Flat Tops Wilderness
Flat Tops Wilderness is a 230,829-acre wilderness area in Garfield County, Colorado. It rises from about 7,617 to 12,358 ft. The nearest town is Carbonate, 2.1 miles away in a straight line.
Flat Tops Wilderness map
Flat Tops Wilderness boundary from USGS PAD-US or the managing agency, simplified for display. Not for navigation or legal boundaries.
Fire restrictions
Agency fire restriction orders for this unit are not tracked here yet. Restrictions change with the season, so check the current orders before any campfire, stove or target shooting.
County and local burn bans may also apply on private, state, or county land nearby. On federal land, follow the land manager's order; off it, follow the strictest county or local rule that applies. When both touch your trip, obey both.
Common questions
- The maximum group size at Flat Tops Wilderness is 15.
- Campfires are prohibited in some areas: Prohibited within 1/4 miles of listed features.
- Carbonate, CO is the nearest town, 2.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Flat Tops Wilderness is about 12,358 ft, and its lowest about 7,617 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Flat Top Mountain, about 12,358 ft.
Who manages Flat Tops Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 230,829 | Not on record | 15 | Not on record | West Zone/Blanco Ranger District, 970-878-4039 |
Getting to Flat Tops Wilderness
- Carbonate, CO is the nearest town, 2.1 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Flat Tops Wilderness
- Patterson Trailhead (inside the boundary, 10,441 ft), at 39.7808, -107.4114
- Meadows Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 9,091 ft), at 39.8503, -107.3193
- Trappers-Scotts Bay Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 9,756 ft), at 39.9905, -107.2409
- Budges Trailhead (0.05 mi outside the boundary, 9,031 ft), at 39.8426, -107.3351
- Wall Lake Trailhead (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 9,791 ft), at 39.9905, -107.2433
- Big Fish Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 8,781 ft), at 40.0277, -107.2717
- Trappers Outlet Trailhead (0.08 mi outside the boundary, 9,597 ft), at 39.9987, -107.2306
- Lake of the Woods Trailhead (0.12 mi outside the boundary, 9,130 ft), at 40.0181, -107.2492
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Flat Tops Wilderness
- Flat Top Mountain summit
- Sheep Mountain summit
- Derby Peak summit
- Anderson Lake lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30. Summit elevations measured on the USGS 3DEP elevation model, which can read a few feet under a surveyed summit height.
Campgrounds in and around Flat Tops Wilderness
Marvine Campground (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Fishing and water
Sheriff Reservoir fishing (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Flat Tops Wilderness
- National forest Most of Flat Tops Wilderness lies inside White River National Forest.
- National forestFlat Tops Wilderness borders Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest.
- State parkSweetwater Lake State Park is 1.9 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
Measured between the units' boundaries as mapped in USGS PAD-US. Distances are straight line, not driving.
Other wilderness areas in Colorado
- wilderness.net (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- prd-tnm.s3.amazonaws.com (accessed 2026-09-30)
- www2.census.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
- apps.fs.usda.gov (accessed 2026-09-30)
The sentences on this page are generated by software from the sourced records above, not written by hand. How this content is made.