The Elk Mountains of western Colorado comprise a large area in Pitkin and Gunnison counties and offer seemingly countless opportunities for a stunning and memorable wilderness experience.

This rugged terrain is home to several of Colorado’s famous fourteeners, including Castle Peak, Maroon Peak, North Maroon Peak, Capitol Peak and Snowmass Mountain. Fourteeners are famous in mountaineering terminology and refer to a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet above mean sea level.

Colorado has the majority of such peaks in all of North America, with bragging rights to 53 of them (give or take one, depending on who is counting). Becoming a member of Colorado’s fourteener club translates into a successful summit of each, a popular activity among peak baggers.

Within the Elk Mountain range lies the Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness Area, currently the fourth largest wilderness in Colorado and one of the state’s five original wilderness areas designated by the 1964 Wilderness Act. Additional efforts by local and state conservationists helped enlarge the area through Colorado wilderness legislation, approved in 1980, to its current size of 181,117 acres.

For those seeking wilderness adventures, this area provides breathtaking scenery, stunning lakes sitting at the base of jagged peaks, aspens and dark forests of fir and spruce, and in summer, flower-filled meadows. Over 100 miles of trails take the wilderness backpacking enthusiast over nine mountain passes over 12,000’ in elevation. This is high country at its finest, and solid wilderness experience is essential.

Because of its location near the Roaring Fork valley, parts of this wilderness have experienced growing pains in the form of increasingly large numbers of visitors. Thousands of people visit the Maroon Lake area each summer, creating traffic congestion for those who choose the spot as their wilderness jumping off point. Pick and choose carefully your time to visit this area. Registration at all wilderness trailheads is required by the White River National Forest/U.S. Forest Service. 

As with much of the Colorado mountain land, photography there is bliss. Arm yourself with a compass and a good national forest map of the area that you wish to tackle. Mountain weather can change within minutes, so it’s a good idea to carry along proper clothing. This is rugged country with a primary valley road leading out of Aspen, that seems to climb higher with each turn of the road.

This is a great place to experience the benefits of digital photography. Leave behind the film and forget about processing expenses later on. Great photography can occur anywhere in this region, and is the rule rather than the exception. Although the roads provide areas of good subject matter, the exceptional images require a bit of effort. Some wilderness backpacking and overnight camping should be considered a part of this Rocky Mountain vacation in order to seek out those landscape scenes that provide for beautiful photography.

Leaving the lower elevations, you find yourself among high country back road passes and an extensive yet rugged trail system. Millions of acres of national forest and wilderness open up before you, and is considered one of the top recreational areas in the nation. Do not be misled by the fact that this area is so heavily visited. Once you leave the valley floor, the concept of tourism in Colorado will be in the farthest reaches of your mind. Deep in the heart of the high country lies that stunning mountain sunset. This landscape is yours to respect and enjoy.

A dependable 4-wheel drive vehicle, extra food, water, spare tire, gasoline and warm clothing are recommended when you head for the high country. Even during the summer months it’s not unusual to experience sleet and snow showers at the high elevations. Preparation is key to your survival in this rough and beautiful mountain land.