Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area

Castle Peak is a prominent peak with steep rugged slopes, and rolling hills, basins, and meadows. It is an outlier of volcanic rock similar in age and origin to expanses of volcanic strata underlying the Flat Tops. Nestled between the Flat Tops, Gore Range and Sawatch Range, Castle Peak provides sweeping vistas of dramatic mountain landscape. Many springs, small lakes and perennial streams are found in the area; some streams provide aquatic habitat and support trout. In parts of the proposed Castle Peak Wilderness, a network of trails wind through the often chest-high grasses and downed timber. Castle Peak itself is not only a visual reference point for the whole area, but interesting in its own right, as an outlier of volcanic rock similar in age and origin to that covering the Flat Tops. Elevations range from 8,400 feet to 11,275 feet on Castle Peak The expanded boundaries of the proposed wilderness add additional biodiversity by reaching down the hillside to include the lower elevation sagebrush/grasslands habitats. Castle Peak’s location four miles from I-70 at the Wolcott exit, places it within easy driving distance of the Front Range, an added bonus for tourism and recreation. The Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area is a semi-primitive backcountry area with no facilities. There is no motorized or mechanized use within the WSA to help preserve erosive soils, wildlife, scenic values, water quality and cultural resources.