Hinsdale County - 34 Attractions You Must Visit

Powderhorn Lake is a 50-acre freshwater lake with an adjacent 55-acre shallow pool, owned by the Forest Preserves of Cook County. To the north lies Wolf Lake, a 950-acre freshwater lake, owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Once connected as part of a large collection of marshes, lakes, and rivers adjacent to Lake Michigan, these lakes have been isolated by urban and industrial development.

The Powderhorn Wilderness is a protected area located in the southwestern part of the US state of Colorado. it is an important watershed for the Gunnison River. The area protects the East, Middle, and West forks of Powderhorn Creek, which merge and then have a confluence with Cebolla Creek. There are six trailheads that provide access to the wilderness. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude.

Precipice Peak is a 13,144-foot-elevation mountain summit located in Hinsdale County, of Colorado. It is part of the San Juan Mountains which is a subset of the Rocky Mountains, and is situated west of the Continental Divide. Topographic relief is significant as the west aspect rises 2,500 feet. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do.

Redcloud is the 46th highest peak in Colorado and is usually climbed in conjunction with Sunshine Peak. The mountain gets its name from the beautiful red coloring of the peak. The peak is mostly Class 1 along trails but a bit of scree later in the hike make it a class 2 hike.

The Rio Grande National Forest spans over 1.8 million acres in a forested ring around the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado. It is located in southcentral Colorado and remains one of the true undiscovered jewels of Colorado. There are four officially designated wilderness areas lying within Rio Grande National Forest that are part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. All of them extend partially into neighboring National Forests.

A majestic summit in the San Juan Mountains of southwest Colorado. The peak is in the Weminuche Wilderness of the San Juan National Forest northeast of Durango. It is a remote Class 2 rock pile with passenger car access and either a very long, round trip day hike or a short backpack that would allow time to pick up other 13er summits. On this trip, you get to see some outstanding Weminuche Wilderness area.

The San Juan National Forest is located in southwestern Colorado and is composed of 1,867,800 acres of mainly coniferous forests and alpine meadows. Camping or hiking, you’ll have the adventure of a lifetime in the San Juans; it’s an outdoor paradise, with huge alpine peaks and endless forests. The forest contains two alpine wilderness areas; the Weminuche and South San Juan, as well as the Piedra Area. The Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad passes through the National Forest.

Slumgullion Pass is an ultra-high mountain pass with an elevation of 11,530 ft. The north side has the steepest grade of any continuously paved road in Colorado, but the pass does not close often in winter because snowplows clear the route regularly during this season. The real Slumgullion Pass sits at about 200 feet lower in elevation on a ridge to the north and is inaccessible by vehicle, although the summit is referred to as “Slumgullion Pass.”

Spring Creek Pass is an easily accessible high mountain pass along the Continental Divide in Hinsdale County. It serves as a trailhead for two popular trails with a common route in this area, the Colorado Trail and the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail.

Sunshine Peak is a fourteen thousand foot mountain peak in the U.S. state of Colorado. It rises on the north side of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. A good trekking destination and also there are so many things to see and do here.

A majestic national forest, which is home to over 3 million acres–from plateaus to peaks. This is a beautiful forest best suited to hiking, hunting, and camping.The forest contains three alpine wilderness areas: Uncompahgre, Mount Sneffels, and Lizard Head. Over 3,000 miles of trails and routes provide access to areas of rugged beauty and solitude.

Uncompahgre Peak is the 6th highest mountain in Colorado, with a great route up to it’s summit. Hiking Uncompahgre Peak is long and tiring, however you can shave off a good bit of distance with a 4WD vehicle with good clearance. The most popular route for climbing Uncompahgre Peak is Uncompahgre National Forest Service Trail Number 239, which starts from the end of the Nellie Creek Road, east-southeast of the peak.

Weminuche Pass is the lowest point along the Continental Divide within the Weminuche Wilderness.The trail is well defined and easy to follow. A good view point and also a photographic location.

Located in the San Juan Mountains and standing at 14,015 feet above sea level, Wetterhorn is the 49th highest peak in Colorado. It is located in the Uncompahgre Wilderness of the northern San Juan Mountains, in northwestern Hinsdale County and southeastern Ouray County, 9 miles east of the town of Ouray. It lies 2.75 mi west of Uncompahgre Peak.The standard, and only common, route on Wetterhorn Peak is the southeast ridge, which is accessed via the Matterhorn Creek.