Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness (
map) in 1993 and it now has a total of
41,232 acres.
All of this wilderness is located in
Colorado and is managed by the Forest Service.
Description
Beaver, elk, mule deer, black bears, mountain lions and one of Colorado's largest herds of bighorn sheep call the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness home, but human visitors are relatively few, preferring the nearby and more glamorous Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. From most of South Park and much of the Arkansas River Valley, the twin Buffalo Peaks--East Buffalo and West Buffalo--are visible as high, rounded domes. You won't find deep glacial valleys or secluded lakes here. You will find a serene forest of Engelmann spruce, Douglas fir, lodgepole and limber pine, and aspen, as well as several lovely stands of bristlecone pines on some of the south-facing slopes. The forest is laced with large meadows and impressive beaver ponds held in place by elaborate dams. The peace and quiet is seldom broken.
