Indian Peak Wilderness Area, Colorado

The Indian Peak Wilderness area is located in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests in Colorado. The area was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System by Congress in 1978.

The Indian Peak Wilderness Area consists of sharp ridges and pointy peaks. The area spans almost 75,000 acres of land, as it traverses the Continental Divide southward for approximately 6 miles. Rocky Mountain National Park sits along the northern border.

Within Indian Peaks you'll find large areas of alpine tundra, several cirque basins with old glaciers, and almost 50 lakes. The wilderness streams include Middle and South St. Vrain, Boulder, Buchanan, Cascade, and Arapaho Creeks. Elevations in the area are between 8,400 and more than 13,000 feet.

In 1978 the Indian Peaks area became part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. A large number of the peaks received their names from American Indian tribes of the west. The wilderness area contains 76,586 acres within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. Located beside Rocky Mountain National Park's southern border, this is one of the most popular wilderness areas in the country.