All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. 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. It also ranks number fourteen among Colorado's most prominent peaks. 307-745-2300, Telephone for the 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.. We were about 5 minutes from the trailhead when I (DeNae) realize that I had left my hiking shoes at home. Mt. 307-745-2307. Click on the trail with the pointed finger to go to the web page for that trail. I am proud to say that I hiked to the summit of Mt. Outdoor Trail Maps LLC Mount Zirkel Wilderness - Colorado Topographic Hiking Map (2019): Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors Zirkel is the high point of Routt County and of the Mt. save hide report. It has a total of 159,935 acres. The "Lower Zirkle Circle" that can be completed in late spring and early summer before the upper Zirkles have cleared of snow. It was named after highest peak Mount Zirkel, which was named after the geologist, Ferdinand Zirkel. #7 - Luna Lake Trail Via Swamp Park Trail. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado. 441 Kilometers. 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. Friday, July 12 was a beautiful but hot and windy day. 13 Difficult Trails. Hiker's Guide to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area: With Attitional Trails in the Routt National Forest (The Pruett Series) Mount Zirkel Wilderness trail locator map This map also shows area affected by the Routt Divide Blowdown. Those who have seen the area's rugged peaks, picturesque alpine lakes and meadows, and 17.5 mile loop trail. Government information and links are at the bottom of this page. Gold Creek lake is only a few miles from the trail head, but it's all uphill! 28 Intermediate Trails. 2 comments. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Park Range is the northern most section of the Greater Park Range. We are still on the Wyoming trail 1101 but we left the Mt Zirkel Wilderness and are in the Routt National Forest. Go to Wilderness.net for additional maps and information about Wilderness. Trail follows a stream far into the Zirkle Wilderness, then doubles back on an overlooking ridge line back to the start. 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. The Mt. They are available for download by quadrangle. As far as Colorado outdoor recreation areas go, the Zirkel Wilderness is a bit off the radar for most. This hike combines Mad Creek and Red Dirt trails. The Zirkel Wilderness which is northwest of Steamboat provided my entry into backpacking and fishing. Three Island Lake is one of the largest lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. #1 - Fish Creek Falls Trail. Laramie, WY 82070 Zirkel Wilderness Labor Day weekend is one of our favorite long weekends to get out to the mountains for an extended amount of time. [Backpacking] Mt. So make sure you have cash or checks. share. Mt. 2 h 52 m. Fish Creek Falls is a 283 foot waterfall located about 5 miles outside of Steamboat Springs. I am proud to say that I hiked to the summit of Mt. Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park. Maps: National Geographic Trails Illustrated 1:41,000-scale Clark/Buffalo Pass (117) or USGS 1:24,000-scale Pitchpine Mt and Mt Ethel. 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. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Hiking. It now contains over 160,000 acres of land, situated within the Routt National Forest. The east side of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area experiences significantly less visitor traffic than does the west side. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Information: Hinman Fire. Fish Creek Falls Trail. 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. 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. All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. of Trail. Zirkel Wilderness area provide a great wilderness experience. 3 stream crossings. Mt. There are 15 peaks in the wilderness that surpass 12,000 feet in elevation, … My daughter and I on a quick backpacking trip this past summer to one of our favorite lakes in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The Zirkel Circle is usually done … Big Agnes and Mt. You will arrive at Rainbow Lake after about 3.5 miles. The route is used by hikers during the summer and is a beautiful trail to snowshoe in the winter. Zirkel Wilderness Area is one of the most beautiful places to hike imaginable, with trails of all lengths and levels of difficulty. 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. The small store in Clark provided the entry. The United States Congress designated the Mount Zirkel Wilderness in 1964 as one of the original areas protected under the Wilderness Act. Wilderness. It straddles the Continental Divide and encompasses the rugged Sawtooth Range, as well as portions of the Park and Sierra Madre ranges. Photo: Jeremy White. Zirkel from Gilpin Creek ; They may not be 14ers or even 13ers, but these peaks in the heart of the Mt. 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. 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. Breathtaking panorama of the Yampa Valley. We initially were going to camp at a campground but the storms never materialized and it turned into a nice evening. Slater Falls: A half-mile hike to a beautiful 30' waterfall on Slater Creek. 2 Recommended Routes. Once in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, there are a number of camping options along the loop as long as you observe Wilderness regulations. 1 Gem. Hearing Impaired Zirkel Wilderness Area is one of the most beautiful places to hike imaginable, with trails of all lengths and levels of difficulty. 4 am start at Slavonia trail head and reached the summit at 10:30 am. Forest Service Topography Maps: These maps overlay Forest Service assets, such as roads, trails, and campgrounds, on USGS's topographic maps. Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests & Thunder Basin National Grassland, USDA Forest Service Backpacking under the stars in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. 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. While there are usually more people out than normal, you really can’t beat the weather up in the mountains in early September. Location: Rainbow Lake, Mt Zirkel Wilderness, Routt National Forest, North Central Colorado, near Walden. Black Mountain Trail to the summit of Black Mountain (10,800'). East side Zirkels. 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. hard (1314) Length: 4.7 mi • Est. If you’re willing to drive a little farther, you will be awarded with hikes to … 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. Zirkel, alpine style, in a single day. Mt. Neighboring towns: Steamboat Springs, Walden, Hahns Peak. Dispersed camping opportunities are widespread or many developed campgrounds are nearby, such as Big Creek Lakes, Seedhouse, Summit Lake and Teal Lake Campgrounds. Mount Zirkel Wilderness. Treat all non-potable water before consuming. An easy climb offering sensational views of the Yampa Valley and into Utah and Wyoming. A good example of this is the semi-polished summit of Mount Zirkel (12,180 ft.), the highest point in the wilderness. 100% Upvoted. 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. 0.87 mi). Our shoes and socks smell like sewer. The sprawling wilderness area was expanded in 1980 and again in 1993. 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. Zirkel Wilderness Area. Flattop Mountain's expansive summit. Zirkel, alpine style, in a single day. 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. The large land area of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness features a … The Mica Basin Trail #1162 is an obvious spur up along a creek drainage that descends from Mica Lake at the base of the … 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. National Grassland National Forests, 274 Miles. The Zirkel Circle is the most popular hike in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness. 2468 Jackson Street Bears Ears Peak: Drive or hike to the top of this prominent Moffat County feature, aptly named for its resemblance to bear's ears. Medicine Bow-Routt Backpacking in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness, Colorado. At 12,180 feet, it is the high point in Colorado's Park Range, Routt County, and its namesake wilderness. Find more information about climbing Colorado’s peaks at the Rocky Mountain Region 14ers page. Located in Routt National Forest. Thunder Basin 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. This is a previously un-published video of my first Colorado backpacking trip to the Zirkel Wilderness near Steamboat Springs in July 2011. Geologically speaking, the Zirkel Wilderness is relatively new. Big Agnes Mountain and Mount Zirkel in the distance. 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. Backpacking in the Mt Zirkel Wilderness. At 11.2 miles long, it's a challenging day hike, or lovely single night backpacking trip. Simply put, Mount Zirkel is one of the best mountains in Colorado. About 4200 vertical feet and 11 miles to summit. Today the Clark store is thriving from serving the growing population in the area and the large influx of vacationers and hunters. 4 am start at Slavonia trail head and reached the summit at 10:30 am. 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. 4 Easy Trails. Mt. Zirkel Wilderness Area. 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. First 2.5 miles of the hike are dead trees and gorgeous wildflowers. I was hiking Wyoming Trail 1101, working my way northward from Seedhouse Road while measuring the trail and taking pictures for this website. Be aware of road conditions that may change seasonally. 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