What is Hidden Gems?
The Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal is a carefully-crafted, citizen-generated plan to grant the highest protection in the land to some of our state’s most precious and threatened public and wildlife lands. Map of the entire proposal.
Anatomy of a Wilderness Proposal - Stakeholder engagement.
Hidden Gems by the numbers:
- 342,000 acres
- 14 new stand alone Wilderness Areas and 26 additions to existing Wilderness Areas
- Spanning two national forests adjacent BLM lands
- Primarily in four counties – Pitkin, Eagle, Gunnison and Summit.
Economic Benefits of Wilderness
What’s allowed in Wilderness:
| - Hunting |
- Hiking |
| - Fishing |
- Backpacking |
| - Camping |
- Kayaking/rafting |
| - Horseback riding |
- Photography |
| - Livestock grazing |
- Education |
|
- Rock climbing
- Wheelchair access (motorized and mechanized allowed) for mobility impaired persons
|
- Scientific research
|
What’s not allowed: - New mining - Gas and oil drilling (except where leases exist) - Logging - Motorized travel, including snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles - Mechanized travel, including mountain bikes and hang gliders
|

|
Polis Releases Draft Legislation Aspen Times Summit County Voice Aspen Daily News
|
|

|
Forest Supervisor Supports Polis on Gems Vail Daily, August 19, 2010 (story)
|

|
Aspen SkiCo Endorses the Hidden Gems Aspen Daily News, June 22, 2010 (story) |

|
Quiet winter recreationalists outspend snowmobilers 3 to 1. Aspen Daily News, June 14, 2010 (story)
|

|
Aspen Center for Environmental Studies Op-ed in support of Hidden Gems. Aspen Time, June 8, 2010 (story)
|

|
Motorized groups continue to make misleading statements about Hidden Gems. Summit County Voice, June 4, 2010 (story)
|

|
Back-country Hunter supports wilderness - Good for big game. Summit Daily News, May 25, 2010 (story)
|

|
Poll Shows Strong Support for Hidden Gems. Aspen Daily News, April 14, 2010 (story)
Click for more info
|

|
Half of Hidden Gems Proposal sent to Washington KBUT Community Radio, April 19, 2010
Click for more info
|

|
Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal for Summit and Eagle Counties presented to Congress. Summit Daily News, April 6, 2010 (story)
Click for more info
|

|
Gems Campaign collaborating with former opponents. Aspen Daily News Feb 27, 2010 click here for article
|

|
Wildernes generates increased revenues for the Forest Service: Money to fund staffing and maintence. Aspen Times, Feb. 27 click here for article
|
 |
Grand Valley Citizens Alliance endorses the Hidden Gems: Aspen Times Feb. 15, 2010 (more)
|
|
How ORV use contributes to the red dust on Colorado's Snow: LTE, Aspen Times. Jan. 22 (more)
|
|
2 Pitken County Ranchers Voice Support for Wilderness: Aspen Daily News Jan, 19 - "Gems campaign gains ranchers' support . ." (more)
|

|
Aspen Public Radio interview: Hidden Gems and RFMBA, Nov. 10, 2009 click here
|

|
Confessions of an off-road outlaw:High County News, Nov. 6, 2009 click here
|

|
Rep. Polis:With Wilderness designation, process matters Summit Daily, Nov. 4, 2009 click here
|

|
A voice from the sky: Bruce Gordon of EcoFlight provides a unique perspective on our landscape Aspen Daily News, Oct. 26, 2009 (more)
|

|
Radio Interview on the wilderness debate: KDNK, Oct. 8, 2009 click here to listen
|
|