Cache La Poudre Wilderness, Protected wilderness area near Fort Collins, Colorado
Cache La Poudre Wilderness is a protected natural area in Colorado's Roosevelt National Forest, featuring granite rock formations and elevations ranging from about 6,100 to 8,700 feet (1,860 to 2,650 meters). The landscape combines rocky summits with forested slopes that visitors can explore on established trails.
The United States Congress protected this area as official wilderness in 1980 through the Colorado Wilderness Act. Major changes came in the early 2010s when wildfires and flooding dramatically reshaped the landscape.
The Mount McConnel National Recreation Trail serves as the primary path through this wilderness, allowing visitors to experience Colorado's natural environment.
Access is through two marked trails for visitors of different ability levels. Those with time and energy can venture deeper into the wilderness, but should prepare for changing weather conditions.
After the High Park fire in 2012 devastated roughly 95 percent of the area, nature has begun returning gradually, and visitors today see forests at different stages of regrowth.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
