Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness

The United States Congress designated the Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness in 1993 and it now has a total of 12,760 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Colorado and is managed by the Forest Service.

The Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness is located north of the town of Silverthorne in the Williams Fork Mountains. The range is dominated by Ptarmigan Peak (12,458 feet) on the southern end and Ute Peak (12,297 feet) on the northern end. A typical lodgepole-pine forest rises to Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir and then on to alpine tundra at the highest elevations. The lower elevation slopes have beautiful Aspen groves and open sagebrush meadows.

You will not find many trails in this Wilderness and, as a result, have a better opportunity for solitude. Most of the trails have spectacular views of the Gore Range which dominates the skyline on the other side of the Blue River Valley. One can connect the Ptarmigan Peak trail to the Ute Peak/Pass trail for an amazing one-way alpine ridgeline hike of 12 miles.

Protect this special place for the future by always using Leave No Trace techniques and following all special Wilderness restrictions.