Lost Creek Wilderness

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Lost Creek Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Lost Creek Wilderness
Location: Colorado, USA
Nearest city: Denver, CO
Coordinates: 39°16′7″N, 105°28′5″W
Area: 119,790 acres (485 km²)
Established: January 1, 1980
Governing body: U.S. Forest Service

The Lost Creek Wilderness is a 119,790 acre wilderness area located in central Colorado in Jefferson and Park counties south of the town of Bailey. The area is situated entirely within the boundaries of the Pike National Forest.

The area is named for Lost Creek, a perennial stream that disappears and reappears before finally joining Goose Creek which empties into the South Platte River at Cheesman Reservoir just east of the Wilderness area. The entire water system of the area forms a watershed for the Platte River Basin. The area is notable for its many rock formations, natural arches, and rock domes. These are contained in two ranges of low alpine foothills of the Rocky Mountains: the Kenosha Mountains and the Tarryall Mountains, the highest peak in the area is Bison Peak at 12,431 feet.

Colorado with Lost Creek Wilderness in red
Colorado with Lost Creek Wilderness in red

Because of its proximity to Denver, the area is quite popular for outdoor recreation in both summer and winter months. Typical activities in the area include hiking, backpacking, rock-climbing, as well as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping. A short section of the Colorado Trail crosses the Lost Creek in its central section, then parallels the northeast boundary toward Kenosha Pass.

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