Routt National Forest
The Routt National Forest, located in the Northwest region of Colorado was established in 1908 to honor Colonel John N. Routt, the first elected governor of Colorado. It was merged with the Medicine Bow National Forest and the Thunder Basin National Grassland in Wyoming, forming the Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland in 1995.
This forest contains 1,126,346 acres made up of everything from sagebrush flats to alpine tundra. The Steamboat Ski Resort is located within the Routt National Forest. The forest is basically split in half by the continental divide, the eastern half being drained by the North Platte River and the western half by the Yampa River. Four wilderness areas are contained inside the forest’s boundaries; Mount Zirkel, Flat Tops, Sarvis Creek and the Never Summer Wilderness area. Six Colorado counties share the the beauty of the Routt National Forest; Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco and Routt.
Routt National Forest Ranger Districts
The US Forest Service has more than 600 ranger districts across the United States. It’s administrated by a forest supervisor, a district ranger and a line officer. Ranger districts vary in size and are responsible for overseeing activities such as; trail construction and maintenance, operation of campgrounds and management of vegetation and wildlife habitat. The active ranger districts in the Routt National Forest are:
Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District
This ranger district consists of 500,000 acres of land. Summer recreational activities in this district include; camping, fishing, hiking, bird watching, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, OHV excursions and hunting in the fall. Spring and Summer in the Routt National Forest can include all types of weather so make sure to be prepared for changing conditions whenever you venture out! It’s a good idea to plan any high mountain excursions for the morning, afternoon thunderstorms are regular fare in this part of Colorado and high mountain storms can be severe! Make sure to always be prepared and let someone know where you will be and what time you plan to return. View a map of all the trails in the Hahn’s Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District
In Winter there’s downhill and back-country skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling, ice skating, sledding, winter camping ice fishing, fly fishing and other fun snow related activities. Make sure you’re prepared for back-country survival when you head out in the Colorado winter. Severe winter storms can strike this area with very little notice. Always be prepared to spend the night, carry extra clothing, water and the other equipment needed to survive a night stranded in the mountains. Always leave word with family or friends about your destination and expected time of return.
The Hahns’ Peak/Bears Ears Ranger District offices are located at: 925 Weiss Dr. Steamboat Springs, CO. 80487 Phone: (970) 879-1870
Parks Ranger District
The area overseen by this Colorado ranger district offers camping, fishing, hiking, bird watching, wildlife viewing, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, OHV trails, hunting, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and much more.
Twelve moose were introduced to the upper Illinois river area back in 1978 and another twelve the following year. The Parks Ranger District and Jackson county now boast a moose population of over 600! Some of the best places to observe these amazing animals are areas around Snyder Creek, Willow Creek, plus the Illinois River and Michigan River drainage. Other areas include Highway 14 between Gould and Cameron Pass, Chimney Rock around Muddy Pass and on the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge.
The Seven Lakes Trail is also a major attraction in the district. The Seven Lakes trailhead is at the north end of the Big Creek campground and is the beginning of the 1 mile Red Elephant Nature Trail. This nature trail features 25 points of interest and ends at Upper Big Creek Lake. The Seven Lakes trail continues one mile past the lake to Big Creek Falls and the boundary of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. View a map of all the trails in the Parks Ranger District
The Teller City Interpretive Site is another interesting feature of the Parks Ranger District. Just southeast of Walden Colorado, the interpretive site details the history of the abandoned silver mining town, Teller City, that was established in 1879. A 3/4 mile accessible loop trail takes you through several of the towns building foundations and scattered artifacts. Signs dispersed along the loop explain the history of the town and the silver boom that took place there.
For more information on the activities and attractions in the area, visit the Parks Ranger District Offices: 100 Main Street, Walden, CO 80480 Phone: (970) 723-8204?
Yampa Ranger District
This ranger district is made up of almost 400,000 acres located in the southern most portion of the Routt National Forest. The name Yampa comes from a plant that was eaten by the Native Americans that lived in the area. The Yampa Ranger District was established on May 1, 1954.
The camping season in this district extends from mid-June to Labor day, weather permitting. Other activities in this district include, fishing, hiking, bird watching, mountain bike riding, horseback riding, OHV riding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing to name a few.
The 82 mile Flat Tops Scenic Byway between the towns Yampa and Meeker, is a 2 1/2 hour must see drive when you visit this portion of the Routt National Forest. Those taking the drive are encouraged to bring binoculars along because wildlife viewing opportunities are numerous. This byways season is generally June through October, weather permitting. Gas and other services are available in the towns of Yampa, Buford, and Meeker.
Over 200 miles of trails weave through the Flat Tops Wilderness area. These wilderness trails are open to horses, pack animals, hikers, skiers and snowshoers. There is also more than 50 miles of scenic mountain trails to explore on Gore Pass! These trails are very popular with hikers and mountain bikers. There are also maintained trails in the district for ATVs and motorcycles. View a map of all the Yampa Ranger District trails.
