Outdoors and wildfire - Mountains
The Georgetown bighorn herd is easy to watch from the highway
A well-known herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep lives on the slopes between Georgetown and Silver Plume, but the Georgetown State Wildlife Area that protects them has seasonal access limits.
Published June 10, 2026 - Last verified June 11, 2026
The steep slopes around Georgetown and Silver Plume are home to a well-known herd of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, Colorado’s state animal. In the colder months they often come down where they can be seen from pullouts along the Interstate 70 corridor, which makes this one of the more reliable places in the state to watch wild sheep.
The land they use is protected as the Georgetown State Wildlife Area, and there are rules worth knowing before you go. State Wildlife Areas are managed for animals, not as parks. Anyone 16 or older needs a valid hunting or fishing license or a State Wildlife Area pass just to enter. The area also closes to general public access from December 1 through June 14 to protect wintering wildlife, with the Union Pass Trail as the one exception. Dogs are not allowed except on that trail, and there they must stay leashed.
The good news for wildlife watchers is that you can view sheep from the highway pullouts without entering the closed land. Bring binoculars, give the animals room, and never feed them. Keep your distance from the road and watch traffic.
Rules and seasons can change, so before you visit, check the current Georgetown State Wildlife Area access details with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.