Cache La Poudre Wilderness

The Cache la Poudre Wilderness, named for the river that runs at its northern edge, was added to the National Wilderness Preservation System in 1980. This 9,258 acre Wilderness is characterized by steep, rugged terrain along the Cache la Poudre River and the Little South Fork of the Cache la Poudre, Colorado's only designated Wild and Scenic River drainage. Elevation ranges from 6,100 feet to 8,300 feet, and the area is accessible for much of the year. Use is low and only one trail, the Mount McConnel National Recreation Trail, exists in the wilderness. Travel is accomplished only by scrambling and bushwhacking in stream bottoms, on ridges and along game trails. This Wilderness is primarily montane in characteristic. Forests of ponderosa and lodgepole pine dominate the landscape, and mule deer, bear, coyote, and mountain lion inhabit the area seasonally. Always use Leave No Trace techniques to help keep this area wild, clean, and pristine.