Spraddle Creek
9,440 acres (14.8 square miles)
Setting
The proposed Spraddle Creek Addition occupies half of Bald Mountain. It includes both creeks that drain the western slopes of Bald Mountain: Middle Creek and Spraddle Creek flow into the Gore Creek within the Vail town limits. The elevation ranges from 8,300 feet near Vail to 12,136 feet on Bald Mountain. Bald Mountain is part of the Gore Range and is a significant landform that is highly visible from Vail Ski Area. The terrain here mostly consists of large moderately-steep hillsides heavily-forested with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. Lodgepole pines and aspens are also present in the lower elevations.
What's special about it?
This area has critical importance as a buffer between urban development in Vail and the Eagles Nest Wilderness Area. Wildlife uses this area as a mid-elevation movement corridor between high peaks of the Gore Range and the Gore Creek valley. Mule deer and elk are abundant here in the summer, and the ridge along the Area's eastern boundary is prime habitat for Canada lynx, a state-endangered and nationally-threatened species, as well as home to bighorn sheep and mountain goats.
The proximity of this area to Vail makes it extremely valuable for recreational uses. It is a popular hunting and horseback riding destination. The Middle Creek and Son of Middle Creek Trails are very popular among mountain bikers, as they are easily accessible from town. The Eiseman Hut sits on a high ridge along the north edge of the proposed Area, and provides access to excellent backcountry skiing terrain protected by the proposal. Spraddle Creek provides relatively easy access for quiet-use recreationists, opportunities that are increasingly rare and important as the hustle and bustle in the Vail Valley erodes many nearby quiet opportunities.
Potential threats
There has been some illegal motorized encroachment into this proposed Wilderness Addition from Spraddle Creek Road and Red Sandstone Road. The area to the north of the unit was heavily logged during the 1940s. While the forest has regenerated well, the maze of closed and abandoned roads in the area may provide a launching point for illegal motorized use into the unit. As bark beetle-caused tree mortality increases in the area, there will be calls for more logging in an attempt to do something about this natural phenomenon. Any treatments intended to address beetle spread and tree mortality may cause more ecological harm than good and the landscape should be protected from the roads that would accompany potential beetle treatments.
How to get there
The proposed Spraddle Creek Addition to the Eagles Nest Wilderness is located immediately north of Vail. There are two main access roads to the area:
- Spraddle Creek Road (FS 737; 4WD) penetrates the southern portion of the unit. It begins near the Spraddle Creek subdivision, travels up the creek past a shepherd's camp, and ends at a hunter's camp near the divide overlooking Vail and Vail Ski Area. From the base of Spraddle Creek Road, the Middle Creek Trail (2135) travels up Middle Creek to FS 719, north of the unit.
- The other access is provided by Red Sandstone Road (FS 700; improved dirt) from Vail. After about 3 miles, bear north on Lost Lake Road (FS 786). Just beyond this junction, the Son of Middle Creek Trail (2136) heads SE toward Middle Creek Trail. From FS 786, bear right on FS 719 and pass many closed timber roads. This road leads to the Eiseman Hut of the 10th Mountain Hut Association, on the northern edge of the unit. The Eiseman Hut can also be reached on skis from Spraddle Creek.
- The Middle Creek and Son of Middle Creek Trails are open to mountain biking, and are the only maintained trails in the area.
- The USGS 7 1⁄2' quads for the Spraddle Creek area are Vail West and Vail East.
Other info
The proposed Spraddle Creek Addition is one of 12 roadless areas that are contiguous with the Eagles Nest Wilderness, and together form a roadless complex of over 168,000 acres (262 square miles).
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