Vasquez Peak Wilderness
Along the southern boundary of the relatively small Vasquez Peak Wilderness and over Vasquez Peak itself, you'll find that seven miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail offer two distinct and worthy opportunities. First, you'll encounter less crowded conditions than most wilderness areas in Colorado, and second, you'll be blessed with extravagant views over a dramatic area, two-thirds of which lie above timberline. Below timberline sits a region of krummholz (or twisted wood), the result of icy temperatures and fierce winds that keep the spruce and fir dwarfed and confined into low-lying mats. Healthy spruce, fir, and pine cloak the lower mountainsides.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 13,000 acres |
| Designated | 1993, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.82° N, 105.84° 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
None of the 8 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
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 34 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Nystrom ↗ | 19.9 | |
| Jones Pass ↗ | 7.2 | |
| Vasquez Pass | 4.4 | |
| Second Creek | 2 |
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
28 mi from the center point · 390 acres
- PrescribedFront Country Broadcast Rx
41 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
- 8.4 miGeorgetown Schoolhouse ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.9 miWilliam's Stables ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.8 miCozens Ranch House ↗Fraser, CO
- 6.6 miPeck House ↗Empire, CO
- 6.7 miMint Saloon ↗Empire, CO
- 8.2 miSilver Plume Depot ↗Silver Plume, CO
- 8.3 miToll House ↗Georgetown, CO
- 8.3 miLebanon and Everett Mine Tunnels ↗Silver Plume, 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 Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
13,000 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Vasquez Peak Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Vasquez Peak Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1993.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Vasquez Peak 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 Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.820° N, 105.843° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Vasquez Peak Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Harris Park Broadcast Rx at 28 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
The National Register has 26 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.