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Mount Zirkel Wilderness Information

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Welcome to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness information area of the Mountain Jay Media LLC Web site.

This web site contains a wealth of information for hikers, backpackers, fishermen, horse packers, horseback riders, and hunters planning a visit to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area in northern Colorado.  The site offers detailed maps and over 100 full color pictures describing trails in and around the Wilderness to help you plan your visit there.  Fishermen can use the fishing information page that describes the fish species present in all the lakes in and near the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area and the surrounding Routt National Forest and also tells when the lakes were last stocked and what species were stocked.  Hunting enthusiasts planning a visit to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area can use the hunting information page to view information tailored to their needs. 

The content of this site is divided into these major categories:

What's New:

Last updated 1/17/07

I've updated the Current Conditions page to reflect winter conditions.

Current Conditions in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area and surrounding Routt National Forest:

The Current Conditions page contains a listing of current activities within and around the wilderness that could affect your camping, hiking, backpacking, fishing, or hunting trip to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. Trailheads and roads are often closed due to maintenance and logging operations adjacent to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.  This information should be posted on the Current Conditions page so that you may plan accordingly.  This page also contains links to other web sites which may provide valuable information when planning outings.  Links to weather forecasts for Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Walden, Colorado are included on the page.  Also, links to real time river flow data is provided for rivers flowing from the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area, which could prove useful when planning trips near the beginning and end of the spring runoff.  Links to the Snowtel site is also provided. The Snowtel site is a government operated web site that lists snow-pack depths for various river basins based on the percentage of historical norms. Checking this web site  could give some indications as to the duration and magnitude of the spring runoff in and around the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. 

Forest Service Regulations and Special Restrictions in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area:

This page contains a listing of the regulations that apply while hiking, backpacking, hunting or fishing within the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.  Special restrictions such as camping restrictions are also included on this page as well as Leave No Trace back country ethics guidelines.  Make sure that you are aware of wilderness use rules before venturing into the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.  Wilderness Rangers do patrol the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area to enforce these regulations. 

Trail Maps, Pictures and Descriptions in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area and Routt National Forest:

This page leads to trail description pages that give an idea of what lies along each trail in and around the Mount Zirkel Wilderness.  The link leads to a list of trails with links to their individual web pages.  Also on the trail list page is another link to a map of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area where individual trails web pages can be explored by clicking the trails on the map.  Each trail description page contains a map showing where the pictures were taken.  Topographical maps for the trails in and around the Mount Zirkel Wilderness are also found on the individual trail description pages. The individual pictures taken along the trail can be viewed by clicking their thumbnail in the gallery. 

About the Mount Zirkel Wilderness:

General information is provided about the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area.  Included are vital statistics and a brief history of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area. 

About this website:

This section gives information about the mountainjaymedia.com Web site and how to contact it.

Fishing Information in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area:

Information provided by the Colorado Division of Wildlife concerning fishing opportunities in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is presented here.   

Hunting Information in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area:

Information useful for hunters in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is presented here. 

Hinman Fire Pictures and Narrative:

The Hinman Fire burned across the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area during the summer of 2002. This page contains pictures of the fire and a narrative.

Burn Ridge Fire Pictures and Narrative:

The Burn ridge Fire burned across the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area during the summer of 2002. This page contains pictures of the fire and a narrative.

Geology Information for the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area:

A geologic map of the Mount Zirkel Wilderness Area is found here.