Weminuche Wilderness

Weminuche Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)
Aspen in the Weminuche Wilderness
Weminuche
Location	Colorado, USA
Nearest city	South Fork, CO
Coordinates	37°40′N 107°30′W / 37.667°N 107.500°W / 37.667; -107.500[1]
Area	499,771 acres (2022.5 km2)
Established	1975
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service

The Weminuche Wilderness is a wilderness area in southwest Colorado managed by the United States Forest Service as part of the San Juan National Forest on the west side of the Continental Divide and the Rio Grande National Forest on the east side of the divide. The Weminuche Wilderness was designated by Congress in 1975, and expanded by the Colorado Wilderness Acts of 1980 and 1993. It is located 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of the town of Silverton, 17 miles (27 km) northeast of Durango, and 8 miles (13 km) west of South Fork. At 499,771 acres (2,022.50 km²), it is the largest wilderness area in the state of Colorado. Elevation in the wilderness ranges from 7,700 feet (2,300 m) along the Animas River to 14,093 feet (4,296 m) at the summit of Windom Peak.^[2][3][4][5]

The Weminuche Wilderness is dissected by a narrow north-south corridor within the Animas River Gorge through which the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad travels between Silverton and Durango. To the west of this corridor are the West Needle Mountains. To the east lie the Needle Mountains and the bulk of the wilderness. Two train stops within the gorge allow hikers access into the Needle Mountains.^[5]

The Wilderness was named after the Weminuche Native Americans.^[5]