Colorado Ranch Saved: 530 Acres Join Wilderness

In a significant conservation achievement, 530 acres of the historic Snowmass Falls Ranch in Colorado have been officially incorporated into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. This expansion of protected public land comes two years after local officials secured the 650-acre property for $34 million, a record open space acquisition for Pitkin County. The ranch, which had been privately owned for over a century and was historically part of Ute People territory, was purchased by the county to prevent its development into luxury housing.

The agreement will see the majority of the ranch transferred to the U.S. Forest Service, permanently expanding the existing federal wilderness area. This move fulfills a long-standing conservation goal to protect the environmentally sensitive valley floor at the base of the Elk Mountains. The county plans to use funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund for this transfer, aiming to recoup a portion of its initial investment.

The remaining 120 acres, which include historic farm buildings and cabins, will remain under county control or be preserved through a conservation easement. The property boasts diverse habitats, two miles of Snowmass Creek frontage, and is crucial summer habitat for wildlife like elk and bears. It also provides vital public access to U.S. Forest Service trails, permanently securing routes into the Maroon Bells-Snowmass area.