Mount Sneffels Wilderness
Mount Sneffels Wilderness is a 16,486-acre wilderness area in San Miguel County, Colorado. It rises from about 9,454 to 14,106 ft. The nearest town is Telluride, 2.3 miles away in a straight line.
Mount Sneffels Wilderness map
Mount Sneffels 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
- Telluride, CO is the nearest town, 2.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Mount Sneffels Wilderness is about 14,106 ft, and its lowest about 9,454 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Dallas Peak, about 13,731 ft.
Who manages Mount Sneffels Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 16,486 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Norwood Ranger District, 970-327-4261 |
Getting to Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Telluride, CO is the nearest town, 2.3 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Whipple Mountain (0.47 mi outside the boundary, 10,646 ft), at 38.0043, -107.9457
- Blue Lakes/Mt Sneffels Trailhead (0.58 mi outside the boundary, 12,437 ft), at 37.9948, -107.7846
- Alder Creek Trailhead (0.75 mi outside the boundary, 10,688 ft), at 38.0047, -107.9512
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- Dallas Peak summit
- Mears Peak summit
- Campbell Peak summit
- Blue Lakes 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.
Public lands next to Mount Sneffels Wilderness
- National forestMount Sneffels 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)
- 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.