Mount Massive Wilderness
No, a permit is not required to visit Mount Massive Wilderness. Mount Massive Wilderness is a 29,027-acre wilderness area in Lake County, Colorado. It rises from about 9,605 to 14,403 ft. The nearest town is Leadville North, 5.2 miles away in a straight line.
Mount Massive Wilderness map
Mount Massive 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
- Fish and Wildlife Service portion: no permit required. Forest Service portion: no permit required.
- The maximum group size at Mount Massive Wilderness is 15.
- Leadville North, CO is the nearest town, 5.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Mount Massive Wilderness is about 14,403 ft, and its lowest about 9,605 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Gannett Peak (not official), about 14,403 ft.
Who manages Mount Massive Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fish and Wildlife Service | 2,560 | no permit required. | 15 | Not on record | Leadville National Fish Hatchery, 719-486-0189 |
| Forest Service | 26,467 | no permit required. | 15 | Not on record | Leadville Ranger District, 719-486-0749 |
Getting to Mount Massive Wilderness
- Leadville North, CO is the nearest town, 5.2 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Mount Massive Wilderness
- Willow Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 9,753 ft), at 39.1877, -106.3975
- Native Trailhead (0.03 mi outside the boundary, 10,776 ft), at 39.2476, -106.4691
- Windsor Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 10,793 ft), at 39.2481, -106.4701
- North Halfmoon Trailhead (0.07 mi outside the boundary, 10,540 ft), at 39.1535, -106.4632
- Main Massive Trailhead (0.08 mi outside the boundary, 10,066 ft), at 39.1515, -106.4194
- Mt. Massive Overflow Trailhead (0.09 mi outside the boundary, 10,066 ft), at 39.1515, -106.4194
- North Fork Lake Creek Trailhead (0.2 mi outside the boundary, 10,878 ft), at 39.1213, -106.5349
- Mt. Elbert Trailhead (0.23 mi outside the boundary, 10,045 ft), at 39.1523, -106.4120
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Mount Massive Wilderness
- Gannett Peak (not official) summit
- Mount Massive summit
- Mount Oklahoma summit
- Blue 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 Mount Massive Wilderness
- Elbert Creek camping (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Halfmoon East camping (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Halfmoon West camping (0.4 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to Mount Massive Wilderness
- National forestMount Massive Wilderness lies inside Pike and San Isabel National Forests.
- Wilderness areaMount Massive Wilderness borders Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness.
- National forestMount Massive Wilderness borders White River National Forest.
- Wilderness areaCollegiate Peaks Wilderness is 0.8 miles away, straight line between the two boundaries.
- Wilderness areaHoly Cross Wilderness 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)
- 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.