 | | The Powderhorn Wilderness Area is located 10 mile northeast of the town of Lake City and encompasses 60,100 acres of the Gunnison National Forest and Bureau of Land Management. Within this refuge is the Cannibal and Calf Creek Plateaus, which are said to be the largest unbroken expanses of alpine tundra to be found in the contiguous United States.Geologically, the Cannibal and Calf Creek plateaus lie atop thousands of feet of lava and ash. The plateaus were formed by Tertiary volcanic deposits comprised of both lava flows and ash flows (tuff). The deposits are believed to be 5,000 ft thick in some areas. Subsequent periods of glaciations carved out cirque basins, glacial tarns, moraine deposits and lakes, U-shaped valleys, and rock glaciers.Elevation ranges from 8,699 ft. in the north and up to 12,600 ft. in the south. Vegetation change follows the elevation. At the dryer lowest elevations in the Gunnison Basin, sagebrush meadows give way to Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Higher up on the plateaus at about 9,500 feet these forests give way to aspen, Englemann spruce and subalpine fir which extend up to teeline. The higher forests have higher precipitation and are intermixed with lakes, beaver ponds and willow-packed valleys. The lakes and streams support brook and rainbow trout. Above 12,000 ft., low-growing plants such as moss campion, forget-me-not, Jacob's ladder and kobresia make up the alpine tundra.Wilderness users will enjoy 45 miles of trails within the wilderness. From these trails visitors will be able to view the scenery that surrounds this wilderness area. Atop the plateau vistors can take in the panoramic views of the Elk, Sawatch, and San Juan Ranges. |
| |  | | | Facilities: There are no facilities available at Powderhorn Wilderness Area. Reservations: Reservations are not accepted at Powderhorn Wilderness Area. Best Time To Visit: Powderhorn Wilderness Area's best seasons are Spring and Fall. Fees: No fees are charged at Powderhorn Wilderness Area. Accessibility: Unknown Rules: Unknown Directions: To get to Powderhorn Wilderness Area from Crested Butte, drive south on Colorado State Highway 135 to Gunnison. From Gunnison, take U.S. 50 west for 9 miles. Turn south onto State Route 149 and go about 40 miles to the Devil's lake Trailhead on the east side of the road. | | |
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| | | | Address | | USDA Forest Service | | 2250 HWY 50 | | Delta, Colorado 81416 |
| | | Phone | | General: (970) 874-6600 | |
| | | | | Website | | Email |
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