Every time I return to the Mount Zirkel Wilderness I think two things: Zirkel would be a GREAT name for a dog and despite being blatantly abundant in gorgeous alpine lakes, rugged peaks and colorful wildflowers, the Zirkel Wilderness is still relatively unknown. Originally designated in 1964 and expanded opon several times throughout the years, the 160,000 acres is home to the Park Range mountains and two vital river systems. The unique low-alpine environment means the landscape is festooned with aspen groves and dense willows. A myriad of streams make this one of the most lush mountain areas in the state – all that champagne power from Steamboat has to to melt at some time.
Geologically speaking, the Zirkel Wilderness is relatively new. Glaciers shaped the region a mere 15,000 years ago and owing to a shorter ice age, many of peaks are left in a state of mid-transformation. A good example of this is the semi-polished summit of Mount Zirkel (12,180 ft.), the highest point in the wilderness. A much more recent event known as the Routt Divide Blowdown occurred in 1997 and devastated millions of trees and triggered dozens of wildfires. The raw scars are slowly being healed and the new flora is as much a trademark as the trout-filled rivers and colorful basins.
The Zirkel Wilderness is named in honor of German-born Ferdinand Zirkel, a highly respected geologist who came to America in 1874 on the heels of the Hayden Survey to examine the vast amounts of minerals and gemstones in the newly charted parts of Colorado. Another quality name in the wilderness is Big Agnes Mountain, supposedly named after one of the more voluminous women of ill-repute during the early mining days. It is unknown whether Zirkel met Agnes but I think “Zagnes” would be another good name for a dog.
A large part of the charm of the Zirkel Wilderness comes from its lakes, which offer great camping and excellent backcountry fishing. Mica Lake, Gilpin Lake, Gold Creek Lake, Blue Lake and Peggy Lake are just a sampling of quality alpine lakes. There’s a particularly beautiful unnamed lake at 11,500 ft. chiseled into the east wall of Big Agnes that can only be seen from her summit ridge.
