Elkhead Mountains

The Elkhead Mountains form a rugged, remote range in northwestern Colorado, stretching across Routt and Rio Blanco counties with elevations reaching above 11,000 feet. This is wild, relatively undiscovered terrain characterized by steep canyons, alpine meadows, and dense spruce-fir forests that remain refreshingly less crowded than Colorado's Front Range peaks. The range offers exceptional backcountry opportunities with numerous wilderness trails accessing pristine lakes, cascading streams, and panoramic vistas of the surrounding high plateaus. Wildlife is abundant here—elk, mule deer, black bears, and mountain lions roam the forested slopes, making this a premier destination for those seeking solitude and authentic alpine wilderness rather than manicured trail systems.