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Colorado state wildlife area · hunting
Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area: where and how to hunt
State wildlife area in Teller County, about 637 acres.
Photo: Patrick Standish (CC BY 2.0)
Getting to Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area
Parking, trailheads and gates near Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area
- Parking areaParking · 3.1 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.
Pikes Peak SWA: licenses, dates and restrictions
Anyone 16 or older on Pikes Peak SWA needs a valid Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass, unless the property rules below say otherwise. Stay on open roads in a vehicle and use only authorized camp spots. Portable blinds and tree stands are the only kind allowed, and not earlier than 30 days before the season. Firearms and bows may not be discharged in parking lots, camps or picnic grounds.
Rules posted for this property:
- Open July 16 to March 31.
- Dogs prohibited.
From the agency source, CPW SWA finder; checked November 5, 2026.
Nearby
Places to hunt and shoot around Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area
Pikes Peak SWA at a glance
Measured by the CPW SWA page, Pikes Peak SWA runs to 637 acres. Sorted by acreage, Pikes Peak SWA sits at number 128 of the 224 state wildlife areas in this guide. Counting Pikes Peak SWA, Teller County has 2 state wildlife areas. On the CPW map it sits in Area 14 (Southeast Region) and the Cripple Creek district. The office named for Pikes Peak SWA is CPW Office, Colorado Springs; the number is (719) 227-5200. Hunting, per the printed 2026 brochure: bighorn sheep. Other uses on record: wildlife viewing. Plan to sleep somewhere else, since camping is not listed.
You can pursue, by the agency list: Bighorn sheep.
Activities on the CPW page: Hunting, Nature Viewing.
From the agency page, 2026 Recreation Lands brochure, p. 22 (Colorado Parks and Wildlife); retrieved 2026-11-04, checked November 5, 2026.
GMU rules that reach Pikes Peak SWA
GMU overlay for Pikes Peak SWA (1 unit): GMU 59.
GMU 59 carry the elk antler point restriction. Group 11 set the lion harvest limit here.
GMU totals from 2024 give a sense of the game: GMU 59 produced 135 elk.
| Unit | Game | 2024 harvest | Hunters | Success |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMU 59 | Elk | 135 | 704 | 19% |
| GMU 59 | Deer | 54 | 166 | 32% |
| GMU 59 | Pronghorn | 3 | 6 | 52% |
| GMU 59 | Black bear | 2 | – | – |
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.
Route and map files for Pikes Peak SWA
Route, per the brochure: At intersection of USFS Road 376 and Bull Park, hike about 3 miles on Bull Park Trail to SWA.
Coordinates used on this page: 38.7730, -105.0670.
Directions from the 2026 Colorado State Recreation Lands brochure; map files from the CPW property page; point from CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid); checked November 5, 2026.
Supply towns and CPW help near Pikes Peak SWA
The handiest town is Cripple Creek, 7 miles off in a straight line. A bigger stop is Colorado Springs: population 493,554 in 2024. CPW Colorado Springs Office is the closest CPW office, about 15 miles.
| Town | County | People (2024) | Distance | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cripple Creek | Teller | 1,122 | 7 miles | west |
| Midland | Teller | – | 7 miles | northwest |
| Colorado Springs | El Paso | 493,554 | 18 miles | east |
| Fountain | El Paso | 29,457 | 22 miles | east |
| Cañon City | Fremont | 17,193 | 24 miles | south |
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.
Pikes Peak SWA and the land around it
If Pikes Peak SWA is busy, Dome Rock SWA lies 9 miles to the northwest. Close by you will find 3 trust land parcels, 2 SWAs and 1 state park. No hunting at Rosemont Reservoir State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting), Skaguay Reservoir State Wildlife Area (CPW lists no hunting) and Cheyenne Mountain State Park (hunting prohibited).
| Place | Type | Acres | County | Straight line | Which way |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dome Rock SWA | SWA | 6,980 | Teller | 9 miles | northwest |
| Mueller State Park | State park | 5,109 | Teller | 10 miles | northwest |
| Shelf Road STL | State trust land | 640 | Teller | 12 miles | southwest |
| Beaver Creek SWA | SWA | 2,227 | Fremont | 13 miles | south |
| Adelaide STL | State trust land | 640 | Fremont | 14 miles | south |
| Table Mountain STL | State trust land | 9,427 | Fremont | 16 miles | south |
Point: CPW Managed Properties (public access only) layer, CPWAdminData (1 polygon) (polygon centroid). Straight-line distances. Closed places from lands.json closed rows. Statewide public land map.
Game and terrain near Pikes Peak SWA
Shooting-light table for Pikes Peak SWA
Walk-In Access properties open an hour before sunrise and close an hour after sunset, two hours for waterfowl, deer, elk and pronghorn hunters.
| Day | Moment | First sun | Last sun | Rifle hours | Shotgun hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 15, 2026 | Pronghorn bow opener | 6:14 a.m. | 7:58 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 8:28 p.m. | 5:44 a.m. to 7:58 p.m. |
| Sep 2, 2026 | Archery opener | 6:30 a.m. | 7:32 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 8:02 p.m. | 6:00 a.m. to 7:32 p.m. |
| Sep 12, 2026 | Muzzleloader opens | 6:38 a.m. | 7:16 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:46 p.m. | 6:08 a.m. to 7:16 p.m. |
| Oct 3, 2026 | Duck season opens | 6:57 a.m. | 6:42 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 7:12 p.m. | 6:27 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. |
| Oct 24, 2026 | Second rifle opens | 7:18 a.m. | 6:12 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:42 p.m. | 6:48 a.m. to 6:12 p.m. |
| Nov 23, 2026 | Lion season opens | 6:52 a.m. | 4:43 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 5:13 p.m. | 6:22 a.m. to 4:43 p.m. |
| Dec 21, 2026 | Shortest day | 7:15 a.m. | 4:42 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 5:12 p.m. | 6:45 a.m. to 4:42 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.
Public and private ranges before Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area
El Paso County holds the CPW-listed range nearest Pikes Peak State Wildlife Area: Cheyenne Mountain State Park Archery Range (14 miles). Beside it sit the closest club ranges inside 30 miles.
From the CPW Shooting Range Finder, ranges’ own pages and directory listings, checked November 5, 2026.
Pikes Peak SWA in brief, question by question
Is there an entry fee or permit for Pikes Peak SWA?
Carry a Colorado hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area Pass if you are 16 or older.
Roughly how much country does Pikes Peak SWA take in?
About 637 acres in all.
Which county sheriff and county roads serve Pikes Peak SWA?
GIS puts it in Teller County.
Which game management units cover Pikes Peak SWA?
The CPW GMU layer gives GMU 59.
What access limits apply on Pikes Peak SWA?
Per the property rules, open July 16 to March 31.
What animals can be hunted on Pikes Peak SWA?
Bighorn sheep.
Is CWD testing required for elk from Pikes Peak SWA?
Testing is optional in these units; CPW charges $25 for a voluntary test. Antler point rule: GMU 59.
Which town makes the best base for Pikes Peak SWA?
Cripple Creek, about 7 miles away in a straight line.
Which CPW contact handles Pikes Peak SWA?
CPW Office in Colorado Springs, (719) 227-5200. Poaching tips can go to CPW Turn In Poachers.
Orange or pink on Pikes Peak SWA?
Solid orange or pink, at least 500 square inches above the waist, and a hat, for firearm deer, elk, pronghorn, moose and bear.
May I use food lures for bear on Pikes Peak SWA?
No. Food-scented sticks are illegal for bear, and knowingly luring bears with food breaks C.R.S. 33-6-131.
What legal shooting hours apply on Pikes Peak SWA in November?
Big game: half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset. On November 7, 2026 that works out to 6:04 a.m. to 5:25 p.m. in Teller County (NOAA solar formula).
Is camping allowed on Pikes Peak SWA?
Camping is not listed as an amenity; plan to stay off the property.
Is there an official website for Pikes Peak SWA?
Yes, run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife: the official page.
Pikes Peak SWA: double-check list
Confirm your hunt code, GMU and the open dates for Pikes Peak SWA before you load the truck.
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: Max and Dee Bernt (CC BY 2.0); U.S. Department of Agriculture (Public Domain Mark 1.0); Bob Denaro (CC BY 2.0).