of Trail. All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. They are available for download by quadrangle. Zirkel Wilderness area provide a great wilderness experience. Zirkel, alpine style, in a single day. #7 - Luna Lake Trail Via Swamp Park Trail. Located in Routt National Forest. It also ranks number fourteen among Colorado's most prominent peaks. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland, USDA Forest Service Zirkel is the high point of Routt County and of the Mt. Click on the trail with the pointed finger to go to the web page for that trail. National Grassland [Backpacking] Mt. Explore the most popular backpacking trails in Mount Zirkel Wilderness with hand-curated trail maps and driving directions as well as detailed reviews and photos from hikers, campers and nature lovers like you. Mount Zirkel Wilderness trail locator map This map also shows area affected by the Routt Divide Blowdown. Our shoes and socks smell like sewer. Go to Wilderness.net for additional maps and information about Wilderness. 307-745-2307. Backpacking Bugs Fee No shade Mount zirkel wilderness - 7 lakes trailhead The hike starts at a trailhead at a camping place and there is a 5 dollar fee per night. The large land area of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness features a … Three Island Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. 28 Intermediate Trails. Gold Creek lake is only a few miles from the trail head, but it's all uphill! One of the five original Colorado wilderness areas designated by the 1964 Wilderness Act, Mount Zirkel was greatly enhanced by additions in 1980 and 1993. Wilderness. This Wilderness area is home to the headwaters of the Elk, Encampment and North Platte Rivers, as well as some 70 lakes, high mountain peaks (including the 12,180 foot-tall Mount Zirkel for which it is named) and a portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. I was hiking Wyoming Trail 1101, working my way northward from Seedhouse Road while measuring the trail and taking pictures for this website. Zirkel Wilderness Area is one of the most beautiful places to hike imaginable, with trails of all lengths and levels of difficulty. There are 15 peaks in the wilderness that surpass 12,000 feet in elevation, … National Forests, 307-745-2300, Telephone for the Trails/Trailheads that access Mount Zirkel Wilderness include: The Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is co-managed by the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears and Parks Ranger Districts of the Routt National Forest.​ Select 'Hiking' and 'Camping' on the Hahns Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District and/or Parks Ranger District Recreation pages for a complete list of campgrounds and trails. Today the Clark store is thriving from serving the growing population in the area and the large influx of vacationers and hunters. To obtain information on a trail you see below, move your curser over the trail and if there is information available the curser will turn into a pointed finger. We initially were going to camp at a campground but the storms never materialized and it turned into a nice evening. Hiker's Guide to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area: With Attitional Trails in the Routt National Forest (The Pruett Series) [Jay, Thompson, Therese, Thompson, Therse, Thompson] on Amazon.com. Outdoor Trail Maps LLC Mount Zirkel Wilderness - Colorado Topographic Hiking Map (2019): Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors Zirkel, alpine style, in a single day. Hearing Impaired Neighboring towns: Steamboat Springs, Walden, Hahns Peak. Fish Creek Falls Trail. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is located directly west of Walden, Co and north of Steamboat Springs, Co. Our original plan was to head out Monday and hike in from the East Boundary. Mt. 441 Kilometers. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness Topographic Hiking Map is a waterproof, tear-resistant map covering all hiking trails in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in the Park Range of northern Colorado and surroundings with a 1:55,000 scale (1 in appox. save hide report. Once in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, there are a number of camping options along the loop as long as you observe Wilderness regulations. If you’re willing to drive a little farther, you will be awarded with hikes to … Big Agnes and Mt. Simply put, Mount Zirkel is one of the best mountains in Colorado. Backpacking in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado. About 4200 vertical feet and 11 miles to summit. It contains the headwaters for the Elk, Encampment, and North Platte Rivers, has more than 70 lakes, and has roughly 170 miles of hiking trails. It was named after highest peak Mount Zirkel, which was named after the geologist, Ferdinand Zirkel. Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Labor Day weekend is one of our favorite long weekends to get out to the mountains for an extended amount of time. A good example of this is the semi-polished summit of Mount Zirkel (12,180 ft.), the highest point in the wilderness. Geologically speaking, the Zirkel Wilderness is relatively new. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado.The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado.The wilderness is named after Mount Zirkel, the highest peak in the range at 12,182 feet (3,713 m), which itself is named after German geologist Ferdinand Zirkel.. Zirkel Wilderness Area. I am proud to say that I hiked to the summit of Mt. 17.5 mile loop trail. Zirkel Wilderness: MAP - camping guidelines, Slavonia area, Forest Service Home | USDA.gov | recreation.gov | Recreation Customer Service Standards | USA.gov | Whitehouse.gov, Plug-Ins | FOIA | Accessibility Statement | Privacy Policy | Important Notices | Information Quality, https://www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/mbr/recarea/?recid=80838, Ranger Districts Are Serving Public Remotely, Walden, CO; Craig, CO; Steamboat Springs, CO. The route is used by hikers during the summer and is a beautiful trail to snowshoe in the winter. Thunder Basin The Zirkel Circle hike is a loop that connects the Gilpin Lake and Gold Creek Lake trail (1161 and 1150, respectively) in the Zirkel Wilderness just outside of Steamboat Springs. Maps: National Geographic Trails Illustrated 1:41,000-scale Clark/Buffalo Pass (117) or USGS 1:24,000-scale Pitchpine Mt and Mt Ethel. About 4200 vertical feet and 11 miles to summit. Zirkel from Gilpin Creek ; They may not be 14ers or even 13ers, but these peaks in the heart of the Mt. 4 Easy Trails. hard (1314) Length: 4.7 mi • Est. The Zirkel Circle is the most popular hike in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The sprawling wilderness area was expanded in 1980 and again in 1993. The Zirkel Circle is usually done … This hike combines Mad Creek and Red Dirt trails. Location: Rainbow Lake, Mt Zirkel Wilderness, Routt National Forest, North Central Colorado, near Walden. 4 am start at Slavonia trail head and reached the summit at 10:30 am. So make sure you have cash or checks. Answer 1 of 4: Two couples are coming to stay in Steamboat Springs for a week in mid September and would like to do some hiking in the Mt Zirkel wilderness area. Forest Service Topography Maps: These maps overlay Forest Service assets, such as roads, trails, and campgrounds, on USGS's topographic maps. First 2.5 miles of the hike are dead trees and gorgeous wildflowers. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. Breathtaking panorama of the Yampa Valley. The Greater Park Range is a discontinuous uplift consisting of the Sierra Madre Mountains, the Park Range, the Gore Range, and the Tenmile/Mosquito Mountains. Hiker's Guide to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area: With Attitional Trails in the Routt National Forest (The Pruett Series) You will arrive at Rainbow Lake after about 3.5 miles. Laramie, WY 82070 Backpacking under the stars in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. Dispersed camping opportunities are widespread or many developed campgrounds are nearby, such as Big Creek Lakes, Seedhouse, Summit Lake and Teal Lake Campgrounds. Zirkel Wilderness Area. The east side of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area experiences significantly less visitor traffic than does the west side. Mt. We were about 5 minutes from the trailhead when I (DeNae) realize that I had left my hiking shoes at home. Find more information about climbing Colorado’s peaks at the Rocky Mountain Region 14ers page. East side Zirkels. We are still on the Wyoming trail 1101 but we left the Mt Zirkel Wilderness and are in the Routt National Forest. 274 Miles. 100% Upvoted. All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Information: Hinman Fire. Slater Falls: A half-mile hike to a beautiful 30' waterfall on Slater Creek. 0.87 mi). 2 comments. Friday, July 12 was a beautiful but hot and windy day. National Forest Store: Offers a full, nationwide selection of National Forest, Ranger District, Wilderness, and Specialty Maps for purchase online or by phone, fax, and mail. The "Lower Zirkle Circle" that can be completed in late spring and early summer before the upper Zirkles have cleared of snow. 3 stream crossings. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mt. Flattop Mountain's expansive summit. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado. share. Treat all non-potable water before consuming. Mt. 2 h 52 m. Fish Creek Falls is a 283 foot waterfall located about 5 miles outside of Steamboat Springs. Backpacking in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. This is a previously un-published video of my first Colorado backpacking trip to the Zirkel Wilderness near Steamboat Springs in July 2011. Government information and links are at the bottom of this page. Glaciers shaped the region a mere 15,000 years ago and owing to a shorter ice age, many of peaks are left in a state of mid-transformation. At 12,180 feet, it is the high point in Colorado's Park Range, Routt County, and its namesake wilderness. This Wilderness area is home to the headwaters of the Elk, Encampment and North Platte Rivers, as well as some 70 lakes, high mountain peaks (including the 12,180 foot-tall Mount Zirkel for which it is named) and a portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. My daughter and I on a quick backpacking trip this past summer to one of our favorite lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. It now contains over 160,000 acres of land, situated within the Routt National Forest. 1 Gem. Big Agnes Mountain and Mount Zirkel in the distance. While there are usually more people out than normal, you really can’t beat the weather up in the mountains in early September. Zirkel Wilderness Area encompasses more than 160,000 acres, and straddles the Continental Divide along the Park Range, as well as the southern edge of the Sierra Madre Range. Photo: Jeremy White. Bears Ears Peak: Drive or hike to the top of this prominent Moffat County feature, aptly named for its resemblance to bear's ears. I am proud to say that I hiked to the summit of Mt. The Zirkel Wilderness which is northwest of Steamboat provided my entry into backpacking and fishing. It has a total of 159,935 acres. Mt. The Mica Basin Trail #1162 is an obvious spur up along a creek drainage that descends from Mica Lake at the base of the … Black Mountain Trail to the summit of Black Mountain (10,800'). The 6.4 mile out and back to Slide lake starts out at an elevation of 8750 and gives you a total elevation gain of 1777 feet at the end at Slide Lake. The wilderness is named after Mount Zirkel, the highest peak in the range at 12,182 feet (3,713 m), which itself is named after German geologist Ferdinand Zirkel. Be aware of road conditions that may change seasonally. The Park Range is the northern most section of the Greater Park Range. Start at the Rainbow Lake Trailhead 1126 in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness which is 19 miles south west of Walden, Colorado off Country Road 22A. 4 am start at Slavonia trail head and reached the summit at 10:30 am. The United States Congress designated the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in 1964 as one of the original areas protected under the Wilderness Act. 13 Difficult Trails. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Hiking. A decent number of accolades for a mountain in a state which contains over 1,000 higher peaks. An easy climb offering sensational views of the Yampa Valley and into Utah and Wyoming. Trail follows a stream far into the Zirkle Wilderness, then doubles back on an overlooking ridge line back to the start. 2 Recommended Routes. Those who have seen the area's rugged peaks, picturesque alpine lakes and meadows, and It straddles the Continental Divide and encompasses the rugged Sawtooth Range, as well as portions of the Park and Sierra Madre ranges. The small store in Clark provided the entry. #1 - Fish Creek Falls Trail. 2468 Jackson Street As far as Colorado outdoor recreation areas go, the Zirkel Wilderness is a bit off the radar for most. Zirkel Wilderness Area is one of the most beautiful places to hike imaginable, with trails of all lengths and levels of difficulty. At 11.2 miles long, it's a challenging day hike, or lovely single night backpacking trip. 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