Proposal Areas

East Willow

We have postponed wilderness designation of the East Willow proposed wilderness area in recognition of its value to motorized recreation.  Currently it is not part of the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal.  However, we will continue working with our partners to seek lasting protection for the entirety of this important and ecologically rich landscape.  The map at right shows the Citizens Inventoried East Willow Roadless Area.

The East Willow area contains 14,250 acres (22.3 square miles). It is one of five contiguous roadless areas (the others being Assignation Ridge, Hayes Creek, Thompson Creek, and Clear Fork).

Setting
The East Willow section of the proposed Clear Fork Divide Wilderness Area occupies rolling terrain on the north side of the divide between the Colorado and Gunnison River basins. The lower elevatins contain vast expanses of mountain shrub community, important habitat for deer and key to the qualities that rate this area as part of the best black bear habitat in the state of Colorado. The upper elevations feature spruce/fir forest, but the area is most impressive for its extensive aspen stands. East Willow contains all three branches of Willow Creek, which are the headwaters for West Divide Creek. The elevation here ranges from 7,800 feet down at East Willow Creek to 10,000 feet on the divide.

What's special about it?
This section of the proposed Wilderness Area is prime elk habitat, and is an important area for hunters. The aspen forests are calving ground for the elk. This section is part of a much larger roadless complex that includes the Clear Fork RA on the Gunnison National Forest, and the Thompson Creek/Hayes Creek/Assignation Ridge RAs on the WRNF. This 122,000 acre roadless complex is the largest unprotected roadless area in the state. Importantly, it serves as a rare, mid-elevation wildland corridor that links the high Elk Range with the Grand and Battlement Mesas to the west.

Potential threats
This Area receives heavy use, especially by hunters in the fall. There is a problem in this Area with illegal off-road vehicle use. Given its remoteness and the USFS's lack of law enforcement capacity, bandit route creation is a significant threat to the integrity of the area. Currently, there is a proposal to run a natural gas pipeline through the unit and change the management plan zoning from wildlife habitat to a utility corridor. This would bisect the East Willow RA, destroying much of its wild character. The area is also threatened by natural gas development and portions of it are already leased.

How to get there
The East Willow section of the proposed Clear Fork Divide Wilderness Area is located about 20 miles SSE of Silt, and 20 miles SW of Carbondale. Access is best from Silt or Glenwood Springs.

• From Glenwood Springs, take Garfield County Road 117 to Sunlight Ski Area. The road becomes Thompson Creek Road (FS 300). Follow signs to Haystack Gate, where you must get onto West Divide Creek Road (FS 800; high clearance necessary) and go southwest toward Haystack Mountain. Just after crossing West Divide Ck, you can get on FS 808 (to your left), and take this rugged road up to the ridge that divides West Divide Ck from East Muddy Ck to the south. Or, hike through the unit on the Jones Creek Trail (1901).
• From Silt, go south on County Road 331 and eventually take a left on West Divide Creek Road (CR 344; high clearance). This becomes FS 800 at the forest boundary, and leads you directly to Haystack Mountain, with the roadless area to the south.
• The 4WD Texas Hill Road (FS8 841) climbs over the divide on the western boundary of the unit, and connects to FS 265 on the other side. From here, Owens Creek Road (FS 268) enters the Willow Creek drainage on the southern boundary.
• The USGS 7 1⁄2' quads for the East Willow section of the proposed Clear Fork Divide Wilderness Area are Quaker Mesa, Elk Knob, Flatiron Mountain, and Spruce Mountain.

Other info
Conservation groups have identified another 773 acres of roadless area that the WRNF inappropriately excluded from its inventory (see map). When combined with the Clear Fork, Baldy Mountain, Thompson Creek, Assignation Ridge, and Hayes Creek roadless areas, the size of the resulting roadless complex is 122,000 acres!