Beaver Creek WSA, Near Canon City, CO

In the foothills of Pike's Peak amongst the pink granite and red sandstone is the Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area (BLM).

This area is a spectacular mix of terrain that lies between the base of Pike's Peak and Table Mountain. While the lowest elevations in this area are fairly low and quite hot in the summer months, it can be a great place to visit in the winter months. Access is year round, This area borders a State Wildlife Management Area so to hike this area you need a habitat "stamp" to enter it. If you are not familiar with Colorado's licensing check out their website.

Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area is definitely one of the richest wildlife habitats in the state. Like most areas in Colorado there are mountain lions roaming the area. Having been a resident of the Pikes Peak area, I can say that this generally holds true for most of the Front Range. There are bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, black bear, beaver and bobcat and many raptors (bring your Nikons!), wild turkeys and grouse. You can find most ecological zones in this area that have Pinon, Juniper, Engelmann spruce, Ponderosa pine and Douglas fir. Perhaps the best part is the sandstone canyons - when I lived in the high country in CO, I would always head to this area for my desert sandstone fix.

This area also unique in terms of the fossil record. Most of the canyons surrounding Pikes Peak are extremely faulted and therefore expose may years geologic time. The layers range from Ordovician to Cretaceous-Jurassic - quite a range. But it's not necessary to know the age of the rocks to enjoy the area's rock. Along the dry riverbed fork that heads north from the parking area and gate, there are many beautiful pieces of chert to be found.

Getting there: From State Highway 50 from Pueblo or Penrose go 5 miles west to Phantom Canyon Road (Highway 67 - there is a light); go north on 67 approximately one mile to the first right (County Road 123) then east 1/4 mile to County Road 132; then north (left) on CR 132 approximately 10 miles to the trail head and the end of the road. This is a graded road, but it is open range, so be prepared to encounter cattle.

All Images Copyright Paul Leonis 2007 - All Rights Reserved