Gallo Hill -1,650 acres (2.6 square miles)
Setting
Gallo Hill is the steeply eroded hill that faces southeast above the Town of Marble. The surrounding roadless area consists primarily of broad forested slopes on a southwest aspect. The area includes world-class aspen stands, as well as spruce/fir forest ecosystems. The elevation ranges from 8,000 feet near the Crystal River to 10,800 feet above Gallo Hill.
What's special about it?
The proposed Gallo Hill Wilderness Addition provides an important mid-elevation buffer along the southwest side of the high-elevation Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness Area. This allows the area's abundant and diverse wildlife to access the Crystal River valley. The area contains bighorn sheep and elk winter range as well as elk calving habitat. The area’s steep cliffs provide secure areas for big horn sheep wintering and lambing. The area also helps to provide a corridor between the Maroon Bells/Snowmass Wilderness and the Raggeds Wilderness. Bighorn sheep lambing occurs in the Gallo Hill area. Gallo Hill overlooks the Crystal River, which is under consideration for Wild, Scenic & Recreational River designation.
Potential threats
Because of increasing development of private lands in the upper Crystal River valley, protecting the natural character of the mid-elevation public lands takes on all the more importance. Private lands adjacent to the Gallo Hill area have at one time been slated for hundreds of private homes.
Division of Wildlife habitat qualities, species of significance
This area provides a variety of habitat needs for many species, including elk and bighorn sheep winter range, severe winter range, winter concentration areas, and production areas. Maintaining the area as roadless will reduce habitat fragmentation and minimize disturbance, stress, and displacement of big game. New roads or trails could impact elk production areas resulting in decreased reproductive success.
CDOW management recommendations: This area should remain roadless with no new trails or road construction, which will help protect winter range values, reproductive success and maintain a quality hunting experience.
How to get there
The proposed Gallo Hill Addition to the Maroon Bells Wilderness Area is located just northwest of the Town of Marble.
- Public access to the western portion of the area is via the Placita Trail (1966), which starts on a side road off of Hwy 133 about 3.2 miles south of Redstone. After a steep 1.5-mile ascent on the Placita Trail, head south and generally downhill on the Lily Lake Trail (1964) to the Gallo Hill area. Unfortunately the more direct southern approach, via the Lily Lake Trail, isn't possible because the trailhead is on private land.
- Access is to the eastern tip of the Gallo Hill Addition is via the Carbonate Creek Trail(1971), off of County Rd 3, at the east end of Marble.
- The USGS 7 1/2' quads for the Gallo Hill RA are Chair Mountain and Marble.
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