38.012, -107.874. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Sneffels Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Gold Mountain at 11 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 22 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 Mount Sneffels Wilderness?
11 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Old Bank of Telluride Building and Shenandoah--Dives Mill.
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.