White River National Forest – Central Colorado | Biking, Boating, Camping, Hiking & Fishing

The 2.3 million-acre White River National Forest is located in central Colorado. There’s much to do within this wonderful neck of the woods, including highlights such as Maroon Bells and Green Mountain Reservoir.

Aspen always makes one of the favorite basecamps for exploring the White River National Forest. Allow yourself at least a couple of days to really the hidden sights, like Ashcroft ghost town. The former mining camp features numerous original buildings in various stages of preservation.

Main Attractions

Centered around Aspen, the White River National Forest spreads out across the middle of the Colorado Rockies and includes some incredible terrain. Flat top mountains, crystal clear lakes and switchback alpine passes. These are just a few of highlights in the White River National Forest:

Argentine Pass – Georgetown

Ashcroft, CO Ghost Town – by Aspen

Camp Hale – Leadville

Capitol Peak – near Aspen

Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir – Leadville

Crater Lake – Aspen

Image of the Crystal River flowing through mountains in Colorado

Crystal River – near Marble-Carbondale

Devil's Punchbowl Swimming Hole Aspen CO

Devil’s Punchbowl – Aspen

Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area – Frisco

Dunckley Pass – Oak Creek

Image of the Eagle River in Colorado during winter

Eagle River – near Avon-Gypsum

Flat Tops Trail Byway – Yampa-Meeker

Flat Tops Wilderness – by Meeker

Image of the Fryingpan River in Colorado.

Fryingpan River – near Basalt

Green Mountain Reservoir – Heeney

Image of a man in a cavern on the Grottos Trail in Aspen, Colorado

Grottos Trail to Ice Caves – Aspen

Hagerman Pass – Leadville

Hanging Lake – Glenwood Springs

Holy Cross Wilderness – by Vail

Homestake Reservoir – Leadville

Independence Pass – Twin Lakes-Aspen

Independence, CO Ghost Town – by Aspen

Ivanhoe Lake – Leadville

Lower Cataract Lake, Summit County Colorado

Lower Cataract Lake – Heeney

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness – by Aspen

Montgomery Reservoir – Alma

Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness White River National Forest Sign

Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness – near Dillon

Quandary Peak Summit Breckenridge Colorado

Quandary Peak – near Breckenridge

Raggeds National Wilderness Area Colorado

Raggeds Wilderness – by Crested Butte

Image of Roaring Fork River in Colorado near Aspen

Roaring Fork River – near Aspen-Glenwood Springs

Roaring Fork River Whitewater Rafting – Aspen-Glenwood Springs

Ruedi Reservoir – Basalt

Image of the Sawmill Reservoir in Breckenridge, Colorado

Sawmill Reservoir – Breckenridge

Snowmass Lake, view from Trail Rider Pass Colorado

Snowmass Lake – Aspen

Image of the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area in Colorado

Surprise Lake – Heeney

Trappers Lake – Meeker

Upper & Lower Mohawk Lake – Breckenridge

Image of the Upper Cataract Lake in Heeney, Colorado

Upper Cataract Lake – Heeney

Webster Pass – Montezuma

Weller Lake – Aspen

White River – near Meeker-Rangely

Scenic Drives and Ghost Towns

White River Plateau Sunrise Colorado — Sunburst over the White River Plateau. Photo: Bryce Bradford

This stunning 82-mile drive, the Flat Tops Scenic Byway, connects Meeker and Yampa. The White River National Forest is located on the Meeker half of the drive. Independence Pass is a seasonal, scenic highway that begins just west of Aspen on CO 82. It connects with Twin Lakes on the other side. There’s a ghost town by that name on the Aspen side of the pass.

Lakes and Wilderness Recreation

Located on US 9 between Silverthorne and Kremmling, Green Mountain Reservoir offers boating, camping, fishing, OHV trails, and winter recreation. The most photographed scene in Colorado, Maroon Bells, is located less than 15 minutes from town. Maroon Bell is behind Aspen Highlands with camping, fishing, and hiking.

There are 3 creek-side campgrounds in the woods by the road and the main road in closes after 7 pm, so there’s no auto traffic at night.

Designated in 1964, the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness was of Colorado’s original established that year. Six 14’ers located within the area are some of the most difficult to hike in the state. Part of it’s located in the Gunnison National Forest.

Activities: Biking, Boating, Camping, Fishing, Hiking, Hunting, Picnicking, OHV, Scenic Drives, Cross Country Skiing, Snowmobiling, Snowshoeing