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Aspen Ranger District, White River NF, a guide for Colorado hunters
National forest ranger district in Pitkin County (261,051 acres).
Photo: Chad K (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Aspen Ranger District, White River NF
Parking, trailheads and gates near Aspen Ranger District, White River NF
- Parking areaParking · 2.2 mi from the centreDirections
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- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.3 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.4 mi from the centreDirections
- Village Lot 4Parking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
- Parking areaParking · 3.5 mi from the centreDirections
Parking, trailhead and gate locations come from OpenStreetMap contributors. Roads into public land can be gated or seasonal; check with the managing agency before you go.
Entry requirements for Aspen Ranger District
On Aspen Ranger District, CPW sets seasons and sells licenses while USFS manages habitat and roads. Federal rule 36 CFR 261.10(d) bars firing a gun within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed site or occupied area, and across or on a forest road or a body of water. Road and trail access for vehicles is set by the Motor Vehicle Use Map.
Forest Service wording: The White River National Forest has great hunting opportunities for a variety of species including dusky grouse, mule deer and elk.
Permitted outfitters and guides may be hired to provide horse rental, packing, guiding and camp services. Contact our offices to find permitted outfitters.
State laws govern fishing and hunting regulations on all national forests and grasslands. Visit Colorado Parks and Wildlife for fishing and hunting licenses and regulations.
The White River National Forest is well-known for its elk, mule deer, moose, and black bear hunting opportunities. Hunting is regulated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife .
From the agency source; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Aspen Ranger District, White River NF
What the agency says about Aspen Ranger District
Going by the USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics, Aspen Ranger District covers 261,051 acres. 32 ranger districts appear on this site, and by acres Aspen Ranger District comes 28th. Within Pitkin County there are 3 ranger districts on file.
The listed quarry: Elk, Deer, Moose, Black bear, Dusky grouse.
From the agency page (USDA Forest Service); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
Open seasons by unit on Aspen Ranger District
In all, 42 public-land season rows apply in these GMUs. OTC options in these units: elk. Private-land-only and ranch rows (6) are not shown. 4 unit rows for unlisted game are omitted.
| Game | Method | Sex | Sale | Opens | Closes | GMUs here |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Archery | cow | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Archery | cow | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 47 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | Limited, nonresident | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Archery | either sex | OTC, residents | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 47 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Oct 18, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Second rifle | bull | OTC | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Third rifle | bull | OTC | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | bull | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 47 |
| Elk | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Elk | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 43, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | buck | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Muzzleloader | doe | Limited, youth | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited, early | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, youth | Oct 24, 2026 | Nov 1, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited draw | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | doe | Limited, youth | Nov 7, 2026 | Nov 15, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Deer | Rifle | buck | Limited draw | Nov 18, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Moose | Archery | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 47 |
| Moose | Archery | cow | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 47 |
| Moose | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47 |
| Moose | Muzzleloader | cow | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 47, 431, 471 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 47 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited, split | Sep 12, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 47, 431, 471 |
| Moose | Rifle | cow | Limited draw | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 43, 47 |
| Moose | Rifle | cow | Limited, split | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 47, 431, 471 |
| Moose | Season choice | bull | Limited draw | Oct 1, 2026 | Oct 14, 2026 | 43, 431 |
| Black bear | Archery | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 2, 2026 | Sep 30, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Black bear | Muzzleloader | either sex | Limited draw | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 20, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
| Black bear | Rifle | either sex | Limited draw | Oct 14, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 | 43, 47, 431, 471 |
Small game, birds and furbearers
| Game | Hunt | Area | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dusky grouse | Season | West of I-25 | Sep 1, 2026 | Nov 22, 2026 |
Season rows and hunt codes from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure, the 2026 Small Game and Waterfowl brochure, the Turkey brochure and the Mountain Lion brochure; property access dates still apply; checked November 5, 2026.
Which units cover Aspen Ranger District
The CPW unit layer puts Aspen Ranger District in 4 GMUs: GMU 43, GMU 47, GMU 431, GMU 471.
In GMU 43, GMU 47, GMU 431 and GMU 471 a legal bull elk must meet the antler point rule. Lion hunters check the quota for group 6 and 7 before going out.
| GMU | Counties | Flags |
|---|---|---|
| GMU 43 | Pitkin, Garfield, Gunnison | elk antler point rule, lion group 7 |
| GMU 47 | Pitkin, Eagle | elk antler point rule, lion group 6 |
| GMU 431 | Pitkin | elk antler point rule, lion group 7 |
| GMU 471 | Pitkin | elk antler point rule, lion group 6, spring turkey closed |
Read these as whole-unit numbers: the biggest 2024 total among them was 477 elk in GMU 43.
| Unit | Species | Harvest | Hunters | Pct success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 43 | Elk | 477 | 2,693 | 18% |
| GMU 43 | Deer | 278 | 632 | 44% |
| GMU 43 | Black bear | 47 | – | – |
| GMU 47 | Elk | 78 | 543 | 14% |
| GMU 47 | Deer | 66 | 173 | 38% |
| GMU 47 | Black bear | 13 | – | – |
| GMU 431 | Elk | 47 | 244 | 19% |
| GMU 431 | Deer | 16 | 52 | 31% |
| GMU 431 | Black bear | 8 | – | – |
| GMU 471 | Elk | 30 | 280 | 11% |
| GMU 471 | Deer | 27 | 64 | 41% |
| GMU 471 | Black bear | 1 | – | – |
GMU overlay from the CPW Big Game GMU layer; unit rules from the 2026 Big Game brochure; 2024 elk harvest by GMU, 2024 deer harvest by GMU, 2024 pronghorn harvest by GMU, 2024 bear harvest by GMU; checked November 5, 2026.
Aspen Ranger District: parent forest and counties
It is one district of White River National Forest.
| County | Forest acres |
|---|---|
| Pitkin County | 261,050 |
From the agency source, USFS EDW Lands Area Statistics; checked November 5, 2026.
Finding Aspen Ranger District on the ground
Its map point, 39.1677, -106.9922, comes from the boundary layer.
point from CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW Ranger Districts boundary (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part); checked November 5, 2026.
Towns and outfitters within reach of Aspen Ranger District
Count on Aspen, about 9 miles out, as the first town for supplies. Census 2024 counts 10,311 people in Glenwood Springs, the largest nearby. The nearest CPW office is in Glenwood Springs, 37 miles away.
| Community | County | Residents | Straight line | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aspen | Pitkin | 6,556 | 9 miles | east |
| Carbondale | Garfield | 6,758 | 20 miles | northwest |
| Glenwood Springs | Garfield | 10,311 | 32 miles | northwest |
| Eagle | Eagle | 7,349 | 34 miles | north |
| Leadville | Lake | 2,624 | 38 miles | east |
Towns from places.json (Census 2024 estimates); CPW offices from the CPW Contact Us page; businesses from services.json listings; straight-line miles. Checked November 5, 2026.
Public places a short drive from Aspen Ranger District
The closest other public ground is Williams Hill SWA, 10 miles to the north. Within the six nearest places are 2 SWAs, 2 trust land parcels and 1 ranger district. Closed to hunting nearby: Beaver Lake State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting), Frying Pan River State Wildlife Area (Fishing Lease) (CPW lists no hunting) and Roaring Fork/Gianinetti State Wildlife Area (Fishing Lease) (CPW lists no hunting).
| Public land | Kind | Acres | County | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Williams Hill SWA | SWA | 487 | Pitkin | 10 miles | north |
| Basalt SWA | SWA | 2,577 | Eagle | 15 miles | north |
| Sopris Ranger District | Ranger district | 402,980 | Pitkin | 19 miles | northeast |
| Paonia State Park | State park | 1,250 | Gunnison | 24 miles | southwest |
| Whetstone Mountain STL | State trust land | 640 | Gunnison | 26 miles | south |
| Old Man's Gulch STL | State trust land | 692 | Eagle | 28 miles | north |
Point: CPW Hunting Atlas Land Management (COMaP) Forest Service polygons inside the USFS EDW Ranger Districts boundary (point inside polygon (centroid falls outside) of the largest part). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
A look at the country near Aspen Ranger District
Legal light on Aspen Ranger District, opener by opener
In Aspen Ranger District, the light goose conservation order and furbearer hunting both run to half an hour after sunset.
| Date | Why it matters | Sunrise | Sunset | Big game hours | Bird hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:36 a.m. | 7:39 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 8:09 p.m. | 6:06 a.m. to 7:39 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:45 a.m. | 7:23 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:53 p.m. | 6:15 a.m. to 7:23 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 7:04 a.m. | 6:49 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 7:19 p.m. | 6:34 a.m. to 6:49 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:25 a.m. | 6:18 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:48 p.m. | 6:55 a.m. to 6:18 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:59 a.m. | 4:49 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 5:19 p.m. | 6:29 a.m. to 4:49 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:23 a.m. | 4:48 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 5:18 p.m. | 6:53 a.m. to 4:48 p.m. |
Hours rules from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure and the Small Game and Waterfowl brochure; sunrise and sunset worked out for this location with the NOAA solar formula (Mountain Time); checked November 5, 2026. Legal hours for every county.
Aspen Ranger District (White River National Forest) hunters: public range plus clubs
The closest CPW-listed range to Aspen Ranger District (White River National Forest) is Basalt State Wildlife Area Shooting Range, roughly 14 miles off as the crow flies. After the public range come the nearest clubs within 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Quick answers about Aspen Ranger District
What counties does Aspen Ranger District reach into?
Inside Pitkin County.
How much room is there to roam on Aspen Ranger District?
Listed size: 261,051 acres.
Which game does Aspen Ranger District hold?
Elk, deer, moose, black bear and dusky grouse, by the agency list.
Which GMUs does Aspen Ranger District overlap?
Units on the CPW layer: GMU 43, GMU 47, GMU 431 and GMU 471.
CWD and antler rules for Aspen Ranger District?
The point restriction on bull elk covers GMU 43, GMU 47, GMU 431 and GMU 471. No mandatory CWD testing GMU here; deer testing is not mandatory in 2026.
Do I need to draw for elk on Aspen Ranger District?
Buy over the counter for 4 rows (archery, OTC, residents is one); the other elk hunts need the April draw.
Who can answer a question about conditions on Aspen Ranger District?
Phone CPW Glenwood Springs Office in Glenwood Springs, (970) 947-2920 (37 miles away).
What is the closest town with services to Aspen Ranger District?
The closest town with a page here is Aspen (9 miles).
Is it legal to hunt over bait on Aspen Ranger District?
No. It is illegal to hunt big game, turkey, small game or migratory birds over bait in Colorado, whoever placed it.
What blaze orange rule applies on Aspen Ranger District?
With any firearm license for deer, elk, pronghorn, moose or bear: 500 square inches of solid orange or pink above the waist plus an orange or pink hat.
Where do I confirm the rules for Aspen Ranger District?
Check the agency page run by USDA Forest Service.
What clock times bound legal hunting on Aspen Ranger District?
Half an hour either side of the sun for big game, which on November 7, 2026 means 6:11 a.m. to 5:32 p.m. in Pitkin County.
What license or pass gets me onto Aspen Ranger District?
No federal hunting permit: a Colorado license for the GMU, species and season is what you need.
Aspen Ranger District: the final check
Use this page to plan, then reread the agency page for Aspen Ranger District the week before the trip.
Sources: source 1 · source 2 · source 3 · source 4; seasons from the 2026 Colorado Big Game brochure. Checked November 5, 2026.
Other photos on this page: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0); lostinfog (CC BY-SA 2.0); U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Public Domain Mark 1.0).