CO Black Bear Unit 53

CO 53 — Terrain, Access & Hunt Character Terrain & Access CO 53 spans 5,323–12,688 feet across 253,634 acres in the West Elk and Maroon Range country. Nearly 80% is public land (primarily U.S. Forest Service), offering extensive access for foot hunters and backpackers. One-third of the unit is designated wilderness — steep, roadless terrain that demands physical fitness and self-sufficiency. Lower and mid-elevation benches provide more accessible foot traffic; higher peaks require alpine navigation. The elevation spread supports diverse habitat: sagebrush and piñon-juniper at lower elevations, mixed conifer forests in the mid-range, and alpine tundra above treeline. **Hunt..