Building impact across a landscape in the San Juan Mountains
June 12, 2026-
The Wilderness Land Trust recently acquired Eastern Rebel Boy, a 6.7-acre property within the Red Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Area of southwest Colorado. Like so many of the small properties we work to protect, there is inherent value in removing every opportunity for development within our wild places, no matter the size. But the impact of protecting Eastern Rebel Boy spreads beyond its boundaries as part of a landscape-scale effort the Trust has undertaken in recent years.
The Uncompahgre Wilderness meets the American Flats, Handies Peak, and Red Cloud Peak Wilderness Study Areas in the high alpine and sweeping vistas of the San Juan Mountains. Remnants of the area’s rich mining history scatter the mountainsides, including the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway— 63 miles of old mining roads turned off-road vehicle destination, which winds through seven ghost towns and traverses two high passes. In addition to OHV users, the area draws recreationists of all kinds, with several 14,000’+ peaks, the famous views and summer wildflower displays of American Basin, the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, and many alpine lakes.
Over the past 3 years, the Trust has acquired a total of 32 properties covering just shy of 300 acres in this area. In addition to securing access for hikers, backpackers, and climbers on several popular trails, and preserving scenic viewsheds for all recreationists who visit the area, our cumulative impact has helped to unify ownership across the landscape, removing barriers for possible future wilderness designations. The Eastern Rebel Boy property now joins this effort. Located on a flat, buildable rocky bench carved into the slopes rising from the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway to the 14,005 ft summit of Sunshine Peak, the property adjoins one of the Trust’s other previously acquired properties.
We are currently working with other conservation-minded property owners in the area to pursue additional acquisitions that would add to this landscape-scale impact, securing even more public recreation access, preserving connected wildlife habitats, and removing management conflicts. Join us in this work by making a donation today!
