• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Uncover Colorado Logo

  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
  • Blog
  • Activities
  • Events
  • Towns
  • Lodging
  • Dining
  • Transport
  • Shop
  • Search
White River National Forest
White River National Forest. Photo: Post Independent

White River National Forest – near Minturn

FacebookTwitter

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 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 Peak in Colorado, USA

Argentine Pass – Georgetown

Ashcroft Ghost Town Colorado

Ashcroft, CO Ghost Town – by Aspen

Camp Hale, CO

Camp Hale – Leadville

Capitol Peak Pitkin County Colorado

Capitol Peak – near Aspen

Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir Colorado

Clinton Gulch Dam Reservoir – Leadville

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 Marina Dillon Reservoir Colorado

Dillon Reservoir Recreation Area – Dillon-Frisco

Dunckley Pass – Oak Creek

Image of the Eagle River in Colorado during winter

Eagle River – near Avon-Gypsum

Flat Tops Trail Scenic Byway

Flat Tops Trail Byway – Yampa-Meeker

Flat Tops Wilderness Mountains Colorado

Flat Tops Wilderness – near Meeker

Image of the Fryingpan River in Colorado.

Fryingpan River – near Basalt

Green Mountain Reservoir

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, Colorado

Hagerman Pass – Leadville

Hanging Lake National Natural Landmark

Hanging Lake – Glenwood Springs

Holy Cross Wilderness Colorado

Holy Cross Wilderness – near Vail

Homestake Reservoir, CO

Homestake Reservoir – Leadville

Independence Pass

Independence Pass – Twin Lakes-Aspen

Independence Ghost Town

Independence, CO Ghost Town – by Aspen

Ivanhoe Lake Leadville CO

Ivanhoe Lake – Leadville

Lower Cataract Lake, Summit County Colorado

Lower Cataract Lake – Heeney

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness – near Aspen

Montgomery Reservoir Alma Colorado

Montgomery Reservoir – Alma

Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness White River National Forest Sign

Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness – near Dillon

Raggeds National Wilderness Area Colorado

Raggeds Wilderness – near Crested Butte

Image of Roaring Fork River in Colorado near Aspen

Roaring Fork River – near Aspen-Glenwood Springs

Roaring Fork River Aspen CO

Roaring Fork River Whitewater Rafting – Aspen-Glenwood Springs

Ruedi Reservoir, Colorado

Ruedi Reservoir – Basalt

Snowmass Lake, view from Trail Rider Pass Colorado

Snowmass Lake – Aspen

Trappers Lake, Colorado

Trappers Lake – Meeker

Lower Mohawk Lake Breckenridge CO

Upper & Lower Mohawk Lake – Breckenridge

Jeeps Driving Up Webster Pass Colorado

Webster Pass – Montezuma

Weller Lake Aspen Colorado

Weller Lake – Aspen

Image of the White River in Colorado

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 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

White River Forest, Colorado
White River Forest, Colorado. Photo: Ann Althouse

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 7pm, 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.

White River National Forest
White River National Forest near Eagle.

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

  • Read about the camping near Kremmling, Parshall and Hot Sulphur Springs.
  • Read about the camping near Breckenridge and Summit County.
  • Read about the camping near Vail and Eagle County.
  • Read about camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt.
  • Read about the camping near Meeker and Flat Tops.
National Forests Grasslands Map
Map of 11 national forests and 2 grasslands.

Details

Nearby Towns:

  • Aspen
  • Eagle
  • Edwards
  • Glenwood Springs
  • Leadville
  • Meeker
  • Rifle
  • Vail

Map: White River (shown in red) (.png)

Motor Vehicle Use Maps: Large, PDF’s from the USFS. They show forest service roads and where dispersed camping is permitted.

  • Aspen and Sopris – Glenwood Springs, Carbondale, Redstone, Aspen
  • Dillon – Keystone, Dillon, Silverthorne, Frisco, Breckenridge
  • Eagle and Holy Cross – East – Edwards, Avon, Minturn, Red Cliff
  • Eagle and Holy Cross – West – Eagle
  • Flat Tops – Meeker
  • Rifle – Rifle

White River Campgrounds: Reservations

Website: fs.usda.gov/whiteriver

Latest in White River National Forest

10th Mountain Division Ski Troopers Training in Colorado Circa 1943

The US Army’s Tenth Mountain Division and Colorado

The thought of an elite group of skiers who scale cliff faces and fight bad guys…

The US Army’s Tenth Mountain Division and ColoradoRead More

Overlooking Sylvan Lake Camping Eagle CO

Camping near Vail, around Eagle County

Vail is one of Colorado’s most well known towns, situated along Interstate 70 in the beautiful…

Camping near Vail, around Eagle CountyRead More

Autumn Afternoon Lake Dillon Frisco CO Camping Summit County

Camping near Breck, Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne, all around Summit County

Summit County is probably the most popular weekend destination for the millions living on the plains…

Camping near Breck, Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne, all around Summit CountyRead More

Pinyon Ridge Sunset Meeker Colorado

Camping near Meeker and the Flat Tops

As the western gateway to the Flat Top Wilderness, Meeker attracts its fair share of adventure…

Camping near Meeker and the Flat TopsRead More

Tent Camping ner Yampa CO Flat Tops Wilderness Devil's Causeway

Camping near Yampa and the Flat Tops

Tucked away forty-minutes south of Steamboat Spring on State Highway 131, Yampa is the eastern gateway…

Camping near Yampa and the Flat TopsRead More

Camping Williams Fork Reservoir Parshall CO

Camping near Kremmling, Parshall and Hot Sulphur Springs

Kremmling is well known for its abundant outdoor recreation, including fishing and boating on numerous nearby…

Camping near Kremmling, Parshall and Hot Sulphur SpringsRead More

Camping near Rifle CO Rifle Gap Reservoir Campground

Camping near Rifle, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, around Garfield County

Garfield County is home to some amazing natural wonders that make it perfect for the Colorado…

Camping near Rifle, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale, around Garfield CountyRead More

camping-near-aspen-co-silver-bell-campground-1600x800-1

Camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, around Pitkin County

Aspen’s one of the most well known and beloved mountain towns in Colorado. It’s surrounded by…

Camping near Aspen, Snowmass Village and Basalt, around Pitkin CountyRead More

Primary Sidebar

Join our Colorado travel community

Enter your email below and grab our free locals' guide and monthly what's up designed to help you live your Colorado life and uncover fun things to do. —and never miss out again.

Colorado National Forests

  • All Federal Lands
  • All National Forests
  • Arapaho
  • Grand Mesa
  • Gunnison
  • Pike
  • Rio Grande
  • Roosevelt
  • Routt
  • San Isabel
  • San Juan
  • Uncompahgre
  • White River

Footer

Get In Touch

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Write For Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Resources
Facebook Instagram Pinterest Twitter

Disclosure: Uncover Colorado is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Things To Do

  • Travel Blog
  • Colorado Activities
  • Colorado Events
  • Colorado Towns
  • Colorado Hotels
  • Colorado Restaurants
  • Colorado Transportation
  • Made in Colorado

Visit Mile High Happy Hour for Denver neighborhoods' restaurant happy hours.

Winter Activities

  • Camping
  • Cross Country Skiing
  • Federal Lands
  • Hot Springs
  • Ice Skating
  • Skiing and Snowboarding
  • Snow Tubing
  • State Parks

Vacation like a VIP! Leisurely Lifestyle shares life and travel hacks, as well as cheap luxury travel.

Copyright © 2021 · Uncover Colorado - Vacations, Travel & Tourism | Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Disclaimer