Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests
Pawnee National Grassland

Indian Peaks Wilderness

Wilderness -- "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain ... an area protected and managed so as to preserve its natural conditions."

-- The Wilderness Act of 1964

General Information

The Indian Peaks area became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1978. Many of the peaks within the area were named after American Indian tribes of the west. The 76,586 acre Indian Peaks Wilderness is located within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Adjacent to Rocky Mountain National Park's southern boundary, the Indian Peaks is one of the most often-visited wilderness areas in the United States. To encounter fewer people, hike and camp on weekdays and use less popular backcountry zones.

The Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Indian Peaks Wilderness.

The Grand County Wilderness Group is a non-profit group that works to assist the US Forest Service in the preservation, protection, improvement and public understanding of the wilderness areas in Ground County. They can be contacted at P.O. Box 2200, Fraser, CO 80442 or by phone at 970-726-4626.

For recorded voice information about the Indian Peaks Wilderness, please call 303-541-2519.

Map of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and Backcountry Zones (pdf, 274Kb)

Regulations

Check for specific rules and regulations in the Indian Peaks Wilderness on its rules and regulations page.

Permit Issuing Locations

Permits are required for all overnight use in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area from June 1 through September 15 annually. The permit fee is $5 per group. Contact Boulder Ranger District at 303-541-2500 or by e-mail for more information.

Click on a link below for a printable permit application form:

Application form in pdf (134 Kb)

Application form in HTML

Trails in the Indian Peaks Wilderness

Return to the Wilderness Page

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USDA Forest Service, Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests, Pawnee National Grassland
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Last modified March 31, 2009