Fossil Ridge Wilderness
Fossil Ridge Wilderness is a 32,062-acre wilderness area in Gunnison County, Colorado. It rises from about 8,898 to 13,264 ft. The nearest town is Pitkin, 4.5 miles away in a straight line.
Fossil Ridge Wilderness map
Fossil Ridge 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 Fossil Ridge Wilderness is 15.
- Campfires are prohibited.
- Pitkin, CO is the nearest town, 4.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Fossil Ridge Wilderness is about 13,264 ft, and its lowest about 8,898 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Henry Mountain, about 13,264 ft.
Who manages Fossil Ridge Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 32,062 | Not on record | 15 | Not on record | Gunnison Ranger District, 970-641-0471 |
Getting to Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- Pitkin, CO is the nearest town, 4.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- Mill Lake (0.09 mi outside the boundary, 10,054 ft), at 38.6556, -106.5755
- South Lottis Trailhead (0.21 mi outside the boundary, 9,121 ft), at 38.7721, -106.6221
- Summerville Trailhead (0.31 mi outside the boundary, 8,798 ft), at 38.7583, -106.6804
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- Henry Mountain summit
- Square Top Mountain summit
- Fossil Mountain summit
- Henry 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 Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- Lodgepole camping (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Cold Spring camping (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Lottis Creek camping (0.5 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Fossil Ridge Wilderness
- National forestFossil Ridge Wilderness lies inside Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
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)
- 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.