South of Salida is the northern portion of Sangre de Cristo Mountains that covers all of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area. Colorado Parks and Wildlife estimated the Rocky Mountain bighorn herd to be close to 40 bighorns.

These bighorns were transplanted from S51 to supplement a small band of bighorns living on the slopes and basins of the northern Sangre de Cristo Mountains. These are steep and jagged 13,000' mountains that can be physically challenging.

Along the edge of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are 13,000-foot peaks. Drainages head both east and west of the mountains draining toward the Arkansas or the Rio Grande Rivers.

Alpine basins, ridges and avalanche chutes have a lot of wildflowers during the summer months. Moss and lichens typically cover rocky outcrops and fields of boulders. Barren ground willows can be seen near seeps and small pockets of water. Below timberline are dense stands of spruce, fir and pine with open parks. Aspen, ponderosa pine, oak brush and mountain mahogany are found on ridges, hillsides and along drainages.

Parts of the Sangre De Cristo Wilderness Area can be reached by Fremont County Road - Hayden Creek heading west of U.S. Highway 50 and joining up with Saguache County Road LI57. San Isabel National Forest and Rio Grande National Forest surround the wilderness area on the east and the west. A few county roads let hunters get close to the National Forest and wilderness boundaries. Coming from the east side of the Sangres are County Road 4, 47, 49 and 108. From the west, county roads are more limited.

San Isabel National Forest improved campgrounds are Coaldale and Hayden Creek off Hayden Creek Road. Many other National Forest improved campgrounds are in the area. Salida on the Arkansas River is the closest community and has a lot of motels, cabins and restaurants. Medical care and 24/7 gas and diesel is also available.