Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forest

Approximately 2.27 million visitors experience recreation activities on the Forests including downhill skiing, snowmobiling, hunting, hiking, cross-country skiing, fishing, backcountry camping, mountain biking and off-highway vehicle use.

Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

The Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests are a combination of separate National Forests located on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies. These three forests combined cover almost 3 million acres of National Forest System land in the central and southern Rocky Mountains, an area that lies south of the Colorado River and west of the Continental Divide with some of the most spectacular scenery in the Rockies. The Forests vary in elevation from 5,800 feet above sea level in Roubideau Creek Canyon to 14,309 feet on Uncompahgre Peak. The Forests include spectacular features like the 355 foot high Bridal Veil falls; the Grand Mesa with over 300 lakes, one of the world's largest flat top mountains; and the Alpine Tunnel, once the highest railroad tunnel in North America.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/gmug

Wilderness Areas/Wild & Scenic Rivers

Collegiate Peaks Wilderness - More than a dozen trailheads create a situation in which no one ever stands more than five miles from a road.

Fossil Ridge Wilderness - The area is made up of raw granite that overlooks several shallow high mountain lakes and long valleys carved by ancient glaciers.

La Garita Wilderness - La Garita is a Spanish name meaning the "the overlook."

Lizard Head Wilderness - The 41,496 acre Lizard Head Wilderness lies astride the San Juan Mountains within Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness - Six peaks rising above 14,000 feet draw mountaineers to challenge themselves on the rugged terrain. These peaks are among the most difficult to scale in the state.

Mount Sneffels Wilderness - This area is striking in early fall when dustings of snow highlight the jagged terrain and aspens have turned gold.

Powderhorn Wilderness - With low visitor numbers, this Wilderness offers about 45 miles of trails to explore in solitude.

Raggeds Wilderness - There are more than 90 miles of constructed trails in this Wilderness. 

Uncompahgre Wilderness - Uncompahgre Peak's unusual broad, flat, tilted summit falls away almost vertically on three sides for as much as 1,500 feet, a landmark visible from far away.

West Elk Wilderness - This Wilderness is a large untamed area with little visitation. Only during fall hunting season do the trails and campsites fill with people.

Invasive Species