16,263 acres (25.4 square miles)
How to get there
The proposed Castle Peak Wilderness Area is located about 10 miles north of Eagle, southeast of the Flat Tops Wilderness. Many trails cross through the area.
- From Wolcott to on Colorado 131 north about 3 miles and turn left (west) on CR54 which eventually turns into BLM road 8500. Take 8500 to BLM road 8511 and begin you hike at the end of 8511.
- From the Colorado River Road (CR 301) take CR 41 at Blue Hill. CR 41 becomes 8530 and take it until you reach BLM 8532. Take BLM 8532 south until it ends at the area boundary.
Setting
Castle Peak is a prominent peak with steep rugged slopes, and rolling hills, basins, and meadows. It is an outlier of volcanic rock similar in age and origin to expanses of volcanic strata underlying the Flat Tops. Nestled between the Flat Tops, Gore Range and Sawatch Range, Castle Peak provides sweeping vistas of dramatic mountain landscape. Many springs, small lakes and perennial streams are found in the area; some streams provide aquatic habitat and support trout.
The combination of lush forage, edge effects, and deeply wooded shelter make the proposed ideal for elk, deer, grouse, and raptors. The vegetation is diverse and includes expanses of Douglas fir, Englemann spruce, aspen and grass meadows, sagebrush, and mixed mountain brush.
The area offers superb summer range for 400 elk and 1,000 deer. Due to the abundant game, hunting is a popular recreational activity in Castle Peak. Jeep Touring on the roadways surrounding the area is also popular as it affords a virtually unencumbered view of 5 surrounding Wilderness Areas.
In parts of Castle Peak, a network of trails wind through the often chest-high grasses and downed timber. Castle Peak itself is not only a visual reference point for the whole area, but interesting in its own right, as an outlier of volcanic rock similar in age and origin to that covering the Flat Tops. The expanded boundaries of the proposed wilderness add additional biodiversity by reaching down the hillside to include the lower elevation sagebrush/grasslands habitats. Castle Peak’s location four miles from I-70 at the Wolcott exit, places it within easy driving distance of the Front Range, an added bonus for tourism and recreation.
Elevations range from 8,400 feet to 11,275 feet on Castle Peak
What’s Special about It?
Due to its mid level elevation and plentiful precipitation, Castle Peak supports a wide variety of plants and wildlife. In addition to beaver ponds, the area offers superb summer range for 400 elk and 1,000 deer.
Potential Threats
The Colorado Army National Guard High Altitude Aerial Training Site (HAATS) located at the Eagle County Airport conducts combat helicopter training excercises throughout the region. Though landings in the Castle Peak Wilderness Study Area are currently prohibited, overflights of the WSA and landings on lands adjacent to the WSA that also proposed wilderness are ongoing. These operations are an important element in preparing our troops for overseas duty but take a heavy toll on the wild and quiet character of this unit.
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