Unit 500
High-elevation rolling terrain anchored by the Continental Divide with reliable stream access and moderate forest coverage.
Hunter's Brief
GMU 500 sits in the Park County high country between the Continental Divide and U.S. 285, with elevations spanning roughly 9,000 to nearly 14,000 feet. The terrain rolls through a mix of open parks and moderate timber, with reliable water from multiple creeks and reservoirs. Road access is straightforward with 284 miles of roads connecting key areas, though high elevation means weather-dependent conditions. Hunt early season for high-country elk and mule deer on the open ridges, or plan late-season strategies as game moves lower.
- Compact: under 200 sq mi
- Moderate: 200 - 800 sq mi
- Vast: over 800 sq mi
- Few: under 25%
- Some: 25 - 60%
- Most: over 60%
- Limited: under 0.7 mi/mi² (backcountry)
- Fair: 0.7 - 1.5 mi/mi²
- Connected: over 1.5 mi/mi² (well-roaded)
- Flat: under 20% mountains
- Rolling: 20 - 55%
- Steep: over 55%
- Sparse: under 20%
- Moderate: 20 - 50%
- Dense: over 50%
- Limited: under 0.3% area
- Moderate: 0.3 - 2% area
- Abundant: over 2% area
Hunt Schedule
38 huntsTerrain Deep Dive
Landmarks & Navigation
Use Mount Silverheels and Boreas Mountain as major reference points for high-country navigation and glassing. The Continental Divide corridor along the northern boundary serves as both a physical landmark and migration route. Key water features—Jefferson Lake, Baker Lake, and the Michigan Reservoir system—provide reliable navigation aids and hunting season water sources.
Creeks including Buckskin, Silverheels, and Johnson offer tributary corridors for drainage-based hunting. Old French Pass and Red Hill Pass mark notable saddle terrain worth investigating during rut seasons.
Elevation & Habitat
The entire unit sits above 9,000 feet, with peaks pushing toward 14,000 feet at the higher summits. This is firmly high-country terrain—rolling ridges and valleys threaded through moderate forest with consistent open parks and grassland benches. Aspens and spruce-fir dominate where timber stands exist, but significant acreage remains open or lightly timbered, creating productive glassing country.
The elevation band supports classic Colorado alpine and subalpine habitat, with seasonal movement between high summer range and lower elk beds as weather shifts.
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Start free trial ›Access & Pressure
The 284 miles of road network provides connected access throughout the unit, with logical entry points near Jefferson, Como, and Alma. This accessibility means consistent hunter presence, particularly near parking areas and on weekends. However, the rolling terrain and moderate forest create plenty of space to escape crowds by moving off primary ridges and into side drainages.
Elk and deer respond to pressure by moving to steeper, timbered pockets—a challenge on terrain this open, but hunters willing to work sidecountry will find quieter country.
Boundaries & Context
GMU 500 occupies a well-defined block in Park County's high country, bounded north by the Continental Divide—Colorado's major watershed divide—and south by U.S. 285. The East Fork of the South Platte River forms the eastern boundary, with Colorado 9 marking the western edge near Como and Alma. This creates a natural, compact hunting area positioned on Colorado's backbone terrain. The unit's moderate size and clear boundaries make navigation straightforward for hunters unfamiliar with the region.
Water & Drainages
Despite the high-elevation designation, water is present but requires strategic planning. Multiple reservoirs (Jefferson Lake, Baker Reservoir, Michigan Lakes complex) and perennial streams (Buckskin Creek, Silverheels Creek, Johnson Creek, North and South Tarryall creeks) provide reliable water through hunting season. The South Platte North Fork's eastern boundary offers additional water access.
In early season, high-country seeps and springs scattered across the parks supplement creek systems. Later in fall, water concentration forces game patterns into predictable drainage corridors—key to late-season success.
Hunting Strategy
GMU 500 supports strong elk and mule deer populations across its high-elevation habitat. Early season favors the open parks and ridges where animals feed in the cool mornings before seeking shade in scattered timber. Glassing from high vantage points—Boreas Mountain, Silverheels, Jefferson Hill—works well for spotting bulls and bucks in open country.
Drainage hunting through Buckskin, Silverheels, and Johnson Creek systems produces consistent opportunities. As weather pushes game lower, concentrate on the lower-elevation timber pockets and park transitions. Moose occupy wetter ground near the Michigan Lakes and reservoir systems.
Rut activity intensifies opportunity mid-September through October across ridge and drainage systems.
Weather & Conditions
?Historical normals, not a forecast
Built from 10 years of NASA POWER data (MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis) at this unit's location.
Temperatures and conditions below reflect the unit's dominant elevation band (11700 ft — 100% of unit area).
For elevation-by-elevation detail and live planning tools, use the TAGZ app.
- Daytime high / Overnight low — median daily maximum and minimum for each day of the year.
- Shaded band — the 10th–90th percentile spread across years.
- Freeze line— 32 °F reference for frost & snow risk.
Year-round temperature
Moon phase
?Illumination for each night of the selected two weeks, computed from lunar ephemeris. New and full moons are emphasised — useful for planning around moonlight.Typical conditions
?A snapshot of the selected two weeks, from long-run daily normals at the unit's dominant elevation.
- Day / night— median daytime high & overnight low; the sub-line is the typical 10th–90th percentile spread across years.
- Wet days — days with measurable precipitation (≥ 1 mm, WMO standard). Not a forecast.