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Welcome to Hidden Gems 2.0!
The Hidden Gems Wilderness Campaign seeks to protect 342,000 acres of public lands in the Central Rockies from development and over use.
We’ve been working really hard for three years to craft a wilderness proposal that works for the environment and our community. In the process we’ve talked to hundreds of people and groups and reshaped our proposal continually to address their desires and their concerns. Three years and over 150 versions later, we think we have a wilderness proposal that is ready to go.
We present to you a nearly final version -- Hidden Gems 2.0. Please take a minute and read the short question and answer section below. We think it will tell you a lot about this exciting proposal and all the work we've done to ensure it's a community crafted project.
What is the spirit behind Hidden Gems?
Hidden Gems is a vision to protect Central Colorado’s most treasured landscapes, water and wildlife for future generations.
Where are the Hidden Gems?
The Hidden Gems are located on public lands all around us. There are proposed Hidden Gems Wilderness areas in Pitkin, Gunnison, Eagle and Summit Counties. They are all located on federal public lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management. Many of the Hidden Gems would add to existing wilderness areas like Snowmass Maroon Bells and Hunter Fryingpan.
Who’s developed the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal?
The short answer is your neighbors. More than 100 locals in the four counties mentioned above have worked in one capacity or another on shaping this proposal, from volunteers in the Inventory Corps who helped identify wilderness-appropriate lands and hike leaders who led walks into the proposal areas with interested citizens to organizers who met with the people and groups affected by the proposal and mapping and wilderness experts who helped hone the proposal into its current form. The process of creating our wilderness proposal has involved supporters and opponents of wilderness for a list of all those who have participated in the process click here.
How far has the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal come?
A long way. When the idea of Hidden Gems was first introduced to the community in 2007, we had 612,000 acres in mind for protection. Through extensive community outreach and our own work, we have made 166 adjustments and reworked the proposal to its current size of 342,000 acres.
Where did all that land go?
It’s still there, but its no longer part of our wilderness proposal. We removed the acreage to accommodate ranchers with grazing rights in areas we wanted to protect but they were reluctant to get behind. We carved out areas that contain popular climbing areas and mountain bike routes. We have removed areas to address the concerns of water districts, fire fighters and land managers. We have worked with subdivisions to adjust boundaries to suit their needs. All of these changes were made after talking with the folks who were affected.
Has anyone asked you to add lands?
Yes. Most recently, three local ranching families asked Hidden Gems to include 5,000 acres in the Hay Park area at the base of Mt. Sopris in the wilderness proposal. There have been a few other instances where folks have asked us to expand the proposal in specific areas, and we’ve done our best to accommodate them.
Who else supports Hidden Gems?
Over 400 local businesses and organizations have endorsed the Hidden Gems, and more than 6,000 people have signed an open letter of support. Click here to view a list of the endorsing organizations and here for a list of citizen supporters.
Have any environmental organizations been involved?
Yes. The ongoing work on Hidden Gems has been made possible by three Colorado based environmental groups – Wilderness Workshop, Colorado Mountain Club and Colorado Environmental Coalition – and the Colorado office of The Wilderness Society.
How can I learn more?
Continue checking out this website and friend us on Facebook here, or call the Wilderness Workshop at (970) 963-7421.
Specifically what has happened in the Roaring Fork Valley?
We've put together a webpage devoted to this question. Click here for details.
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