Neota Wilderness
Bordering Rocky Mountain National Park on the south and surrounded by other Wilderness areas, little Neota actually stands in a huge expanse of virtually roadless country. With elevations ranging between 10,000 and 11,896 feet, snow enjoys a long life here. Neota protects flattened ridges of granite atypical of the steep-sided Rockies. Just outside the southwestern boundary, Iron Mountain at 12,265 feet looks down on three main drainages within the area: Trap, Corral, and Neota Creeks. Along the summer-wet valleys of these streams, willows and sedges grow thick and occasionally hide a moose or two. You'll find spruce and fir on the lower slopes, home to deer and elk.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 9,927 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 40.52° N, 105.84° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 18) |
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
None of the 7 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.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 26 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Long Draw ↗ | 13.1 | |
| Trap Park ↗ | 6 | |
| Meadow Snow | 3.9 | |
| Neota Creek | 1.6 | |
| Zimmerman Lake Loop | 1.4 |
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
- PrescribedFront Country Broadcast Rx
18 mi from the center point
- PrescribedSalt Cabin Broadcast Rx
19 mi from the center point
- PrescribedMagic Feather Broadcast Rx
22 mi from the center point
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 miLake Agnes Cabin ↗Gould, CO
- 4 mi
- 4.1 miMilner Pass Road Camp Mess Hall and House ↗Estes Park, CO
- 4.5 miFall River Pass Ranger Station ↗Estes Park, CO
- 4.8 miTimberline Cabin ↗Estes Park vicinity, CO
- 4.9 miFall River Pump House and Catchment Basin ↗Estes Park, CO
- 5.6 miWillow Park Stable ↗Estes Park, CO
- 5.6 miWillow Park Patrol Cabin ↗Estes Park, 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 Neota Wilderness?
9,927 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Neota Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Neota Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Neota Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Neota 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 Neota Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 40.523° N, 105.840° W. Rocky Mountain National Park is 11 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Neota Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Front Country Broadcast Rx at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Neota Wilderness?
Rocky Mountain National Park (11 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Neota Wilderness?
The National Register has 20 listings within 15 miles, including Lake Agnes Cabin and Colorado State Forest Building Complex.
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.