GMU 48 GMU 48 — Lake/Chaffee Co.
Limited-draw alpine elk under Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest 14er
Central Colorado — Sawatch Range high country above Leadville · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
300
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
9,000–14,433
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 48 sits at the roof of Colorado in Lake and Chaffee Counties, wrapping the upper Arkansas headwaters and the eastern flank of the Sawatch Range where Mt. Elbert (14,433 ft) — the state's highest peak — rises over Twin Lakes and Clear Creek Reservoir. This is steep, high public-land elk country: roughly 80% San Isabel National Forest and BLM. Elk lead the harvest and mule deer follow, but both are limited-draw — there is no over-the-counter tag here — and a tiny pronghorn allocation exists in the lower valley. The southern third of the unit holds the most elk. This is a high, cold, physically demanding hunt where fitness and glassing matter more than road access.
Terrain
Extreme relief — valley floors near 9,000 ft climbing steeply to alpine tundra and 14er summits along the Continental Divide. Timberline sits around 11,500 ft with vast rock, tundra, and krummholz above.
Cover: Spruce-fir and lodgepole on the mid-slopes, aspen stringers on benches, willow and grass creek bottoms, giving way to alpine tundra and talus above timberline.
Landmarks: Mt. Elbert · Mt. Massive · Twin Lakes · Clear Creek Reservoir · upper Arkansas River headwaters · Continental Divide
Access
A high public-land unit — the great majority is San Isabel NF with BLM lower down and private clustered in the valley bottoms around Twin Lakes, Granite, and the Clear Creek arm. Access is good via forest roads and trailheads, but much of the best elk ground is steep and reached on foot. State Trust Land is generally closed unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program, and private inholdings sit along the Arkansas and near the reservoirs — verify boundaries.
Managers: USFS San Isabel National Forest, BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program)
Access points: US-24 and CO-82 (Independence Pass corridor) · San Isabel NF trailheads off Twin Lakes and Clear Creek roads · Colorado Trail / Continental Divide Trail access · Clear Creek Reservoir and Lake Creek roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityThe marquee species and the top of the harvest. Elk summer high in the timber and alpine basins and concentrate in the southern portion of the unit. As a limited-draw unit — not over-the-counter — GMU 48 protects age structure and offers a quieter, higher-quality hunt than the OTC units to the west.
- →Focus the southern third of the unit, which historically holds the most elk
- →Glass alpine basins and timberline edges at dawn and dusk
- →Work spruce-fir dark timber and north-facing benches where elk bed
- →Later seasons: watch for elk pushing down toward the Arkansas valley as snow builds
- →Be prepared for steep, high-altitude packouts far from roads
Mule Deer
common qualityLimited-draw deer that share the mountain but favor lower elevations — the unit's extreme height makes it a secondary deer unit. A few large bucks summer in the alpine early, then deer concentrate in the lower southern country.
- →Hunt the lower-elevation south end and creek-bottom edges
- →Glass alpine bowls early season for summer-pattern bucks before they drop
- →Aspen and shrub transitions hold bucks through midday
- →Time later hunts to downhill movement with weather
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA very small pronghorn allocation uses the open valley grasslands and sage flats of the upper Arkansas. Low harvest reflects a tightly managed, marginal high-elevation population — a bonus tag rather than a destination.
- →Glass the open valley flats and grassy parks for scattered bands
- →Use terrain to close the distance in sparse cover
- →Focus on the lower, more open valley ground
Mountain Goat
limited trophyThe Sawatch alpine holds mountain goats, and the high peaks and tundra of GMU 48 fall within Colorado's very limited goat country. Tags are highly coveted, draw-only, and issued in tiny numbers.
- →Glass high alpine cliffs, talus, and tundra basins near timberline and above
- →Plan for extreme-altitude, technical terrain and long approaches
- →Scout summering bands well before the season
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyRocky Mountain bighorn use the alpine crags and high tundra of the Sawatch. Sheep tags in this region are among the hardest to draw in the state and issued in single-digit numbers.
- →Glass rocky alpine faces and grassy benches near escape terrain
- →E-scout ridgelines and known summer ranges
- →Expect a physically demanding, high-country hunt
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears work the aspen, oakless mid-elevation shrub, and berry patches of the mountain slopes, most catchable in early fall on heavy feed.
- →Hunt berry-rich aspen and shrub slopes in early fall
- →Glass feeding bears at dawn and dusk
- →Usually an incidental opportunity while elk or deer hunting
Pro tips
- →Treat GMU 48 as a quality limited-draw hunt, not an opportunity unit — the payoff is solitude and age structure
- →Hunt the southern third for the best elk density
- →Acclimatize to altitude before hunting; peaks push past 14,000 ft
- →Be ready for steep, foot-access alpine terrain and long packouts
- →Time later hunts to storms that move animals off the high country
Watch out for
- !Extreme altitude and fast alpine weather — snow and cold are real hazards
- !Private inholdings along the Arkansas valley and near Twin Lakes / Clear Creek
- !State Trust Lands generally closed unless enrolled in the Public Access Program
- !Steep, technical terrain and long, difficult packouts
- !Heavy summer/fall recreation traffic on the 14ers can disperse game near trailheads
Logistics
Leadville is the practical hub for fuel, lodging, groceries, and processing, with Buena Vista to the south. This is genuine high-altitude country — plan for cold, thin air, and rapid weather changes even in early fall. Forest roads are steep and can hold early snow; carry chains and recovery gear, and acclimatize before hunting hard.
Nearest towns: Leadville, Buena Vista, Twin Lakes, Granite
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW Big Game Hunting Statistics · CPW Hunting Atlas — GMU boundaries and public access · CPW Southeast Colorado Hunting Guide (unit descriptions) · USFS — San Isabel National Forest (PSICC)
FAQ
- How big is GMU 48 in Colorado?
- GMU 48 (GMU 48 — Lake/Chaffee Co.) covers about 300 square miles, ranging from roughly 9,000 to 14,433 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 48?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Isabel National Forest, BLM, private ranch, Colorado State Trust Land (generally closed unless in CPW Public Access Program). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 48?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Mountain Goat, Bighorn Sheep, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 48 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.