Quick Tips
- Filter drinking water
- 10x or greater binoculars recommended
- Afternoon thunderstorms can be dangerous
- Dress in layers
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 140"-150" | 150"+ |
On The Ground
13,000 foot Antera Peak and other 12,000 foot peaks along the Continental Divide are found north of Alamosa within Rio Grande and the Gunnison National Forests.
The herd population has decreased in recent years and the herd now is estimated at less than 40 bighorns.
Terrain
Antera Peak, Sheep Mountain, Cochetopa Hills and Marshall Pass are all near the Continental Divide. North Pass and Poncha Pass lead into the San Luis Valley. Some drainages like Marshall Creek take snowmelt out of the high country to the Gunnison, while Poncha Creek feeds the Arkansas.
Roughly 659 square miles
88.9% public land
Elevations from 7,740-13,269 feet
Vegetation
Alpine basins above 11,000 feet are covered with wildflowers, alpine grasses, areas of barren ground willows, moss and lichens. Large stands of Douglas fir, blue spruce, pine and groves of aspen are broken up with open grassy parks. With a drop in elevation oak brush, lodgepole pine, ponderosa pine, aspen, willows, cottonwoods and mountain shrubs are visible on benches, ridges, gulches and creek bottoms. Pinyon/juniper, sagebrush, yucca and bunch grasses can be found in the lower foothills.
Access
Portions of Gunnison, Rio Grande and San Isabel National Forests provide thousands of acres of public lands. Major highways U.S. Highway 285 and Colorado Route 114 intersect with a good county and forest service road system. Known bighorns areas can be reach by using Sawmill Gulch Road, Myers Gulch and Poison Draw Loop.
OHVs can be an asset in this unit.
Foot or horseback is recommended for forest service trails
Four-wheel-drive is recommended
Camping and Lodging
Rio Grande National Forest improved campgrounds include O’Haver Lake and Buffalo Pass. Saguache, Sergeants and Poncha Springs offer limited gas and diesel fuel. The communities of Alamosa, Gunnison and Salida provide a variety of motels, cafes, restaurants, medical facilities, shopping, banking, gas and diesel.
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