West Elk Wilderness
West Elk Wilderness is a 176,431-acre wilderness area in Gunnison County, Colorado. It rises from about 6,815 to 13,034 ft. The nearest town is Crested Butte, 6.5 miles away in a straight line.
West Elk Wilderness map
West Elk 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
- Crested Butte, CO is the nearest town, 6.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance).
- The highest ground in West Elk Wilderness is about 13,034 ft, and its lowest about 6,815 ft (USGS 3DEP elevation model). Its highest named summit is West Elk Peak, about 13,034 ft.
Who manages West Elk Wilderness
| Agency | Acres | Permit | Group size | Stay limit | Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forest Service | 176,431 | Not on record | Not on record | Not on record | Gunnison Ranger District, 970-641-0471 |
Getting to West Elk Wilderness
- Crested Butte, CO is the nearest town, 6.5 miles in a straight line from the boundary (not a driving distance). (US Census places, accessed 2026-09-30)
Trailheads at West Elk Wilderness
- Beaver Ponds Trailhead (0.01 mi outside the boundary, 9,322 ft), at 38.8116, -107.0865
- Little Robinson (0.05 mi outside the boundary, 7,552 ft), at 38.8082, -107.2939
- Throughline/Coal Creek Trailhead (0.06 mi outside the boundary, 7,261 ft), at 38.8135, -107.3124
- Swampy Pass Trailhead (0.13 mi outside the boundary, 8,997 ft), at 38.8013, -107.0867
- Rainbow (0.15 mi outside the boundary, 11,059 ft), at 38.6397, -107.1849
- Big Soap (0.28 mi outside the boundary, 8,453 ft), at 38.6590, -107.3096
- Coal Mesa Trailhead (0.32 mi outside the boundary, 7,723 ft), at 38.5478, -107.3176
- Mill Castle (0.41 mi outside the boundary, 9,048 ft), at 38.6943, -107.0744
Trailhead locations: Forest Service recreation sites layer , accessed 2026-09-30. Elevations from USGS 3DEP.
Named summits, canyons, and springs in West Elk Wilderness
- West Elk Peak summit
- North Baldy Mountain summit
- Middle Baldy summit
- Smooth Canyon canyon
- Poison Spring spring
- Rock Spring spring
- Costo 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 West Elk Wilderness
- Soap Creek camping (0.3 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
- Ponderosa Campground (0.8 miles outside the boundary): its sites, fees, and reservations on campgroundsdb.com.
Public lands next to West Elk Wilderness
- National forestWest Elk 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)
- 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.