Comanche Peak Wilderness

Named for the prominent 12,702' Comanche Peak, Comanche Peak Wilderness was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1980. Elevations within the Comanche Peak Wilderness range from about 8,000' to 12,702'.

Located in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest, the 67,500 acre Comanche Peak Wilderness features forests of lodgepole and ponderosa pine and spruce-fir beneath expanses of alpine tundra. More than 70 miles of scenic trails provide access to this wilderness area that borders the north and east sides of Rocky Mountain National Park with the Neota Wilderness to the west. The 19 maintained trails within Comanche Peak Wilderness offer about 121 miles worth of hiking adventure, most of them following some of the 16 named rivers on the property and leading to the six named lakes. Several trails also work their way up and over the seven named peaks in the wilderness. Five trails cross the boundary into Rocky Mountain National Park.

Wildlife includes elk, moose, mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, coyote, beaver and many smaller mammals. Many species of birds live here, including chickadees, hummingbirds, grey jays, red-tailed hawks, ptarmigan and golden eagles. Lakes and streams are inhabited by cutthroat, brown, rainbow and brook trout. A few of the streams carry the rare and endangered greenback cutthroat trout.

The Comanche Peak Wilderness is very popular with hikers, backpackers and fishermen, and with hunters when it's that time of year.