WSP08347

• File Number: 7630.125
• Description: Wild and Scenic - Colorado Wilderness Act - 1991
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/1/1990
• Author: Unknown
• Title: Colorado Heritage Preservation Act - Area-By-Area Descriptions
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

OC~717

January 1990

GREENHORN MOUNTAIN

ACREAGE: 22,300 acres in the Wilderness study Area

DESIGNATION
FOREST
22,300

RECOMMENDATIONS:
SERVICE ARMSTRONG
22,000

WIRTH
24,130

FOREST: San Isabel
COUNTY: Huerfano/Pueblo
Huerfano
Land Area
sq. miles
1,584
Pueblo
Land Area
sq. miles
2,377

Public Land
% of total
21

Forest service
land %
14

Public Land
% of total
4

Forest Service
land %
2

LOCATION: On the southern end of
Isabel National Forest, about 130
miles southwest of Pueblo.

the Wet Mountain Range in the San
miles south of Denver and 20

RECOMMENDATION: The Forest service recommendation is proposed for
designation with a few minor boundary modifications to avoid known
conflicts. The study area is in close proximity to private land
except on its northern boundary. with minor modifications the
wilderness boundaries should conform to the study area to ensure
public access to the wilderness. Retaining a perimeter of public
land around the wilderness will ensure publicly owned sites for
trailhead development, if necessary.

GENERAL FEATURES: The area is characterized by steep rocky terrain.
About 75% of the area is forested, with species ranging from pinon
juniper lands in the dry southern end of the area to alpine tundra
on the mountains' upper slopes. Elevation varies from 7,600 to
12,367 feet.

SPECIAL FEATURES: If designated, Greenhorn Mountain would be the
easternmost wilderness in the state.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: It was designated a Wilderness Study Area in
the Colorado Wilderness Act of 1980. It has been studied
extensively since that time and was recommended by the Forest
Service as suitable for inclusion in the Wilderness Preservation
System.

RELATION TO OTHER WILDERNESS: There are 5 nearby designated
wilderness areas; 257,080 acres are partly or entirely in the pike
and San Isabel Forests, amounting to about 11 percent of the
Forests' area. within 150 miles of the WSA, there are a total of
2,315,098 acres of wilderness -- Forest Service, BLM and Park
Service Lands. The Greenhorn Mountain WSA is separated from other
areas. It is 30 air miles (3 driving hours) from the wilderness
areas within the Great Sand Dunes National Monument and 90 air
miles (2 1/2 driving hours) from the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
Area. The Spanish Peaks and the Sangre de Cristo areas are also