Quick Tips
- Be in good physical condition
- Fly fish below Stagecoach Reservoir
- Use the best optics you can
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 150"-160" | 165"+ |
On The Ground
The Flat Top Wilderness, Routt and White River National Forests can be found southwest of Steamboat Springs and north of Interstate 70. The Darby Creek herd is estimated to be at 70 bighorns. Resident rifle ram tags are available for this area.
Plan your hunting areas to maximize time on the mountain glassing. The herd is split up into a number of areas that are difficult to reach and hunters should glass a few different locations before finding a trophy. The terrain and altitude of this unit can make this a challenging hunt and you should consider using horses. There is potential for late September snow.
Terrain
An area of steep volcanic cliffs with a vast subalpine area gives way to alpine tundra with an average elevation over 10,000 feet. Lakes and ponds line the country above and below numerous flat-topped cliffs. The Chinese Wall along with Lost Lake Peaks, Darby Peak, Sheep Mountain, Dome Peak, King Mountain and Turret Peak can all be found within this area. Darby, Cabin and Sunnyside Creeks carry snowmelt and rain to the Colorado River.
Roughly 876 square miles
68.5% public land
Elevations from 6,147-12,240 feet
Vegetation
Groves of cottonwoods, dense thickets of willows, stands of aspen line the Colorado River. As the elevation climbs oak brush, sagebrush, pinyon/juniper and mountain mahogany join ponderosa pine along the foothills. Mountains and plateaus have dense forests of spruce, fir, lodgepole and ponderosa pine broken up with grassy parks. Above the timberline the alpine tundra is covered with thousands of wildflowers, mosses and lichens.
Access
The Flattops Wilderness is managed by the White River and Routt National Forests. The National Forest offer hundreds of thousands of acres of public lands. Wilderness trails are restricted to foot or horseback use only. Major routes that go into the area include Interstate 70, Colorado Route 131 and County Road 301. A good road system has been established by BLM, County and National Forests. Most of the secondary roads require four-wheel drive during any season. Consider using Red Dirt Creek Road, Darby Mesa Loop or Eby Creek Road near the Colorado River. Take County Road 7 southwest of Yampa to reach Bear River Road and Stillwater trailhead.
Camping and Lodging
Routt National Forest provides a number of improved campsites near Stillwater Reservoir southwest of Yampa. White River National Forest offers an improved campsite at Sweetwater Reservoir. Dispersed camping is allowed on National Forest lands and in the wilderness area. Steamboat Springs is a community with a regional medical center and airport. This area has many cafés, restaurants, lodging options and 24/7 gas and diesel. The towns of Eagle and Gypsum has a variety of choices for motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts, restaurants, cafés, medical care and gas and diesel.
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