Mount Sneffels Wilderness, Protected wilderness in Ouray and San Miguel Counties, Colorado.
The 16,565-acre Mount Sneffels Wilderness contains dense forests, alpine tundra, and numerous peaks in the northern San Juan Mountains of Colorado.
The United States Congress designated Mount Sneffels Wilderness in 1980 under the Wilderness Act to preserve its natural state without human intervention.
The name Sneffels derives from Old Norse language, translating to 'snow mountain' and sharing its etymology with Iceland's Snæfellsjökull volcano.
Visitors can access the wilderness through four main entry points: Yankee Boy Basin, Blue Lakes, Mill Creek, and Deep Creek trailheads.
The wilderness features 10 named mountains and only 15 miles of maintained trails, making its central region one of Colorado's least visited mountain areas.
Location: Ouray County
Location: San Miguel County
Inception: 1980
GPS coordinates: 38.00970,-107.86100
Latest update: March 3, 2025 18:04
Colorado features natural areas and historical sites away from common routes. The locations range from sand formations at Paint Mines Park to Zapata waterfalls. Bishop Castle displays hand-built stone architecture in the forest, while Devil's Causeway presents narrow rock bridges in the wilderness. Fossil discoveries, dinosaur tracks, and abandoned mining towns document the state's history.
Red Mountain Pass
18 km
Mount Sneffels
6.1 km
Bridal Veil Falls
12.9 km
Wilson Peak
19.9 km
Mount Wilson
22.2 km
Box Canyon
16 km
Lizard Head
20.9 km
Dallas Divide
9.7 km
Lizard Head Pass
22.4 km
El Diente Peak
22.8 km
St. Elmo Hotel
16.6 km
Lizard Head Wilderness
23.2 km
Telluride Historic District
9.3 km
Dallas Peak
4.1 km
Fort Peabody
14.3 km
Little Cone
22.2 km
Gladstone Peak
21.2 km
Gilpin Peak
6.5 km
Teakettle Mountain
8.8 km
Western Hotel
16.7 km
Ouray City Hall and Walsh Library
16.8 km
Wright's Opera House
16.6 km
Ouray County Courthouse
16.8 km
Ouray Historic District
16.5 km
Bear Creek Falls
17.7 km
Telluride Historical Museum
8.9 km
Million Dollar Highway
17.6 km
Blue Lake Trail
4 kmReviews
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