Lost Creek Wilderness

Lost Creek Wilderness was officially designated by the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980 with additions in 1993. Today it totals 119,790 acres. Elevations range from 8,000' to 12,400' above sea level. Lost Creek was named after a creek of the same name that repeatedly disappears underground only to reappear again further downstream where it ultimately becomes Goose Creek.

Lost Creek is accessed by a 136 mile trail network, 105 miles of which are within the wilderness boundary. The trail system traverses tree-lined mountain parks, fascinating rounded granite domes and rare granite arches. Black bears, bighorn sheep, deer, elk and bobcats share the region. Vegetation includes ponderosa, bristlecone and lodgepole pine, aspen, spruce, fir and alpine tundra.

Please help keep wilderness wild by following Leave No Trace practices.

General Information

Trails

Please stay on trails. Cutting switchbacks and avoiding wet and muddy sections can cause severe erosion and multiple trail systems. For individuals travelling cross country, remember that alpine tundra is very susceptible to damage. Walk on durable routes of rock or talus when possible. In areas where this is not possible, disperse your use so no two footsteps land on the same spot. In keeping with the character of wilderness, where risk and self-reliance are part of the experience, map and route finding skills are essential.

Camping & Campfires

Take some time when you reach your destination to find the most appropriate site for you and your group. Try not to pick the first site you see, even if you're tired. Look around, choose a site that is protected, not visible from the trail, and is at least 100 feet from any water source. To minimize impacts, please use an existing site. If you choose to have a campfire, consider the following:

• Large hot fires or concentrations of charcoal and ash can sterilize soils, leaving them unable to sustain plant life
• Many visitors consider fire-rings an eyesore
• Keep fires small and limit them to evenings or early mornings
• Avoid having fires above treeline. Dead wood removed from Krummholz (dwarf trees near timberline) affects their survival.

Animals 

Secure pack stock 100 to 200 feet away from lakes, streams, or trails. Use a picket line and move stock often to prevent resource damage. Please remember, dogs must be on a leash at all times.

Water & Waste

All water can carry giardia (a protozoa that affects human intestinal systems and can cause serious illness). Boiling water for at least 5 minutes, using iodine tablets, or filtering can treat water.

Soap, even biodegradable, pollutes the water. Dispose of wash water at least 100 feet away from any water source. Bury human waste in a hole 6" deep and 200 feet away from any water source, trail, or campsite. Pack out toilet paper, feminine products, and left over food. Please Practice Leave No Trace Principles.

Topo maps