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  • COLORADO

Projects

In Colorado the Trust has protected more than

  • 7,345 acres in 16 wilderness areas and 6 proposed wilderness areas

  • Adding 136 properties to public lands with 59 more properties waiting to transfer

  • Completing 1 wilderness area by removing the last remaining inholding

Within the high peaks and deep river canyons of Colorado’s 44 wilderness areas are some of the most most spectacular landscapes in the West.  Within these wilderness areas are approximately 7,683 acres of private lands. They carry none of the protections of the surrounding wilderness and can be developed with mines, homes and resorts, and roads. Each one represents a tear in the fabric of wilderness protection.

The Trust was founded in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley to address these threats of development and create a better way for private landowners to convey their lands to public ownership to be protected for future generations. Thirty two years after the organization began, Colorado remains an important focus area of our work.

(1) WEMINUCHE WILDERNESS

NEEDLE CREEK

30 acres

This project secured public access on the Needle Creek trail which brings hikers, backpackers, and mountaineers to the very popular Chicago Basin and surrounding peaks.

GREAT WESTERN LODE

31 acres

This project secured public access to the popular 9.3-mile Whitehead Trail which connects the Continental Divide Trail to other local trails.

.

recent success

EMERALD LAKE

7 acres

(2) HOLY CROSS WILDERNESS

(3) MAROON BELLS - SNOWMASS WILDERNESS

SNOWMASS FALLS RANCH

650 acres

The Trust is partnering with Pitkin County on this landmark conservation project to protect one of the largest remaining undeveloped private properties in the county. Pitkin County purchased the property for $34 M using Open Space funds, and the Trust is working to secure LWCF funding to add the majority of the property to the wilderness area. This is the 29th property protected by the Trust in Maroon Bells – Snowmass Wilderness.

recent success

COPPER GLANCE

10 acres

(4) RAGGEDS WILDERNESS
recent success

STRAEDER LODE

10 acres

(5) FOSSIL RIDGE WILDERNESS
recent success

CROSS MOUNTAIN

183 acres

(6) COLLEGIATE PEAKS WILDERNESS

.

SPOTTED TAIL

10 acres

recent success

PANAMA PRINCIPLE LODE

19 acres

Located in the booming development market around Aspen, the Panama Principle Lode property tripled in value between 2020 and 2023, showing the scope of development pressure facing wilderness inholdings

(7) SANGRE DE CRISTO WILDERNESS

BLANCA PEAK

46 acres

This project removed the last remaining threats of development from Blanca Peak, also known as Sisnaajiní, one of the four corners marking the boundary of the Dinetah, the traditional Dinè (Navajo) homeland, along with three other sacred mountains.

(8) MOUNT MASSIVE WILDERNESS

CHAMPION MINE SOUTH

275 acres

(9) RED CLOUD PEAK & HANDIES PEAK WSAs

RED CLOUD 17

106 acres

Due to their close proximity to the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway, a very popular OHV route that traverses 63 miles through the alpine, these 17 properties were at high risk of development.

SUNSHINE & WHITE CROSS CLAIMS

130 acres

Building off the success of the nearby Red Cloud 17 project, protecting these 14 additional properties will further help remove the high risk of development in an area popular for multi-use recreation.

Recently Completed Colorado Projects

Thirteen properties protected in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

March 11, 2025
Read more
https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/black-wonder-2.png 1080 1080 Margosia Jadkowski https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wilderness-land-trust-logo-2024.png Margosia Jadkowski2025-03-11 14:19:142025-04-08 11:37:09Thirteen properties protected in Colorado’s San Juan Mountains

Public access to Colorado’s Chicago Basin protected!

January 24, 2025
Read more
https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Copy-of-Copy-of-Copy-of-great-western.png 1080 1080 Margosia Jadkowski https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wilderness-land-trust-logo-2024.png Margosia Jadkowski2025-01-24 10:24:442025-01-24 10:24:44Public access to Colorado’s Chicago Basin protected!

Exploring the wilderness you love through maps

October 18, 2024
Read more
https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Screenshot-2024-10-17-at-9.56.15 AM.png 1350 1938 Margosia Jadkowski https://wildernesslandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/wilderness-land-trust-logo-2024.png Margosia Jadkowski2024-10-18 09:49:002024-10-18 09:49:38Exploring the wilderness you love through maps
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THE WILDERNESS LAND TRUST
PO BOX 881
HELENA, MT 59624

PHONE: 206.397.5240

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