The 14,000-foot Culebra Peak and the Spanish Peaks at over 13,000 feet in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains set the stage for a very physically demanding hunt. Bighorn rams can typically be found in the high alpine basins.
Residents are only allocated ram tags. Access to the southern portion of Culebra Range is problematic due to private land holders. Know your physical limitations at 14,000' elevations.
The 14,047-foot Culebra Peak is in the southern portion of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and creates an extreme hunting area. Steep rocky ridges, peaks over 14,000 feet, rugged deep-walled canyons and cascading drainages all challenge hunters. The Purgatoire River near Stonewall is created by many of the creeks that flow east of the range. North and East Spanish Peaks are very prominent from as far away as Colorado Springs some 100 miles to the north.
Alpine basins have barren ground willows, lichens, moss, bristlecone pine and wildflowers. Below the tree line, aspen, spruce, fir, ponderosa pine, oak brush, mountain mahogany and lush grassy parks can be seen. Lower elevations have pinyon/juniper, sagebrush cottonwoods and willows.
From Mariquita Peak to the New Mexico line is private land, allowing limited or no access. San Isabel National Forest from Indian Creek to Mariquita Peak/Brown Creek including Spanish Peaks provides over 40,000 acres of public lands. County and forest service roads connect with Colorado Route 12 and head into San Isabel National Forest. From the different roads, there is a good trail system that can be used to access the more remote parts of the unit.
State lands such as Spanish Peaks - Sakariason Tract, Oberosler Tract and Dochter Tract offer camping in designated areas. San Isabel National Forest offers dispersed camping. Trinidad along Interstate 25 provides motels, hotels, restaurants, gas, diesel and medical facilities.