Mount Zirkel Wilderness
Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a 160,309-acre wilderness area in Jackson County, Colorado. It rises from about 7,393 to 12,145 ft. The nearest town is Steamboat Springs, 7.6 miles away in a straight line.
Mount Zirkel Wilderness map
Mount Zirkel 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
- Steamboat Springs, CO is the nearest town, 7.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in Mount Zirkel Wilderness is about 12,145 ft, and its lowest about 7,393 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Mount Zirkel, about 12,145 ft.
Who manages Mount Zirkel Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 160,309 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District, 970-870-2299 |
Getting to Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Steamboat Springs, CO is the nearest town, 7.6 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- North Lake Trailhead (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 8,457 ft), at 40.7536, -106.7325
- Big Creek Trailhead (0.15 mi outside the boundary, 8,161 ft), at 40.6900, -106.8037
- Newcomb Creek Trailhead (0.16 mi outside the boundary, 8,749 ft), at 40.6000, -106.6048
- Buffalo Pass Trailhead (0.19 mi outside the boundary, 10,303 ft), at 40.5442, -106.6850
- 7 Lakes (0.21 mi outside the boundary, 9,017 ft), at 40.9314, -106.6199
- Seven Lakes Trailhead (0.21 mi outside the boundary, 9,017 ft), at 40.9314, -106.6199
- Elk Park Trailhead (0.26 mi outside the boundary, 8,709 ft), at 40.5911, -106.8193
- Katherine Trailhead (0.29 mi outside the boundary, 8,953 ft), at 40.7480, -106.6079
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Mount Zirkel summit
- Flattop Mountain summit
- Big Agnes Mountain summit
- Red Canyon canyon
- Bear 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.
Campgrounds in and around Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- Teal Lake Group Campsite (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Big Creek Lakes camping (0.6 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Fishing and water
Teal Lake fishing (0.2 miles outside the boundary): its fishing and stocking record on fishypedia.com.
Public lands next to Mount Zirkel Wilderness
- National forestMount Zirkel Wilderness lies inside Medicine Bow-Routt 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)
- 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.