Never Summer Wilderness Area, Colorado

Towering snow-capped peaks, old growth forests, and areas of spongy and lively bogs are just a few features that make the Never Summer Wilderness of Colorado so unique. Nestled within the Arapaho and Routt National Forests and along the northwest corner of Rocky Mountain National Park, Never Summer Wilderness Area encompasses over 21,000 acres of pristine and secluded natural land.

The wilderness was named accurately for the inches of rainfall and snow that land on its many peaks throughout the year. Even the names of some seventeen peaks that rise over 12,000 feet expel the feeling of stormy weather and nature's relentlessness. Take a gander at Static Peak, the Nokhu Crags, Mount Cirrus, Cumulus, Nimbus, Stratus, and the tallest Howard Mountain, standing at 12,810 feet.

The old growth of Bowen Gulch is responsible for sparking some of the first "tree huggers" of Colorado to act against logging efforts. At such a high elevation, over 10,000 feet, it is amazing how old and how large these spruce and fir forests have grown. Bowen Gluch is located within the southern parts of Never Summer Wilderness and its trees are estimated to be 600 years old and four feet in diameter.

The Never Summer Wilderness runs along the Continental Divide Trail, offering visitors fantastic views and numerous opportunities to escape into the peace of the great outdoors.