WSP07795

• File Number: 7630.200
• Description: Wild and Scenic-Eagles Nest
• State: CO
• Date: 9/24/1971
• Author: USFS
• Title: Eagles Nest Wilderness Area-A Proposal-Eagles Nest Wilderness Arapahoe and White River National Forests
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

Recreation use in the Primitive Area was estimated to be 9,000 visitor days.!J in
1965; and 24,300 visitor days in 1970. This represents a 170 percent increase in use
in five years.

1970 Recreation Use by Activities

Thousand
Visitor Days

% of
Total

Camping..................... .............................................. 6.3
Hiking.... ......... .......................................................... 6.4
Fishing... ................................................................... 4.6
Hunting. ...... ............................... '" ........................... 1.4
Mountain Climbing................................................... 1.4
Enjoy Unique/Unusual Environment....................... 1.4
Acquire General Knowledge .................................... .8
Horseback Riding..................................,........ .......... .9
Nature Study..... ............................................. .......... .5
Tours...................... .................................................. .5

26
26
19
6
6
6
3
4
2
2

TotaL........... 24.3

100

An estimated 22,900 visitor days or 94 percent was reported during the summer
season (May through September), and 1,400 visitor days or 6 percent during the hunting
season (October and November) in 1970. Approximately 90 percent of the use was by
foot and 10 percent by horseback.

The majority of recreationists who use the area are from the metropolitan communi-
ties just east of the mountains in Colorado. A population of over 2,500,000 people has
access to the area within 200 mile drive by automobile.

Recreation use of the proposed Eagles Nest Wilderness is expected to increase at
least at a rate comparable to other outdoor recreation activities. The area is ecologically
stable; however, use will have to be restricted at some time in the future to protect the
wilderness resources adjacent to the more heavily used. accessible lakes.

Ten potential back-area campsites, varying in size from one to nine acres, which are
suitable for undeveloped camps, have been inventoried in the National Forest Recreation
Survey (See Table 1, Appendix C). All of these sites are too small to be considered for
development as campgrounds or picnic areas for recreationists who must depend upon
motorized access. It would not be economically feasible to construct roads to these loca-
tions. They are, however, suitable for backpack or horse-pack campsites. There are. in
addition, hundreds of uninventoried small campsites available for the wilderness traveler
in the proposed Eagles Nest Wilderness.

JJ Recreation use of National Forest land and water which aggregate!:! 12 person-hours. May entail 1 person for
12 hours or 12 perso.J1s for 1 hour, or any equivalent combination of individual or group use, either continuous
or intermittent. .

8

.,.