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Final Colorado Roadless Rule
includes nearly 150,000 acres in a more protective "upper tier" category.
Go to the Roadles Rule page for more details and a map of the Pike-San Isabel Colorado Roadless Areas.
The final Colorado Roadless Rule and Environmental Impact Statement for 4.2 million acres of National Forest roadless areas in Colorado was announced on May 2nd by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Governor John Hickenlooper.
Improvements over previous versions of the Colorado rule include designating 1.2 million acres in an “Upper Tier” category with increased protection. Nearly 150,000 acres of upper tier areas are on the Pike-San Isabel National Forest, including many important areas adjacent or near existing designated Wildernesses. These include part of Rampart East, Burning Bear, Square Top Mountain, Romley, Aspen Ridge, Badger Creek, Little Fountain Creek, part of Tanner Peak, and areas adjacent to Mt. Evans, Holy Cross, Collegiate Peaks, Buffalo Peaks, Sangre de Cristo and Greenhorn Mountain Wildernesses
The other 3 million roadless acres across Colorado are subject to some exceptions related to thinning for wildfire or activities associated with pre-existing utility and water rights.
Bruno Creek in Burning Bear roadless area - an attempt to reintroduce threatened greenback cutthroat trout many years ago was not successful. Photo Jean C. Smith
A snoe shoe hare is almost invisible in the snow of Burning Bear. Good lynx food! Photo Jean C. Smith
Square Top Mountain and Burning Bear are separated from Mt. Evans Wilderness to the east only by the Guanella Pass Road. Photo Mike Foster
Browns Canyon proposed National Monument and Wilderness
>>You can still give your input to Sen. Mark Udall on potential legislation<<
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Browns Canyon is one of the premier wild areas in the Arkansas River canyon. With massive rock formations, open plateaus and pine and aspen forests it is an intact ecosystem from the ridgetop to the river, and has the added bonus of magnificent views across the valley to the 14ers of the Sawatch Range. Conservationists have worked for years to build a consensus for permanent protection.
Senator Udalliscontinues to seek support and comments on legislation for anArkansas Canyon National Monument and Browns Canyon Wilderness!
This is our best opportunity for protecting wild National Forest and BLM lands in Central Colorado canyons and mountains in nearly two decades.
Senator Udall has heard many positive comments about the remarkable values of Browns Canyon, but a small minority is vocing opposition to this designation. Please make your comments soon - your input is important!
Visit www.markudall.senate.gov/. Click onProtecting our Outdoor Heritage(currently one of three issues in the top right box - if it moves, try the keyword search). On the next page, click on Arkansas River Canyon Maps and Comment Formto review proposed national monument and wilderness area maps and make comments.
Option 1 provides the most complete protection for Browns Canyon through monument and wilderness designations.
Click on a photo to enlarge and read caption. Photos by John Stansfield, Lee Patton and Steve Valimaki.
Option 1
Protects and preserves the most land
Creates jobs and economic development, while keeping the public lands wild
Sustains wildlife habitat and big game winter range in a functioning ecological unit
Maximizes opportunities for all types of primitive recreation in the area
Represents balanced access to the monument, allowing passenger car access to developed recreation sites while preserving land for wildlife
Offers a fair compromise on uses of Forest Road 184, the Turret Trail, keeping much of it open for motorized recreation in the portion that offers the most recreational challenge and some of the best scenery
Allows for easy and efficient management
Option 1 - Click to download a high resolution map
Wild Connections 2309 N. Logan Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80907 info@wildconnections.org 719-686-5905
