| Weminuche Wilderness | |
|---|---|
 Aspen in the Weminuche Wilderness | |
  Weminuche | |
| Location | Colorado, USA |
| Nearest city | South Fork, CO |
| Coordinates | 37°40′N 107°30′W / 37.667°N 107.500°W[1] |
| Area | 499,771 acres (2022.5 km2) |
| Established | 1975 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
The Weminuche Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado managed by the United States Forest Service as part of the San Juan National Forest on the west side of the Continental Divide and the Rio Grande National Forest on the east side of the divide. The Weminuche Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1975, and expanded by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of the town of Silverton, 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Durango, and 8 miles (13 km) west of South Fork. At 499,771 acres (2,022.50 km2), it is the largest wilderness area in the state of Colorado. Elevation in the wilderness ranges from 7,700 feet (2,300 m) along the Animas River to 14,093 feet (4,296 m) at the summit of Windom Peak.[2][3][4][5]
The Weminuche Wilderness is dissected by a narrow north-south corridor within the Animas River Gorge through which the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad travels between Silverton and Durango. To the west of this corridor are the West Needle Mountains. To the east lie the Needle Mountains and the bulk of the wilderness. Two train stops within the gorge allow hikers access into the Needle Mountains.[5]
The Wilderness was named after the Weminuche Native Americans.[5]
- ^ "Weminuche Wilderness". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
- ^ "Weminuche Wilderness". San Juan National Forest. U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Weminuche Wilderness: Rio Grande". Rio Grande National Forest. U.S. Forest Service. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ "Weminuche Wilderness". Wilderness.net. Wilderness Connect. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ a b c Warren, Scott S. (2002). Exploring Colorado's Wild Areas: A Guide for Hikers, Backpackers, Climbers, X-C Skiers, and Paddlers (2nd ed.). Seattle, Washington: The Mountaineers. ISBN 0898867843.