Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Raggeds Wilderness (
map) in 1980 and it now has a total of
65,393 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
Colorado and is managed by the Forest Service.
Description
Prominent rocky slopes striking skyward to a serrated ridge give Raggeds Wilderness its well-deserved name. Ragged Mountain in the northern half rises to 12,094 feet, but other wonderfully scenic peaks crest higher. Anthracite Creek passes through the deep Dark Canyon in the heart of a Wilderness that contains numerous other creeks and small lakes. Oh-Be-Joyful Pass (11,740 feet), with the long sweep of Oh-Be-Joyful Creek Valley below it, was added to the area in 1993.You'll have to ford the Slate River to access the seven miles of the Oh-Be-Joyful Pass Trail. A dense coniferous forest covers the creek bottoms. Every fall, you'll see great unbroken expanses of aspens ablaze in shimmering yellow and rock bands of red, gray, and black rising above a patchwork quilt of gold and green. About 50 miles of trail are located in this Wilderness.
