Powderhorn Wilderness

About

Powderhorn Wilderness is a 61,915-acre area located 10 miles northeast of Lake City on Colorado's Western Slope. It offers moderate fall hiking with elevations ranging from 8,699 feet to 12,600 feet. The landscape features sagebrush meadows, aspen groves, and coniferous forests of pine, spruce, and fir. Key trails include Powderhorn Lakes, East Fork, Cannibal Plateau, and North Calf Creek. The Powderhorn Lakes trail provides a gentle climb to scenic lakes in the eastern escarpment of the Calf Creek Plateau. Cannibal Plateau offers views over Lake City and leads to Mesa Seco. The area contains large, relatively flat alpine tundra areas worn by glaciation. Wildlife such as elk and mule deer are present in the plateaus and lower elevation stands. The wilderness is open year-round, with September through November being a primary season for fall hiking. Parking is available at trailheads, and dogs are allowed on leash. The area is managed by both the Bureau of Land Management and Gunnison National Forest.