Hermosa Proposed Wilderness Area

At a Glance: The largest unprotected roadless area in the San Juan Mountains, and in the entire Southern Rocky Mountains, is contained within the Hermosa Creek watershed. The Wild San Juans Campaign proposes to designate 113,709 acres as wilderness in two units. Hermosa serves a particularly important role spanning the Animas and Dolores watersheds. It provides the only mid-elevation, roadless corridor between the Animas Valley (at Hermosa Creek) across the LaPlata Mountains to the Dolores Valley (via Bear Creek). Hermosa contains perhaps the most diverse array of forest habitats on the entire San Juans, with numerous superb examples of old-growth ponderosa pine stands, and two significant proposed Research Natural Areas. Hermosa also harbors thriving populations of Colorado River cutthroat trout.