Quick Tips
- Be aware of bears near campsites
- Dress in layers
- Filter drinking water
On The Ground
Terrain
Vegetation
Access
Camping and Lodging
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East of Breckenridge is Mt. Guyot within White River National Forest and home to a growing population of mountain goats. Residents and nonresidents have an opportunity to draw either sex or female rifle tags.
There is a lot of recreational use during summer and fall months. Colorado Parks and Wildlife allocated both resident and nonresident either sex and female rifle tags based on an estimated population of 200 mountain goats. This area has the highest population in the state.
A lot of alpine lakes are spread out through the terrain here. Headwaters of Swan, Lake Fork, Jefferson and Peru Creeks help bring snowmelt toward the South Platte and Blue Rivers.
Cottonwood and willows line the lower creek bottoms. Ponderosa pines, aspen, lodgepole pine, oak brush and mountain mahogany cover the higher ridges. Spruce, fir, pine and aspen fill north slopes and basins. Open grassy parks are scattered within large stands of timber. Alpine tundra has a bouquet of wildflowers with moss and lichens covering rocky areas.
Pike National Forest and White River National Forest provide thousands of acres of public land. Major routes include U.S. Highway 285, 6 and Colorado Route 9. ATVs, four wheel drives and mountain bikes can be good means of transportation for hunters.
National Forest has several improved campgrounds: Geneva Park, Burning Bear, Whiteside, Hall Valley, Handcart, Jefferson Creek, Michigan Creek and Selkirk. Mountain towns nearby provide motels, restaurants, medical care, gas and diesel fuel.
Roughly 435 square miles
82.4% public land
Elevations from 8,564-13,738 feet