Quick Tips
- Use horses to pack in base camp
- Watch for afternoon thunderstorms
- Fly fish Gunnison River or the alpine lakes
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 150"-165" | 165"+ |
On The Ground
North of the Gunnison River and Blue Mesa Reservoir is a herd of about 125 Rocky Mountain bighorns. The West Elks Wilderness Area offers thousands of acres of public land. Resident archery and rifle ram tags are available through the draw.
Bighorn rams can be found on top of West Elk Peak or near Dillon Mesa north of Blue Mesa Reservoir. Tag holders have many areas to glass. Archery season is the perfect time to head into the West Elk Wilderness. Weather can help determine where to hunt during September and October with a rifle tag.
Terrain
West Elk Peak, Baldy Mountains and The Castles are surrounded with steep slopes and pristine alpine basins. High altitude passes like Castle, Swampy, Beckworth and Storm can create a challenge for backcountry travelers. Cascading drainages like Mill, Castle, Pass and the Beaver Creeks carry snowmelt towards Ohio Creek and the Gunnison River. Along the southern slopes of West Elk Wilderness are Soap, West Elk and Red Creeks all draining into Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Roughly 699 square miles
80.9% public land
Elevations from 7,291-13,035 feet
Vegetation
Alpine basins covered with wildflowers, barren ground willows near water sources and moss and lichens covering rocks and boulders can all be found within this area. Dense stands of spruce, fir and pine are on slopes and broken up by open grassy parks. Some of the drainages are choked with oakbrush and aspen while some creek bottoms are lined with cottonwoods and willows. Sagebrush, bitterbrush, oak brush and are found below 9,000 feet. Pinyon/juniper can be seen on hillsides close to the Gunnison River.
Access
U.S. Highway 50 travels through Gunnison and along Blue Mesa Reservoir. County and Forest service roads heading north to wilderness boundaries are Red Creek Road, County Road 71, Dry Gulch, Forest Service 723 E, Forest Service 724 and County Road 859. The West Elk Wilderness Area is made up of 176,412 acres within Gunnison National Forest. Roughly two hundred miles of trails offer opportunities for extended loop hikes through the West Elk Wilderness. Most of the trails provide excellent pathways for horse traffic.
Camping and Lodging
Gunnison National Forest improved campgrounds include Soap Creek, Almont and Lost Lake. Gunnison and Crested Butte are year round mountain communities that offer a wide variety of motels, hotels and cabin rentals. Each community offers many choices for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Gunnison has a regional airport as well as a regional medical facility. 24/7 gas and diesel fuel is also available in Gunnison.
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