Hermosa Creek Wilderness
Hermosa Creek Wilderness is a 37,344-acre wilderness area in La Plata County, Colorado. It rises from about 7,503 to 12,324 ft. The nearest town is Rico, 5 miles away in a straight line.
Hermosa Creek Wilderness map
Hermosa Creek 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 Hermosa Creek Wilderness is 15.
- Campfires are prohibited in some areas: Prohibited within 50 feet of listed features.
- Rico, CO is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Hermosa Creek Wilderness is about 12,324 ft, and its lowest about 7,503 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model).
Who manages Hermosa Creek Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 37,344 | Not on record | 15 | Not on record | Columbine Ranger District, 970-884-2512 |
Getting to Hermosa Creek Wilderness
- Rico, CO is the nearest town, 5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Hermosa Creek Wilderness
- Kennebec Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 11,635 ft), at 37.4518, -108.0114 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
- Clear Creek Trailhead (0.33 mi outside the boundary, 10,173 ft), at 37.4637, -107.9744
- Lower Hermosa Trailhead (0.53 mi outside the boundary, 7,683 ft), at 37.4544, -107.8570
- Jones Creek Trailhead (0.59 mi outside the boundary, 7,757 ft), at 37.4563, -107.8570 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
- Hermosa Creek Trailhead (0.71 mi outside the boundary, 7,841 ft), at 37.4594, -107.8567 (mapped on OpenStreetMap)
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Trailheads mapped on OpenStreetMap: © OpenStreetMap contributors, available under the Open Database License , accessed 2026-09-30. The extract used here, with distances from the boundary: osm-trailheads-co.json. Where an agency layer lists the same trailhead, the agency's point is shown instead.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Hermosa Creek Wilderness
- Taylor Reservoir lake
Features whose official location is inside the boundary, from the USGS Geographic Names Information System, accessed 2026-09-30.
Public lands next to Hermosa Creek Wilderness
- National forestHermosa Creek Wilderness lies inside San Juan National Forest.
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)
- openstreetmap.org (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.