Vasquez Peak Wilderness
Along the southern boundary of the relatively small Vasquez Peak Wilderness and over Vasquez Peak itself, you'll find that seven miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail offer two distinct...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Colorado |
| Size | 13,000 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1993, by Congress |
| Center point | 39.8202, -105.8434 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 30) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 9 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 34 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Nystrom ↗ | 19.9 | |
| Jones Pass ↗ | 7.2 | |
| Vasquez Pass | 4.4 | |
| Second Creek | 2 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas, refreshed September 18, 2026. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 8.4 miGeorgetown Schoolhouse ↗National Historic Landmark
- 13.9 miWilliam's Stables ↗National Historic Landmark
- 4.8 miCozens Ranch House ↗Fraser, CO
- 6.6 miPeck House ↗Empire, CO
- 6.7 miMint Saloon ↗Empire, CO
- 8.2 miSilver Plume Depot ↗Silver Plume, CO
- 8.3 miToll House ↗Georgetown, CO
- 8.3 miLebanon and Everett Mine Tunnels ↗Silver Plume, CO
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
13,000 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Vasquez Peak Wilderness in?
Colorado.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Vasquez Peak Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1993.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Robbers Roost Campground, 0.7 miles out. 9 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 39.820, -105.843. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How dark is the night sky at Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 30 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Vasquez Peak Wilderness?
26 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Georgetown Schoolhouse and William's Stables.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.