| Located in the western half of the Vasquez Mountains, a small chain between the Front Range and the Gore Range, Byers Peak Wilderness Area was designated in 1993. One of Colorado's lesser known and visited areas it's alpine ridges and panoramic views offer excellent hiking and wildlife viewing.At only 8,095 acres, Byers Peak is a small piece of a greater 100,000-acre roadless area created by the adjacent Williams Fork-Ptarmigan Peak roadless area, the Fraser Experimental Forest, and the Vasquez Peak Wilderness.Elevations within the area range from 9,200 feet to 12,804 feet, the summit of Byers Peak. Almost half of the wilderness consists of alpine tundra, and thus it is one of the main draws to the area. Below the tundra lie forest of Lodgepole pine, Engelmann spruce, Bristlecone pine and subalpine fir.The area contains approximately 23 miles of hiking trails. The Byers Peak Trail crosses the entire wilderness area from Bottle Pass to St. Louis Peak. This trail offers solitude and spectacular views as it traverses the alpine ridge. |
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