Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area
The Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area (GMWA) was designated by Congress in 1993, and it now has a total of 23,087 acres and 11 miles of trails managed by the U.S. Forest Service/San Carlos Ranger District (USFS/SCRD). Wilderness trails are non-motorized which means motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport are prohibited. This includes the use of ATVs and bicycles. This pristine environment attracts locals and visitors looking for an experience in nature far from crowds.
History
The U. S. Congress designated the Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area in 1993. Soaring dramatically from the plains of Colorado, Greenhorn Mountain rises from 7,600 to 12,347 feet in the center of the northern section. Its summit is the highest point in the wilderness, and nowhere else in the state provides such a vivid and dramatic change from plains to mountains. Most of the east-facing slopes are steep, rocky and generally bare. Greenhorn Mountain Wilderness Area’s numerous small canyons and sharp ridges are dominant geological features with a few streams descending from the mountain. With relatively little snow, the area attracts bighorn sheep, elk and mule deer. [Source: www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/psicc/
