On May 22, 2008 Senator Ken Salazar introduced legislation to designate the Browns Canyon Wlderness.  Efforts to create the new wilderness area have been active since 2002. 

View of Collegiate Peaks from Browns Canyon Proposed Wilderness Area photo © Kurt Kunkle/CEC

About the Area
The proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness area is located in central Colorado's Chaffee County, between the outdoor sport hubs of Buena Vista and Salida. From the Arkansas River flowing just outside the western boundary, this wild canyon country rises eastward to the forested areas of Aspen Ridge. Browns Canyon is topographically and ecologically one unit of wild land although it is administrated by two federal land agencies, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Royal Gorge Resource Area, and the Pike and San Isabel National Forest.

In Browns Canyon, streams have cut steep gulches through the pinkish granite and metamorphic rock leading down to the Arkansas River. Aspen Ridge affords a magnificent, sweeping view across the canyon to the 13,000 and 14,000-foot peaks of the Sawatch Range. River recreationists enjoy this landscape, as well as sightings of bighorn sheep and other wildlife, from their boats and rafts.

Elevations in the proposed wilderness area range from 10,000 to 7,300 feet, dropping dramatically from Aspen Ridge down to the Arkansas River. As elevation increases, the vegetation changes noticeably. The pinyon-juniper trees that dominate the arid lands along the river give way to Douglas fir, ponderosa  and limber pine, and large stands of aspen. These lands are important wintering ground for deer and elk. There is a herd of approximately 150 bighorn sheep in the area, increased from a small population reintroduced in the 1980's, as well as eight raptor species, including golden eagles, prairie falcons, and great-horned owls. Mountain lions, black bears, bobcats, foxes, coyotes and pine martens also call Browns Canyon home.

In addition to providing permanent habitat for the above species, the proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness will help preserve a lengthy portion of the historic Turret Foot and Horse Trail within its boundaries. The trail was created in the late 1800's and used by miners and prospectors traveling from Nathrop to the old mining town of Turret.

The proposed wilderness will also help secure a diversity of recreational opportunities in the Arkansas Valley, providing areas for solitude and primitive recreation such as hiking, skiing, backpacking, hunting, fishing, snowshoeing, birding, climbing and horseback riding. These forms of recreation and exploration will complement the wide range of ways visitors and local residents explore the region and its natural resources.

Mountain bike trails to the west of the river and fantastic Class II-V whitewater (both outside the proposed wilderness), including the popular Browns Canyon section, draw thousands of visitors to the area every day of the summer. The proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness also complements the recently designated Four Mile Travel Management Area to the north which provides about 195 miles of routes and trails to accommodate off-road vehicles, including all-terrain vehicles and snowmobiles.

The scenery and wild character of Browns Canyon provide a spectacular backdrop for visitors to the region, the clients of local businesses and river outfitters. The Arkansas River is one of the more popular whitewater rafting destinations in the nation. The regional rafting industry accounts for over $23 million in direct expenditures for a total economic impact of over $60 million in the Arkansas Valley annually.

Why Wilderness is Important
The permanence of wilderness designation will ensure that the natural legacy of Browns Canyon remains intact for future generations of boaters, hikers, hunters and explorers. Wilderness designation provides guidance for forest management and preserves opportunities for scientific research. Non-mechanized recreation and trail maintenance will continue, as will emergency vehicle access. Wilderness designation will protect the Browns Canyon bighorn sheep population as well as the many other important wildlife species in the area. It will preserve high alpine forests, shimmering aspen groves, and wild vistas. Without wilderness protection, it is uncertain how long these landscapes will remain undeveloped, or how long the mountain lions, black bears and pine martens will be able to roam and reproduce in their natural territory.

Wildlife and Hunting
The Browns Canyon area is popular with backcountry hunters and a much needed refuge for wildlife.  The area is critical winter range for deer, elk and bighorn sheep.  The hunting community is diverse--young, old, able-bodied, disabled. The 4-mile Travel area and the majority of Chaffee County's public lands are well-roaded and offer easy motorized access for hunters who are older or disabled.  The relatively small proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness will offer a backcounty hunting experience for hunters who wish to be away from roads, noise, and crowds by using horses or foot to access hunting areas.  The Browns Canyon Wilderness, as protected land, will offer wildlife a refuge from noise and heavily used areas for range and reproduction.  It is well documented that wildlife prefer areas between roads and away from the noise and traffic that roads encourage.

The area is very rugged and only lends itself to foot or horseback primitive hunting.  Browns Canyon will remain open to hunting as an established wilderness and  hunting is currently allowed. Existing roads such as the Aspen Ridge road, which forms the eastern boundary, is open to motorized access well into the late hunting seasons in November. Additional roads on the south and north provide vehicle access to the proposed wilderness.  Access also is available from the river.

The Turret trail does not provide access to good hunting areas nor does it help in transporting game. This trail is in the bottom of a draw. Given the area's extremely small acreage (20,000 acres total), motorized travel on the trail only serves to move the deer, elk and bighorn sheep out of the area and away from hunters.

Motorized Recreation
While motorized vehicles are not allowed in wilderness areas (exceptions for search and rescue, fire fighting, and forest health are granted under the Wilderness Act).  Chaffee County is blessed with many other places to recreate using motorized vehicles.  The 4-Mile Travel Area – over 100,000 acres of designated routes for motorcycling, four wheel driving, extreme jeeping and motorized recreation is located directly north of the proposed wilderness area.  There are many other motorized recreation opportunities elsewhere in Chaffee County and in neighboring counties.  The proposed wilderness area helps to provide balanced recreational opportunities in Chaffee County.  Despite ample opportunities for motorized recreation, a few motorized recreationists and motorcycle riders use the Turret Trail to access areas closed to motorized use which cause problems with land and wildlife management, hunting, and those who wish to enjoy a quiet day in the backcountry.  Management of the Turret Trail should be guided by public land managers who are tasked with managing the area.  Creating the Browns Canyon wilderness will help strike a balance between motorized and non-motorized recreation in Chaffee County.

Wilderness Will Benefit The Economy
One of Chaffee County's main economic engines is tourism.  People come to the area to enjoy the outdoors in a variety of recreational pursuits including hunting, fishing, rafting, hiking, camping, motorized recreation, etc.  The Browns Canyon Wilderness will add to the diversity and balance of recreation opportunities in Chaffee County by protecting low elevation land that is considered high quality habitat for game species for hunters. Browns Canyon is a low elevation area for hiking, fishing, birding, camping, and rockclimbing in months when other wilderness areas in the county are not accessible due to snow and unsafe avalanche conditions.

The rafting industry, a revenue generator of $60,981,000 in the county, has recognized the value of the Brown Canyon Wilderness and wholeheartedly supports the proposal.  The Arkansas River and Browns Canyon is the most rafted river in the United States and possibly the world.  Rafting companies look forward to offering their customers the opportunity to raft alongside Wilderness.

Friend of Browns Canyon Wilderness
Friends of Browns Canyon, a local grassroots group based in Salida, Colorado, has led the effort to involve the local community and local businesses in preserving the stunning natural scenery of the proposed wilderness. Due to the energy of this dedicated group, numerous local organizations and stakeholders have endorsed the Browns Canyon Wilderness proposal, including the Chaffee County Commissioners, Arkansas River Outfitters Association, Buffalo Peaks Back Country Horsemen, Collegiate Peaks Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, International Mountain Bicycling Association, Colorado Wilderness Network and the Central Colorado Wilderness Coalition.

Conservation groups and local citizens have been advocating wilderness designation for Browns Canyon for over a decade. In 1991, the BLM recommended a portion of the proposed wilderness for protection, making it a Wilderness Study Area (WSA). Since 1994, citizens have proposed the WSA, as well as surrounding BLM and National Forest land, for wilderness designation.