Quick Tips
- Travel light in wilderness areas
- Use quality optics
- Dress in layers
- Filter all drinking water
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 150"-160" | 160"+ |
On The Ground
35 miles Southwest of Denver are portions of the Pike National Forest and over 100,000 acres of Lost Creek Wilderness Area. An estimated 30 Rocky Mountain bighorns are found here. Colorado Parks and Wildlife placed S23 and S27 under one hunt code in 2007.
The Lost Creek Wilderness has many visitors year-round, especially on weekends and holidays due to the proximity to the Denver and Colorado Springs metro areas. This area is relatively easy to access on over 130 miles of Forest Service trails.
Terrain
Peaks with granite domes and arches rise from 8,000 feet to over 12,000 feet. Twin Cones in part of the Platte River Mountain Range has noticeable peaks near Kenosha Pass. Long steep gulches have been carved out of the mountain slopes by erosion and can make travel difficult within this area.
Roughly 161 square miles
93.6% public land
Elevations from 7,872-12,323 feet
Vegetation
Large stands of aspen, thick forests of spruce, fir, ponderosa and lodgepole pine cover hillsides and the ridges of some mountain slopes. Cottonwood, willows, clusters of oak brush and mountain mahogany line the various creek bottoms and marshes. Bunch grasses, areas of sagebrush and wildflowers are in open range and meadows. Near the timberline clusters of bristlecone pines hug the ridges. Once above 11,500 feet, alpine tundra with wildflowers, moss, lichens and willows are visible.
Access
Pike National Forest includes the 119,790 acre Lost Creek Wilderness Area with its nearly 130 miles of trails offering vast amounts of public lands. U.S. Highway 285 and U.S. Highway 24 connect to county roads leading to trailheads into the wilderness area and national forest. County Road 39 heads eastward from County Road 77 and is joined by County Road 59 as it winds its way east from U.S. Highway 285. Rock Creek Road joins County Road 39/56 and heads close to the wilderness boundary.
Camping and Lodging
Pike National Forest offers improved and dispersed campgrounds. Nine campgrounds are improved and 14 are designated as dispersed. Detailed information on locations, fees and services is available online. The mountain communities of Bailey, Fairplay and Evergreen offer many choices for motels, bed and breakfasts, cafés and restaurants, medical care, gas and diesel.
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