How to comment on the Telluride Mountain Club's Trails Proposal
Telluride Mountain Club’s Trails Proposal is currently in a Public Comment Period until April 3rd
Over the past few years, Telluride Mountain Club, our region’s trails champion, has been working diligently to create a new trails proposal for the Telluride region. Sheep Mountain Alliance has been grateful to discuss the proposal with the Mountain Club, and to work together to understand where we may agree and disagree on the viability of the newly proposed trails. We want to thank the Forest Service and the Mountain Club for involving us in this process and for all of their work to conduct a full NEPA analysis!
Sheep Mountain Alliance is excited to see the trails proposal moving forward, and find that the majority of the trails included in the proposal will expand human-powered recreation in our region in a meaningful and productive manner that strikes a balance between recreation and conservation.
However, we do have one significant concern: the construction of the Sheep Mountain Traverse trail.
Our concern originates from two factors:
Existing conflicts with Lynx habitat near Trout Lake
The Sheep Mountain Traverse trail would travel through primary suitable Canada Lynx habitat that has recently been proposed to be designated as critical lynx habitat.
The Canada Lynx Final Recovery Plan, published in December of 2024, outlines several priorities for retaining existing habitat capability to promote lynx recovery, including the Priority One actions of (1) conducting research and monitoring to develop and implement proactive forest management strategies to improve the resiliency of lynx habitat in each SSA unit given projected impacts of climate change within the DPS and (2) Maintain or enhance connectivity between lynx habitats in SSA units 1–4 and adjacent lynx habitats north of the U.S.-Canada border (Recovery Criteria 1, 2, 3).
The Sheep Mountain Traverse trail passes through a section of the critical habitat known as a “lynx linkage area,” which serve as important connectors for sections of lynx habitat so that the species may travel into different ecosystems and zones.
Although a relatively small acreage of lynx habitat would be impacted by the construction of the Sheep Mountain Traverse trail, Sheep Mountain Alliance believes that maintaining habitat quality and connectivity in the Trout Lake zone will be critical to ensure the best possible outcomes for lynx populations in our area in years to come.
The proposed Sheep Mountain Traverse Trail conflicts with the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act’s Sheep Mountain Special Management Proposal
As part of the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area includes 21,663 acres of exceptional lands surrounding the Sheep Mountain and Hope Lake zone. According to the CORE Act legislation, the Special Management Area would be managed to “maintain or improve the wilderness character of the Special Management Area” and “its suitability for potential inclusion in the National Wilderness Preservation System.”
The Sheep Mountain Special Management Area is an amazing example of a community-led conservation proposal. The current boundary of the proposed Sheep Mountain Special Management Area of the CORE Act is from the 2005 Mountains to Mesas conservation management alternative, a plan that was created by conservation groups across Colorado. Originally titled “San Miguel,” at 10,394 acres, it was described as “As part of a large roadless complex that includes land on the adjacent San Juan National Forest, the San Miguel area exhibits a pristine alpine environment. Open meadows, brilliant wildflowers, steep slopes, jagged peaks, clear lakes and streams, and diverse wildlife, including Canada lynx, are all represented. The area offers excellent opportunities for solitude and quiet-use recreational activities.”
Preserving the grassroots-effort to create the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area proposal honors our region’s commitment to protecting the most important, beautiful, and ecologically important landscapes.
Due to our concerns regarding the construction of this trail, Sheep Mountain Alliance is supporting Alternative 3 of the proposed action. If you agree with us, you can do the same!
Take Action: Submit your public comment on the Trails Proposal!
As part of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process, YOU! The public! Can comment on this trails proposal by submitting your comment electronically on this page. In your comment, be specific, provide reasoning, and justify your position. State your support for your preferred alternative (Alternative 2 includes the Sheep Mountain Traverse Trail, while Alternative 3 does not) Quality public comments are incredibly important in shaping the outcome of this process. This is your way to make a difference locally!
Please reach out to ruthie@sheepmountainalliance.org with questions or to discuss further.