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In Colorado, there are just over three million acres of federally designated wilderness, most of it on national forest lands. These high-country gems, which include the Maroon Bells-Snowmass, Weminuche, and Collegiate Peaks wilderness areas, bring thousands of recreationists to Colorado's wild places to experience the unspoiled landscapes that define the Rocky Mountains.
These wild places are what make Colorado so special—pristine rivers flowing through deep canyons, cool ponderosa forests dotted with wildflower meadows and quaking aspen stands, ancient petroglyphs carved on rainbow-hued rocks—offering a rich natural heritage to residents and visitors alike.
Colorado's Canyon Country
Wilderness Proposal
Colorado's BLM wilderness includes critical winter range for big game such as elk, deer, and mountain lion, as well as slickrock canyons that are never snowbound, providing year-round accessibility for hikers, backpackers, hunters, and other non-motorized recreationists. These special lands offer protection for the intermittent springs and streams upon which our desert bighorns and other wildlife depend. BLM wilderness also provides important revenue to support Colorado's hunting, fishing, recreation and tourism economies.
Citizens have been reviewing BLM wildlands for over 40 years, even before the enactment of the Wilderness Act in 1964. In the interim, many spectacular roadless areas have felt the bite of the drill bit and the roar of the bulldozer. The moment for Congressional action to protect the remaining segments of Colorado’s magnificent BLM wildlands has come at last.
More about the Colorado's Canyon Country Wilderness Proposal
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Hidden Gems
Wilderness Proposal
The Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign is seeking designation of major new wilderness additions on the White River National Forest and nearby Bureau of Land Manage ment lands.
Our proposal would create several brand-new, standalone wilderness areas, while significantly enlarging our existing wildernesses. Please join us as we work toward this bold and exciting vision!
We’re moving quickly to implement this wilderness vision and need to rally strong support from citizens and local governments – especially in Summit, Eagle, Pitkin and Gunnison counties. Public support emboldens politicians. While it takes an act of Congress to designate wilderness, the initiative begins at home and can only be achieved with your help.
More about the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal
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San Juan Mountains
Wilderness Proposal
Last fall, the Colorado Wilderness Network presented a 60,000 acre Wilderness Proposal to Congressman John Salazar. The majority of land proposed includes public lands within San Miguel County plus a section in Ouray and now in San Juan County. With broad citizen support and endorsements from all three counties the Congressman has drafted the San Juan Mountain Wilderness Act and we are eagerly awaiting its introduction. Some of the most spectacular yet vulnerable wild country left in the region would receive full statutory protection, helping to preserve our quality of life and quiet recreation opportunities.
Learn more about the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Proposal |
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