Colorado has 8,350,005 acres of BLM lands and 14,498,801 acres of National Forests. The last wilderness areas designated in Colorado were in the Omnibus Law signed by President Obama in March 2009: Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, and 249,339 acres in the Rocky Mountain National Park
Media Campaigns
This media campaign ran in several Colorado papers to hilight how diverse supporters of wilderness are, illustrating that wilderness is our common ground. Click each photo to view the respective print ad (PDF), or visit the campaign page [4].
Campaigns
Browns Canyon
- Summary:
- This legislation would protect some 20,000 acres of the Pike-San Isabel National Forest. Browns Canyon is one of the last pristine canyons in Colorado, remarkable as it contains the busiest stretch of the Arkansas River. The area contains stunning granite rock outcroppings and is home to a variety of important wildlife species, including bighorn sheep, deer, elk, golden eagle, mountain lion and bobcat. The legislation is broadly backed by a diverse coalition of local stakeholders, including elected officials, sportsmen, the business community, conservationists, and bicycle groups.
- More Info:
- Colorado Environmental Coalition [5]
© Jeff Widen
San Juan Mountains
- Summary:
- The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Proposal seeks to protect over 50,000 acres of pristine forest and low elevation lands in San Miguel and Ouray Counties. The proposal would protect additions to existing wilderness areas as well as some of the last remaining large tracts of undisturbed wild lands in the two counties, including habitat for threatened or endangered Canada lynx, Gunnison sage grouse, and Colorado river cutthroat trout. The proposal enjoys broad local government, business, and community support. Recreational opportunities abound, such as horseback riding, hiking, hunting, fishing, climbing and rafting.
- More Info:
- San Juan Citizen's Alliance [6]
White River National Forest
- Summary:
-
The Hidden Gems proposal would designate lands in the White River National Forest (the nation's most visited), and nearby Bureau of Land Management lands in western Colorado, expanding existing wilderness areas and adding several new areas. There are hundreds of thousands of acres of potential wilderness in this region. Whereas most Colorado wilderness is high-elevation, the Hidden Gems proposal contains mid-elevation lands that are more ecologically diverse and provide some of the most important habitat for imperiled species, including the recently reintroduced lynx.
- More Info:
- Wilderness Workshop [7]
Local Conservation Groups
- Colorado Environmental Coalition [8]
- Colorado Wild [9]
- Colorado Wilderness Network
- San Juan Citizens Alliance [10]
- The Colorado Mountain Club [11]
- Western Colorado Congress [12]
- Wilderness Workshop [13]