Kkale: Here is a link to the Elk mountains in central Colorado from
www.summitpost.org/. You will be more interested in the West Elk Mountains that will be in Unit 54 & Unit 53 in the West Elk Wilderness area.
http://www.summitpost.org/elk-mountains/171580#chapter_9 Lots of info here ! *article & photo credit kane and summit post contributors
http://www.summitpost.org/view_object.php?object_id=236137&confirm_post=12 *photo credit to Kane
Photos looking into the upper portion of the West Elk Wilderness. Mt Gunnison on the left, the backside of East and West Beckwiths on the right, and Haystack Mtn area in the foreground from Storm Ridge. Most of what you see is in Unit 53 and a small portion is in Unit 54.
The first link is the Wet Elk Wilderness portion. Reading what is before the West Elk Wilderness portion and after is also interesting and enlightening with good photos.
As previously mentioned Mill Creek Rd is 727 Rd, it is midway up Ohio Pass Rd 730 Rd. You will drive approx 4 miles back in on that road before being near one of the West Wilderness boundary area. There are several pack trails off Mill Creek Rd into the Wilderness, ***very long pack trails. Walking these pack trails is quite a long journey over steep terrain or deep creek valleys. *** Be warned, and especially trying to pack out a elk from the Wilderness.
You access Ohio Pass Rd off Rt 135 a few miles (approx 3 miles) out of Gunnison headed N towards Crested Butte.
Mill Creek Rd is one access point into Unit 54, Swampy Pass Rd see TR 439 a pack trail off Ohio Pass Rd above the Mill Creek Rd entrance a ways ( 8 miles), is another access point into Unit 54. And west of Gunnison on RT 50 take FR 724 through the Saperino State Wildlife Area to Rainbow Lake is another access point into Unit 54 and the West Elk Wilderness.
There are also Pack trails up West Elk Creek, Coal Creek, Cow Creek and Soap Creek from Rainbow Lake & Blue Mesa Reservior. See Pg 57 & 58 in the Colorado Atlas & Gazetteer. I highly recommend buying that Colorado Atlas.
I would have a 4x4 vehicle for access on all these roads. There will be long hikes beyond the 4x4 trail's end at the Wilderness boundary trailheads to get further into the Wilderness. As mentioned this is rugged country, be in shape. Mtn elevations here are 9,000 ft to 13,000 ft.
This is best hunted using mules and horses. Quads and bikes are not allowed in the designated Wilderness.
Summit Post is a hiking mtn climbing website, but much of the info here will help you with terrain knowledge and access.
See the boundary limits for Unit 54 in the Colorado Big game regulation booklet. RT 135 is the eastern boundary for Unit 54.
http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=38.73927,-107.13648&z=12&t=T A topo map link for the Unit 54 area in the West Elk Wilderness, take time to learn to use this mapper system. Sorry I can't get a live web link :
https://mapper.acme.com/ try this and move to West Elk Wilderness Colorado area.
Hope this helps you and best of luck. Hungry Horse
