GMU 57 GMU 57 — Chaffee/Park/Fremont Co.
A limited-draw 'crowd control' unit above Salida where November snow stacks migrating elk
Central Colorado — Arkansas River valley & Aspen Ridge (Chaffee/Park/Fremont) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
274
sq mi
Public land
50%
approx.
Elevation
7,000–11,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 57 is a compact (roughly 274-square-mile) unit riding the Arkansas Hills and Aspen Ridge country east of Salida and Buena Vista, spanning the corner where Chaffee, Park, and Fremont counties meet. It is fully limited-draw for elk, deer, and pronghorn — there is no over-the-counter elk opportunity here — and CPW manages it more for crowd control and moderate hunter density than for trophy age class. Elk (5-year success near 25%) build in the unit through November as animals slide off surrounding, more heavily hunted country, mule deer (success in the low 40s%) work the ridges and sage, and a small pronghorn tag pool rounds out the draw.
Terrain
Rough foothill-to-mountain country climbing east off the Arkansas River onto the timbered spine of Aspen Ridge and the Arkansas Hills, with sage benches and pinyon-juniper below giving way to ponderosa, aspen, and spruce-fir on top.
Cover: Sagebrush and grassland on the valley benches, dense pinyon-juniper on the mid slopes, and stands of ponderosa pine, aspen, and dark spruce-fir timber along Aspen Ridge and the higher shoulders.
Landmarks: Aspen Ridge · Arkansas Hills · Arkansas River corridor · Trout Creek Pass (west edge) · Bald Mountain · Cameron Mountain
Access
A workable mix of San Isabel National Forest and BLM ground laced with private ranch inholdings, so a good ownership map is essential before you cross a fence. Colorado State Trust lands scattered through this country are NOT open to hunting unless enrolled in CPW's Public Access Program — do not count them as huntable. The Aspen Ridge road (Fremont/Chaffee County Road system) is the main artery onto the public high country; lower benches near the river are more heavily private.
Managers: USFS San Isabel NF, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, private ranch
Access points: Aspen Ridge Road (CR 175/2) off US 50 near Salida · US 285 / Trout Creek Pass corridor · BLM tracks off County Road 6 (Bald Mountain area) · US 50 river-corridor pullouts
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityThe headliner, but strictly limited-draw — no OTC tags in this unit. It is managed for hunter density rather than trophy bulls, though lighter pressure and a strong late-season influx produce quality hunts. Elk stack up through November as animals migrate in off surrounding units; 5-year success ran around 25%.
- →Hunt the later rifle seasons if you can — this unit fills with migrating elk as snow builds in November and pushes them off higher, busier country.
- →Work the timber-and-sage transition on Aspen Ridge at first and last light, then still-hunt the dark north-facing spruce pockets where pressured elk hole up.
- →Get well back from the Aspen Ridge road; the further you break from the two-tracks onto public timber, the better the odds.
Mule Deer
common qualityA solid limited-draw mule deer unit — recent success in the low 40s% is strong for Colorado. Bucks favor the pinyon-juniper benches, sage draws, and aspen edges off the ridge shoulders.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper and sage transition on the flanks of Aspen Ridge and the Arkansas Hills at dawn rather than the open flats.
- →Later hunts improve as bucks drop toward the lower benches and river country with weather.
- →This is spot-and-stalk optics country — burn glass from high vantage points before you commit to a stalk.
Pronghorn
limited opportunityA thin, hard-to-draw pronghorn tag pool (roughly 50% success on a handful of tags) tied to the open sage-grassland benches and park edges. An incidental opportunity, not the reason to apply here.
- →Focus on the open sage flats and grassy parks on the lower, western end of the unit where the country opens up.
- →Glass long from the two-tracks and use terrain folds to close in wide-open ground.
- →Pair it with elk and deer scouting rather than treating it as a standalone hunt.
Pro tips
- →There is no OTC elk here — budget preference points and apply, especially as a nonresident.
- →The elk hunting peaks late: target the migration when snow stacks animals in the unit in November.
- →Carry a current ownership map — public NF/BLM ground is braided with private ranch inholdings and non-huntable state trust parcels.
- →Get off the Aspen Ridge road; pressured elk retreat into the dark north-slope timber.
Watch out for
- !Private ranch inholdings tucked among the public parcels — verify boundaries before crossing.
- !Colorado State Trust lands here are closed to hunting unless in CPW's Public Access Program.
- !Aspen Ridge road turns slick and can trap 2WD vehicles with rain or early snow.
- !Limited tags mean success hinges on timing the late migration, not on effort alone.
Logistics
Salida and Buena Vista sit right on the western edge with full fuel, groceries, lodging, and outfitters; Cañon City covers the east. This is well-roaded foothill country by Colorado standards, but the Aspen Ridge road turns greasy with rain or early snow and high-clearance is smart. Cell service is decent along the US 50/285 corridors and drops off fast on the ridge — carry a map and a backup communicator.
Nearest towns: Salida, CO, Buena Vista, CO, Cañon City, CO
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Colorado sources:
Research sources: CPW — Big Game Hunting & GMU Info · USFS — San Isabel National Forest · BLM — Royal Gorge Field Office · Public Lands Interpretive Association — Colorado Unit 57
FAQ
- How big is GMU 57 in Colorado?
- GMU 57 (GMU 57 — Chaffee/Park/Fremont Co.) covers about 274 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in GMU 57?
- Approximately 50% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS San Isabel NF, BLM Royal Gorge Field Office, private ranch. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for GMU 57?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Colorado agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put GMU 57 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.