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Browns Canyon Proposed Wilderness
Acreage
Total CCWC Proposed Wilderness Acreage = 34,830
Location
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Browns Canyon is in the San Isabel National Forest
and Royal Gorge BLM Resource Area along the Arkansas River 10 miles
north of Salida.
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It lies in Chaffee County. The area rises eastward
above a whitewater canyon of the Arkansas River and the higher forested
areas of Aspen Ridge.
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Access Browns Canyon via the Arkansas River (Take
a whitewater raft trip--the boundary lies east of the river and railroad.)
or from Hwy 285. From Hwy 285, go about five miles west of Antero
Junction and turn on CR 307. This gravel road becomes FR 187. Go about
five miles until you reach FR 185. From Salida, take FR 175, a gravel
road, east from Salida. Turn onto Forest Road 185 at about 6.5 miles
toward Turret.
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Topo maps: Buena Vista East (NW), Castle Rock Gulch
(NE), Nathrop (W), Cameron Mountain (E), Salida West (SW), Salida
East (SE)
Wilderness Qualities
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Browns Canyon provides remote and challenging terrain
between the Arkansas River and the heights near Aspen Ridge.
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Solitude and backcountry recreation opportunities
exist in the area for hikers, horse packers, and whitewater river
runners.
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From the ridge and enroute to the river, visitors
have spectacular views of the Arkansas Valley and Collegiate Range
beyond.
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From Browns Canyon, migrating wildlife move eastward
to Badger Creek and northward to Buffalo Peaks Wilderness and South
Park.
Natural Features
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With elevation ranging between 7,300 ft. and 10,000
ft., Browns Canyon is in the southern Mosquito Range with the western
portion lying on Aspen Ridge. It drops precipitously several thousand
feet from Aspen Ridge down to the Arkansas River.
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A number of gulches run west into the river bottom.
The southern end in Longs Gulch is of more moderate topography.
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Bald eagles winter in the area. It is also potential
lynx habitat.
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Vegetation in Browns Canyon includes piñon-juniper
woodlands, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, aspen, grasslands, cottonwoods,
and willows. It has two rare plant communities: montane riparian forest
and foothill riparian shrubland.
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