Wilderness Eagles Nest

Rate this place

Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Eagles Nest Wilderness in Colorado’s White River National Forest is renowned for its rugged alpine scenery, pristine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and dark skies ideal for stargazing.


°F

°F

mph

Wind

%

Humidity

Summary

Spanning over 130,000 acres, it's home to moose, black bears, and golden eagles. Top hikes include Pitkin Lake Trail and Upper Piney River Falls Trail. No entry fee, but self-issued wilderness permits are required. Open year-round, best visited June–September for snow-free trails. Popular for hiking, backpacking, and fishing. Don’t miss iconic views of the Gore Range. Plan for no cell service, and follow Leave No Trace principles.

       

Weather Forecast

Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
Related References