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}.Vi h 2 ~a! . . Three winter sports sites are inventoried but a decision as to their suitabili ty and availability has not he en aar'e. Dispersed recreation opportunities for both winter and su~mer are exceptional. The Ilf)!1an Park Cross Country Ski Trail, the Continental Divide and Buffalo Pass snowmobile trails are now very popular. The de:'1.and for these tyPes of winter fadli ties are steadily increasing. The Unit offers outstandin~ opportunities for hiking and backpacking and is favored with several very popular high mountain lakes. It is very accessible but is still uniquely undeveloped. The Elk River has been designated for study for possible inclusion into the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Visual Quality The scenic reSOU~ce can be divided into three visual subtypes. One is that created by sequences of larp,e and small parks i~terspc:sed with stands of conifers, aspen and oaktrush. The second IS portIons of r'ad Creek Wilderness Study Area - DB which differs with the first subtype only in being somewhat more angular in topography. The landscapes in these subtypes have a fairly high degree of visual variety, however, this is the common visual character for each subtype and is thus average variety. ^ thirr1 subtype is the hndsca!1e patterns at points along the Continental Divide where the scenery is outstanding or unique. Rabbit Ears Peak, although just outside the llnit, is an example of unique variety. Fish Creek Falls is also classed unique. Visually sensitive areas are along the road corridors traversing the areas and on some trails. It is along these corridors, used ~ainly for recreation access, that management activities would be most noticeable. U.S. 40 has the highest sensitivity as it provides recreation access and is also a ~ajor east-west interstate highway. The Seedhouse road along the Elk River has a high sensitivity. Buffalo Pass P.oad and Strawberry Park Road in the Hot Springs area receive heavy recreation use and have a high degree of sensitivity. 1.lorrison Creek Road and a Division oj' Wildife campground at.the mouth of Service Creek receive moderate local recreation pressure and have a moderate degree of sensitivity. The west facing slopes from Service Creek to Rocky Peak are seen from most roads into Steamboat Springs, Colorado and would have a high sensitivity level. rlost of the trails have a high sensitivity level. Energy development in northwest Colorado may create demands for addi- tional high voltage power transmission lines. If these cross the Unit, there could be an adverse effect on scenic quality. 4