Collegiate Peaks Wilderness, Protected wilderness area near Leadville, Colorado
The Collegiate Peaks Wilderness extends across 168,000 acres of central Colorado, featuring fifteen mountain peaks that rise above 14,000 feet in elevation.
The United States Congress designated this land as a protected wilderness region in 1980, incorporating sections of San Isabel, Gunnison, and White River National Forests.
Five major peaks within the wilderness bear names of prestigious educational institutions: Mount Harvard, Mount Oxford, Mount Yale, Mount Princeton, and Mount Columbia.
The Continental Divide Trail and Colorado Trail provide access through the wilderness, with multiple trailheads offering entry points for hikers and campers.
The wilderness serves as a vital watershed for three major rivers: the Arkansas River, the Gunnison River, and the Roaring Fork River.
Location: Colorado
Inception: 1980
Operator: United States Forest Service
GPS coordinates: 38.96940,-106.49300
Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:52
Independence Pass
16.6 km
Mount Massive
24.3 km
Mount Harvard
15.7 km
La Plata Peak
6.9 km
Castle Peak
32.2 km
Huron Peak
5.5 km
Mount Columbia
18.4 km
Mount Belford
11.5 km
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness
31 km
Mount Massive Wilderness
24.8 km
Mount Oxford
13.3 km
Champion Mill
18.7 km
Mount Oklahoma
23.3 km
French Mountain
17.7 km
Hunter–Fryingpan Wilderness
27.8 km
Mount Blaurock
5.8 km
Emerald Peak
10.7 km
Derry Mining Site Camp
21.5 km
Twin Lakes District
15.7 km
Mount Hope (Colorado)
8.6 km
Taylor Park Reservoir
16.7 km
Hayden Ranch Headquarters
23.6 km
Mount Elbert
17.1 km
Missouri Mountain
10.2 km
Twin Lakes Inn
15.8 km
Twin Lakes Visitor Center
15.7 km
Independence Pass Overlook
16.4 km
Twin Lakes Reservoir
18.7 kmReviews
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