Mount Zirkel Wilderness

United States of America

Mount Zirkel Wilderness is located in Routt National Forest in northwestern Colorado. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The Wilderness is named after Mount Zirkel, the highest peak in the range at 12,182 feet (3,713 m), which itself is named after German geologist Ferdinand Zirkel. Th

e lowest elevation in the Wilderness is about 7,500 ft (2,300 m). Mount Zirkel Wilderness has a total area of 159,935 acres (64,723 ha) (250 sq. miles). Some sources give the size of the Wilderness as 160,648 acres (65,012 ha). Hiking and fishing are popular activities for visitors. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness was created in 1964 and has been expanded twice. A wilderness area is defined by law as "an area of undeveloped Federal land retaining its primeval character and influence, without permanent improvements or human habitation, which is protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions". All mechanized equipment, including drones, is prohibited in wilderness areas.

Listen to the audio guide for Mount Zirkel Wilderness Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off