Outdoors and wildfire - Mountains
Buffalo Peaks Wilderness closes some roads for elk calving
The Buffalo Peaks Wilderness in the northeast corner of the Chaffee County area is open to hikers year-round, but several access roads close in spring for elk calving.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 10, 2026
Tucked into the hills between the Arkansas valley and South Park, the Buffalo Peaks Wilderness is a quieter corner than the famous Collegiate Peaks. It was set aside by Congress in 1993 and is managed by the Pike-San Isabel National Forests, and it takes its name from the two rounded 13,000-foot Buffalo Peaks.
What surprises some visitors is the spring road closure. The wilderness itself stays open to foot travel all year, and you do not need a permit to walk in. But several Forest Service roads that lead to the trailheads close from the start of January through mid-June each year to protect elk during calving season, when cows need calm, undisturbed ground to give birth and raise newborns. So a trailhead you can drive to in July may sit behind a gate that adds miles of walking in late spring.
This is a good example of a pattern across the area: the land is public and open, but the way in is managed by season and by wildlife needs, not just by weather. Planning around the gate dates is part of a smooth trip.
The Forest Service asks hikers to sign in at the trailhead and sign out when they leave. Before heading to Buffalo Peaks, check the Pike-San Isabel National Forest pages for the current road closure dates and access.