| Located in the Roosevelt National Forest in north central Colorado, Cache la Poudre Wilderness Area was added to the National Preservation System in 1980. At only 9,238 acres, its small size makes it Colorado's smallest federally protected wilderness. Although small in size this area supports a varied habitat containing forests of Douglas fir, ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine.It is also characterized by steep, rugged terrain along the Poudre River and the Little South Fork of the Poudre. Elevations range from 6,200 to 8,600 feet, and the area is accessible most of the year. The northern border is delineated by the main fork of the Cache la Poudre River and Highway 14. This stretch sees many campers and even more Fly-casting anglers. The fishing is as good as it gets in the state.The rugged topography of the wilderness area makes much of the area inaccessible. Only one developed trail, the Mt. McConnell National Recreation Trail manages to penetrate a small section of this wilderness.Very few visitors take the gamble to scramble and bushwhack in the stream bottoms, on ridges, and along game trails, making this wilderness area have one of the lowest visitation rates of any wilderness area. |
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