West Elk Wilderness - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting
Wildlife Sanctuaries
Things to know
About West Elk Wilderness
West Elk Wilderness within Gunnison National Forest is 176,412 acres, the fifth largest Wilderness in Colorado. The area supports large elk and deer populations and is busiest during the fall hunting season. A good location to get interact with the wilderness and also there are so many things to see and do here.
Activities Around
Attractions Near West Elk Wilderness
West Elk Peak
1.32km from West Elk Wilderness
West Elk Peak, elevation 13,042 ft, is the highest summit in the West Elk Mountains of Gunnison County, Colorado. The mountain is in the West Elk Wilderness, northwest of Gunnison. The terrain consists mostly of volcanic breccia, known in this area as West Elk Breccia, dated at 35 to 30 million years old.A good trekking destination and also you can explore some nice hisotirc locations where you can see the history of this location.
East Beckwith Mountain
15.51km from West Elk Wilderness
East Beckwith Mountain is a laccolith, formed when magma intruded into Mancos Shale approximately 30 million years ago. The 12,441-foot peak is located in the West Elk Wilderness of Gunnison National Forest. It is noted for its distinctive glacial landforms. On the north side of this elongated, east–west oriented mountain, there are five glacially carved cirques with intervening arêtes, and moraines fan out from the mountain's base.
Carbon Peak
15.81km from West Elk Wilderness
Carbon Peak, is a summit in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado. The peak is southwest of Crested Butte in the Gunnison National Forest. Carbon Peak is one of several prominent laccoliths found in the West Elk Mountains. It is a good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.
Kebler Pass
17.43km from West Elk Wilderness
Kebler Pass is a terrific high-mountain pass connecting Crested Butte with Paonia to the west. It is a mostly gravel road and is closed during the winter months. A few portions of the road near the top of the pass have been paved. In the summer, the road is accessible by all passenger vehicles.
Mount Gunnison
20.31km from West Elk Wilderness
Mount Gunnison resides just inside of the northern boundary of the West Elks Wilderness, which is encompassed by the beautiful Gunnison National Forest. Mount Gunnison is also Colorado’s 13th most prominent mountain, ranking ahead of 94 of the states highest 100 mountains, including 46 fourteeners. The mountain is named in honor of John Williams Gunnison who explored the area.
Discover More Attractions in Gunnison County, Home of West Elk Wilderness
Gunnison County
49 attractions
Gunnison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. There aren’t many towns around, making it an ideal place to get away. The surrounding area is filled with year-round recreation in the great outdoors. The town sits at 7,703 feet and had a population of 6,560 in 2020.
Location of West Elk Wilderness
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For more information about West Elk Wilderness, visit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Elk_Wilderness