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There is a love of wild nature in everybody, an ancient mother love ever showing itself whether recognized or no, and however covered by cares and duties.
--John Muir

Badger Creek Proposed Wilderness

 

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Badger Creek Proposed Wilderness

Acreage

Total CCWC Wilderness Proposal Acreage = 19,250

Location

  • Badger Creek is in the Pike National Forest and Royal Gorge BLM Resource Area, seven miles east of Salida and three miles north of the Arkansas River.
  • It lies within Fremont County and includes the area along the uplands and canyon of the lower reaches of Badger Creek.
  • One point of access to Badger Creek uses Hwy 50. Go past Howard for two miles to Sand Gulch, a four-wheel drive road. Follow Sand Gulch approximately nine miles, first passing under power lines at five miles, into the area via the private inholding.
  • You can also access Badger Creek by taking Hwy 9 to Fremont CR 2, going west on Fremont CR 2 approximately 25 miles to FR 161A, a four-wheel drive road, and traveling south on FR 161A about 2.75 miles to Two Creek. A rough four-wheel drive route leads west two miles to the Badger Creek area boundary. If you continue into the canyon, do not trespass at the private land in the creek bottom.
  • Topo maps: Gribbles Park (N), Salida East (SW), Jack Hall Mountain (SE)

Wilderness Qualities

  • Badger Creek provides remote and challenging terrain and a variety of ecosystems. It is a transition zone between the Arkansas River and the higher elevations of South Park.
  • Solitude and backcountry challenge in the creek canyon or uplands greet the hiker who can enjoy dramatic views into the canyon from above and complete quiet in the stream below.
  • In addition to its interior wildlife habitat, it provides wildlife linkages between other proposed Wilderness areas, including McIntyre Hills and Table Mountain to the east and Browns Canyon to the west.

Natural Features

  • Elevations range from 7,000 ft. in the lower Badger Creek Canyon to 9,500 ft. on the surrounding uplands.
  • Rugged segments of Willow Creek, Two Creek, East Badger Creek, and others flow into Badger Creek within the proposed wilderness.
  • Badger Creek is home to a big horn sheep band. Black bear, mountain lion, and raptors, including bald eagles, inhabit the area as do beaver, hog-nosed skunk, and the Brazilian free-tailed bat. Badger Creek is potential lynx habitat, too.
  • Vegetation includes piñon-juniper, semi-desert shrubland, aspen, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, grasslands, willows and cottonwoods. A rare plant community of narrow-leaf cottonwood riparian forest thrives in Badger Creek.

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