For those looking for fishing, the Mount Zirkel Wilderness also has the headwaters of the North Platte, Elk, and Encampment rivers. However, she recruited her fellow Minneapolis firefighter, Ben Pena, to join me. In and out of the Lake Katherine Trailhead on the East side of the Wilderness Area. Location / Directions The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is located in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest and straddles the Continental Divide in the Park Range and the Sierra Madre. Detailed maps and information on hiking, mountain biking, fishing and other activities in this beautiful area are available at the USFS Hahns Peak Ranger Office. Stops included: Bear Lake, Summit of Mt. Not many people. All of the Mt. - See 82 traveller reviews, 39 candid photos, and great deals for Steamboat Springs, CO, at Tripadvisor. Home; Destinations. The Area was one of the five original wilderness areas that were designated by the 1964 Wilderness Act. Due to last minute changes, my normal hunting partner, Rita, was unable to go. Backpacking with the dog. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/colorado/mount-zirkel-wilderness The two major rivers in the wilderness, the Elk and the Encampment, have both been proposed for official designation as wild and scenic rivers by the Forest Service, and offer many miles of lovely valley hiking. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area: Hiking and Fishing - See 82 traveler reviews, 39 candid photos, and great deals for Steamboat Springs, CO, at Tripadvisor. It also ranks number fourteen among Colorado's most prominent peaks. We spend four days in Zirkel on a backpacking loop. Trails Illustrated publishes Hahns Peak/Steamboat Lake and Clark/Buffalo Pass maps, while Jay and Therese Thompson describe the walks in The Hiker’s Guide to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness . This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. 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. Grayling, Mackinaw (Lake Trout), Tiger Muskie, Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout and Brook Trout, Cutthroat Trout (some rainbows historically). At 12,180 feet, it is the high point in Colorado's Park Range, Routt County, and its namesake wilderness. The expected frequency of stocking is about every other year. Very high elevation -- most of the trip between 9,000 - 12,000 feet along the continental divide. A decent number of accolades for a mountain in a state which contains over 1,000 higher peaks. The wilderness area is located among Park Range, split by the Continental Divide, characterized by fast flowing mountain streams and dotted with glacial lakes. This Wilderness area is home to the headwaters of the Elk, Encampment and North Platte Rivers, as well as some 70 lakes, high mountain peaks (including the 12,180 foot-tall Mount Zirkel for which it is named) and a portion of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The closest city is Steamboat Springs, Colorado. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Zirkel Wilderness Archery Hunt by baddaddy » Sat Feb 17, 2018 2:21 am • [Post 13] Line, If you hunt that area be aware there are a lot of moose in that area as well. Click here to access the Colorado fishing or hunting regulations brochures online. The pine beetle has done a lot of damage so lots of dead trees. CPO offers a drop camp and a full-service camp for hunting and fishing tours in the Colorado Wilderness. Mount Zirkel Wilderness. The MZW is truly a local gem. ; Summit County – Hunt the largest elk heard in the world and trophy mule deer in the White River National Forest and the majestic Eagles Nest Wilderness. As far as Colorado outdoor recreation areas go, the Zirkel Wilderness is a bit off the radar for most. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness was designated by the United States Congress in 1964 and currently boasts a total of 159,935 acres managed by the Forest Service. 4 am start at Slavonia trail head and reached the summit at 10:30 am. Zirkel, Big Horn Lake. Photo: Jeremy White Getting There. Zirkel, alpine style, in a single day. Wilderness. Beautiful. Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, Steamboat Springs: See 82 reviews, articles, and 39 photos of Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, ranked No.9 on Tripadvisor among 38 attractions in Steamboat Springs. a PO'ed cow moose can make things very interesting. A major feature of … There is no reason not to go here. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. We did the hike to the Mad Barn and back (4 miles). Ahh, Wilderness! When you want to enjoy the relaxed pace of sportfishing, we’ll show you the best fishing spots throughout the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area. Located 45 minutes north of Steamboat is the Zirkel Wilderness area. – Mount Zirkel Wilderness Lakes are plentiful and beautiful. Located near Steamboat Springs in north central Colorado, the Mount Zirkel Wilderness area is managed by the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. https://www.alltrails.com/parks/us/colorado/mount-zirkel-wilderness/lake Those who have seen the area's rugged peaks, picturesque alpine lakes and meadows, and Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area: Wilderness! Click here for fishing information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. The Mount Zirkel Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located in Routt National Forest in northwest Colorado. It … It is only 30 miles from downtown Steamboat Springs and getting to the trailhead involves a beautiful drive up the Elk River Valley and perhaps a stop at the Clark Store for coffee and a fresh muffin on the way or some ice cream served on the deck after a great day of hiking. Although a 4x4 would be helpful if you do as the roads are pretty rough. Of course, the hiking from these campgrounds is excellent and the fishing isn't bad either. With three forks of the upper Elk River, the area offers a wide array of angling opportunities. Geologically speaking, the Zirkel Wilderness is relatively new. About 4200 vertical feet and 11 miles to summit. There are more than 70 lakes scattered around the wilderness area and most offer good trout fishing. It is worth every step and if you hike the loop anti-clockwise you hit the highest point of the hike and get the view down on Gilpin lake as a reward. Luckily four spectacular lakes are an easy day hike off of Seedhouse Road near the mountain town of … A giant secluded rock slide waterfall and magnificent views of Mount Ethel against a spectacular alpine lake with great fishing. The Gilpin Loop trail is well maintained and a wonderful, though long hike. From Mapcarta, the free map. Try the Gold Lake loop and eat at the Clark General Store coming back home. Classic high country dry fly fishing. All of this wilderness is located in northwestern Colorado and is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. read more. Established in 1980, this relatively new U.S. Wilderness area is named after Mount Zirkel, which reaches just over 12,000 feet. Zirkel Wilderness hikes are detailed in the book "Hiking The Boat II" which can be obtained on the web, or better yet, at the charming, local Off The Beaten Path bookstore in downtown Steamboat. One of the nearby campgrounds is Seedhouse. Glaciers shaped the region a mere 15,000 years ago and owing to a shorter ice age, many of peaks are left in a state of mid-transformation. Re: Mt. Mt. Then, there are the campgrounds near or adjacent to Mount Zirkel Wilderness that have a wilderness feel to them without the need for the camper to backpack in. This area features ten pristine mountain lakes and crystal clear streams. Click here to access the Colorado fishing or hunting regulations brochures online. Click here for fishing information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. read more, Not much wildlife, but couldn't believe all of the wildflowers on the 9+ mile hike up to Gilpin... Click here for fishing information from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. AQRV Type: VISIBILITY: Sensitive Receptor: Sensitive Receptor Indicator: Thresholds: Natural Visibilty: For sources generally further than 50 km from a Class I area, the visibility threshold for concern is not exceeded if the 98th %ile change in light extinction is : 5% for each year modeled, when compared to the annual average natural condition value for that Class I area. * The stocking database goes back to 1973, these lakes could have been stocked prior to that time, but there are no records. We have access to thousands of acres in the Mount Zirkel area, which is located in the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest. Visitors should go to either Steamboat Springs or Walden and decide from there which trailhead is … The Wilderness is home to several different habitats found in the rockies, but the most unique is the ribbon forest, an area where bands of spruce form alongside grassy meadows that fill with snow in the winter months. All of the elevation gain happens at the beginning, but don't lose heart. Many of these lakes are deep within the wilderness and unless you are an ultra marathoner, better seen on a backpacking trip. This Rocky Mountain land ranges from 7000 to 12,000 feet elevation and its high-point is the wilderness namesake, Mount Zirkel. Hundreds of miles of remote trails out here. We caught fish one night for dinner. From gradient pool drop stretches to meandering open stream with cut banks, the upper Elk provides terrific dry fly fishing to smaller rainbow trout. The barn is amazing as are the views throighout. I am proud to say that I hiked to the summit of Mt. more. 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