Lizard Head Wilderness
The 41,496 acre Lizard Head Wilderness lies astride the San Juan Mountains, (10 miles southwest of Telluride and 40 miles northeast of Cortez) within Uncompahgre and San Juan National Forests. The area is named for a prominent rock formation said to look like a lizard's head. Lizard Head itself is 13,113 feet (3,997 m) and is a volcanic spire of crumbling rock. The summit of Lizard Head Peak has been voted as one of Colorado's most dangerous and difficult climbs. The Wilderness also includes the headwaters of the west fork of the Dolores River.
The Lizard Head Wilderness is part of the 109 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964.
Backcountry wilderness trails in this infrequently visited wilderness are mostly above 9,000 feet in elevation and are strenuous and should be only be attempted by more advanced backpackers with adequate experience and equipment.
The area includes three prominent fourteeners:
- El Diente Peak (14,159 ft / 4316 m)
- Wilson Peak (14,017 ft / 4272 m)
- Mount Wilson (14,246 ft / 4342 m)
Active Alerts
General Information
A full list of Wilderness Regulations are listed here. These regulations include, but are not limited to the following:
- Camping is limited in Navajo Basin to designated sites. See map.
- Campfires are prohibited in Navajo Basin. See map.
- If you choose to camp outside Navajo Basin, camping must be at least 100ft from water (~50 adult steps).
- If you choose to make a fire outside of the Navajo Basin, please use existing fire rings or preferably use a camp stove instead.
- Remember to pack out all your trash, including food scraps such as orange peels and apple cores.
- It is recommended that you boil drinking water or use purification filters. Water that appears to be crystal clear and clean can be infected with harmful bacteria.
- To help keep water pure, conduct all activities, including washing yourself and dishes, at least 100 feet from water sources.
- No motorized or mechanized (bicycle) traffic is allowed within the Wilderness per the 1964 Wilderness Act.
- Group size is limited to 15 people.
- Combination of people and stock = 25.
- Dogs under control.
- No unattended campfires.
- Do not fly drones over congressionally designated wilderness areas or primitive areas as many people seek these places for the opportunities for solitude and quiet that they provide.
- Practice leave no trace ethics.
Passes & Permits
Recommended maps for the Lizard Head Wilderness are the Latitude 40 Telluride, Silverton, Ouray Trails, National Geographic Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, Lake City #141, or the Mountains of Silverton, Telluride and Ouray.
San Juan Mountains Association Map and Book Store has maps for purchase online or by phone, fax, and mail.
Go to Wilderness.net for additional maps and information about Wilderness.
Recreation Sites
Groundhog Stock Drive Trail
Kilpacker Trail
Navajo Lake Trail