The headwaters of our nation's most iconic southwestern rivers originate in Colorado’s Roadless areas and Wilderness, flowing from 14,000-foot peaks towards 13 states and Mexico. Rivers offer a unique way to experience the Colorado Plateau by water offering unique corridors of travel, few of which have eluded road building, railroad building, logging, and settlement.  The last remaining wild rivers are invaluable to Americans who prefer to experience nature in their canoes, kayaks and rafts, and they offer protection for endangered species, globally rare riparian habitat, and reliable sources of clean water. 

Rivers flowing through Roadless areas in Colorado include the Los Pinos, Piedra, Hermosa Creek, Mad Creek, Saint Vrain River, Conejos River, and Lime Creek. Many additional rivers are bordered by Roadless areas that define their superb scenery and water quality.  These include most notably the Upper Animas River, Cache la Poudre, Elk River, and the Taylor River.  The Animas, Poudre, and Taylor Rivers are commercially rafted by large numbers of citizens, supporting significant regional economies.   

To Protect these Experiences We Need Your Help Today

The Colorado Roadless Rule is now open for comment public. Though we still think the 2001 rule offers the best protection of these profoundly important resources, there certainly are a number of ways to improve the proposed Colorado Roadless Rule so that taking care of Colorado’s open spaces, wild landscapes and intact ecosystems are a top priority. These include a focus on maintaining roadless area characteristics; elimination of provisions that allow roads, powerlines, dams, and reservoirs in our valued backcountry; and elimination of provisions that allow extensive tree removal to minimize wildfire risk.

You can learn more about the draft rule by reviewing the Roadless Rule web page on the Colorado DNR's website which includes details for filing comments (or use our handy form by clicking on the Take Action button above). Comments from out-of-state paddlers are relevant since the lands in question are federally managed and the state will ultimately need to seek federal approval for their management proposal. You can learn more about the federal process by reviewing the Roadless Rule web page on the Forest Service website.