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James Peak Wilderness Area
Government information and links are at the bottom of this page.
Located in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests
Neighboring towns: Boulder, Granby, Tabernash, Grand Lake, Allenspark, Raymond, Peaceful Valley, Ward, Fraser, Winter Park, Eldora
In August 2002, the James Peak Wilderness Area was
officially dedicated. The Congress designated the 14,000-acre area, which
straddles the Continental Divide in Boulder, Clear Creek, and Gilpin
Counties. The legislation also added 3,000 acres to the nearby Indian Peaks
Wilderness Area and created a 16,000-acre James Peak "Protection Area"
encompassing the 7,000 acres of the James Peak Roadless Area in Grand County
and other adjacent National Forest land. The legislation prohibits mining,
timber cutting, new road building and land exchanges in the James Peak
Protection Area.
The James Peak Wilderness Area is an alpine wonderland
with sweeping views, several majestic peaks, and numerous sparkling lakes.
This high-elevation wildland forms the headwaters for the Fraser River,
South Boulder Creek and North and West Forks of Clear Creek. Elk, deer,
bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, and ptarmigan call this place
home; the area’s mixture of alpine meadows and forests of Englemann spruce,
subalpine fir, and lodepole pine also provides outstanding habitat for
several imperiled species including the Canada lynx, wolverine, northern
goshawk, pine marten and boreal toad. In addition to its ecological values,
the James Peak area, located only 1½ hours from Denver, provides excellent
opportunities for recreation, challenge and solitude for many Coloradans.
This spectacular place clearly deserves full wilderness protection and has
been proposed for protection by citizen groups for many years. Bordered by
Indian Peaks Wilderness to the north and the Vasquez Wilderness and Vasquez
Roadless Area to the west, the James Peak Wilderness Area was a missing link
in the chain of protected lands reaching from Wyoming down the Continental
Divide into central Colorado.
Size: 14,000 acres
Elevation: 9,200 to 13,294 feet
Miles of trails:
Year designated: 2002
Hunting areas:
For more information contact:
Boulder
Ranger District, 2140 Yarmouth St., Boulder, CO 80301 303-541-2500
Clear Creek Ranger District, 101 Chicago Creek Road, PO Box 3307, Idaho
Springs, CO 80452 303-567-3000
info@coloradowilderness.com
Copyright 1999
IOR Productions. All rights reserved.
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