Buffalo Peaks Wilderness

Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a protected landscape in the Rocky Mountains featuring two distinctive peaks rising above 12,000 feet (3,658 m). The terrain includes alpine meadows, mountain lakes, and dense coniferous forests spread across rolling valleys and ridges.

Congress designated this land as protected wilderness in 1993 through the Colorado Wilderness Act. The protection was created to safeguard the mountain landscape and its wildlife from future development.

The land management emphasizes environmental conservation through specific guidelines, fostering an understanding of wilderness preservation among visitors.

Access the area via marked trailheads near Highways 24 and 285 between Buena Vista and Fairplay. Weather at high elevation changes quickly, so come prepared for cold temperatures and afternoon storms.

One of Colorado's largest bighorn sheep herds lives here and can be spotted from certain viewpoints in the area. The landscape also features an extensive network of beaver dams that have created complex systems of ponds and wetlands.

Location: Colorado

Inception: 1993

GPS coordinates: 39.05000,-106.15000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:00