Powderhorn Wilderness
Powderhorn Wilderness is a 62,742-acre wilderness area in Hinsdale County, Colorado. It rises from about 8,501 to 12,651 ft. The nearest town is Cathedral, 0.5 miles away in a straight line.
Powderhorn Wilderness map
Powderhorn 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 Powderhorn Wilderness is 15.
- Campfires are prohibited in some areas: Prohibited within 100 feet of listed features.
- Cathedral, CO is the nearest town, 0.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 230 miles southwest of Denver.
- The highest ground in Powderhorn Wilderness is about 12,651 ft, and its lowest about 8,501 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is Calf Creek Plateau, about 12,651 ft.
Who manages Powderhorn Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 14,762 | Not on record | 15 | Not on record | Gunnison Ranger District, 970-641-0471 |
| BLM | 47,980 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record, 970-642-4953 |
Getting to Powderhorn Wilderness
- Cathedral, CO is the nearest town, 0.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
- The wilderness.net page for this area places it about 230 miles southwest of Denver.
Position, roads and vehicle notes: wilderness.net page for Powderhorn Wilderness, accessed 2026-09-30. Roads and conditions change; check with the managing office before driving in.
Trailheads at Powderhorn Wilderness
- Brush Creek (Canyon Inferno) (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 9,919 ft), at 38.0294, -107.1587
- Brush Creek Winter Trailhead (0.02 mi outside the boundary, 9,913 ft), at 38.0293, -107.1586
- Rough Creek Trailhead (0.04 mi outside the boundary, 9,175 ft), at 38.0517, -107.0886
- Ten Mile Springs Trailhead (0.12 mi outside the boundary, 9,473 ft), at 38.1743, -107.0958
- Powderhorn Park Trailhead (0.24 mi outside the boundary, 9,063 ft), at 38.0656, -107.0640
- Powderhorn Lakes Trailhead (0.35 mi outside the boundary, 11,128 ft), at 38.1769, -107.1650
- Mineral Creek Trailhead (0.78 mi outside the boundary, 9,215 ft), at 38.0534, -107.0653
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , BLM recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in Powderhorn Wilderness
- Calf Creek Plateau summit
- Cannibal Plateau summit
- Tenmile Springs spring
- Powderhorn 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 Powderhorn Wilderness
- National forestPowderhorn Wilderness borders Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests.
- Wilderness areaPowderhorn Wilderness borders La Garita Wilderness.
- Wilderness areaUncompahgre Wilderness is 1.3 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)
- gis.blm.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.