Colorado’s Last Great Places

Nature Conservancy Preserves &Cooperative Projects You Can Visit

The mission of The NatureConservancy is to preserve the plants, animalsand natural communities that represent the diversity oflife of Earth by protecting the lands and waters theyneed to survive.

For more than 50 years, The Nature Conservancy has been preservingplaces in the natural world close to your home and heart. We worklocally and in communities around the world to protect precious

habitat and the plant and animal species it supports. We call these areasLast Great Places.

In Colorado, The Nature Conservancy has helped protect more than437,000 acres of precious landscapes. Some of these places are NatureConservancy preserves and others are managed by partner agencies andorganizations. We invite you to visit these special places to enjoy theirnatural splendor and timeless beauty.

These areas are fragile, so please leave pets at home, pack out all trashand leave flowers, rocks and other natural assets in their place. TheNature Conservancy offers guided field trips and workshops at many of ourpreserves. Please visit us on the Web at nature.org/colorado for a currentschedule of events.

Colorado preserves and projects

Nature Conservancy PreservesFor further information about these preserves,

please visit us on the web at nature.org/colorado.

Aiken Canyon PreserveAiken Canyon Preserve is located in one of the highest-qualityfoothills ecosystems along Colorado’s Front Range. This 1,621-acrepreserve contains significant red-rock geologic formations, diverseplant communities and provides habitat for a large number of animal species. More than 100 species of birds have been docu-mented at Aiken Canyon and black bear, mountain lion, gray foxand tuft-eared squirrels inhabit the area. A well-maintained 4-mileloop hiking trail begins at the entrance and features interpretivesigns along the way. Visitors can learn about Aiken Canyon’s natural history by stopping by the eco-friendly interpretive center.

About the preserveLocation: 15.8 miles south ofColorado Springs Preserve Hours: Saturday,Sunday & Monday, dawn until duskInterpretive Center Hours:Saturday & Sunday, 9am – 3pm(summer only)Contact: (719) 576-4336Directions: From Denver, takeInterstate 25 south towardColorado Springs. Take Exit 135west to Highway 115. Take 115south 11.5 miles to Turkey CanyonRanch Road (located 0.1 milesouth of milepost 32.) Turn right(west) and drive 200 yards to thepreserve parking area.

Bohart RanchAt first glance, most visitors would not guess that the wind-swept sandsage prairie ofColorado’s eastern plains is teaming with life. But take a closer look, and you may spy agolden eagle, swift fox, prairie falcon or the rare mountain plover. This 47,000-acre workingcattle ranch, leased to The Nature Conservancy by the Colorado State Land Board, supportsextensive sandsage and shortgrass prairie. Many grassland birds – lark sparrow, grasshoppersparrow, Cassin’s sparrow and lark bunting to name a few – make the prairie in the ChicoBasin their home. Because this is a working ranch, visitation is only permitted in pre-arranged groups.

About the preserveLocation: Southcentral Colorado,south of EllicottContact: (719) 632-0534Visiting the Ranch: Please contact Colorado Springs officeto inquire about opportunities to visit.

Carpenter Ranch The historic and ecologically important Carpenter Ranchharbors some of the highest-quality riparian (streamside)habitat in the western United States. Nearly 150 bird specieshave been documented on the ranch including nesting baldeagles and greater sandhill cranes. As one of the oldestranches in the Yampa Valley with its original buildings stillintact, the ranch also retains some of the area’s agriculturalheritage. The Carpenter Ranch has been an operating cattleranch since 1903 and The Nature Conservancy uses the siteto demonstrate how agriculture and conservation go hand-in-hand. Visitors can learn about the historic, ecological andagricultural values on the ranch in the on-site EducationCenter. Consider also visiting the nearby Yampa RiverPreserve.

About the preserveLocation: West of SteamboatSprings, near HaydenSeasonal Open Hours:May 15 – September 1Ranch and Education CenterMay 15 – September 1Hours: Thursday, Friday &Saturday, 9am - Noon Contact: (970) 276-4626Directions: From SteamboatSprings, head west on Hwy 40 for20 miles. Look for CarpenterRanch on the north side of theroad, 4 miles east of Hayden.

High Creek FenSituated at just under 10,000 feet, High Creek Fen Preserve is an astonishing vestige of thelast Ice Age. The fen occurs in an area where numerous perennial springs bring calcium-rich groundwater to the surface creating a lush and vital wetland. This 2,360-acre preservecontains an unusually large concentration of rare plants and provides habitat for a variety of wildlife species ranging from pronghorn to shorebirds. Visit during mid-July to enjoy wildflowers in bloom such as Indian paintbrush, bluebell, wood lily, pale blue-eyed grass and shrubby cinquefoil.

About the preserveLocation: Central Colorado,south of FairplayPreserve Hours: Dawn untilDusk, Year-roundContact: (303) 444-2950Directions: The preserve is located 8.5 miles south of Fairplayon Highway 285, just .2 milessouth of mile post 175. Turn easton the private gravel road, cross a cattle guard and drive about 1 mile. Park at the small graveledparking area across from the visitor kiosk. No established trails,hike wherever you like.

Medano-Zapata RanchSurrounded by the towering beauty of the Southern RockyMountains, the spectacular Medano-Zapata Ranch lies on 103,000acres adjacent to the Great Sand Dunes. Rich in wetlands andyear-round streams, the ranch is host to distinctive ecosystemsincluding wet meadows, desert shrublands, pinyon-juniperwoodlands and a large portion of the great sand dunes. Scientistsrefer to this area as a biological hotspot – a place where morethan 200 species of birds, herds of elk, bison, and a number ofrare plant and animal species flourish. Some species, such as the Great Sand Dunes tiger beetle, live nowhere else on Earth.

About the preserveLocation: Southcentral Colorado,near MoscaContact: (719) 378-2356 orcofieldtrips@tnc.orgVisiting the Ranch: A series ofweekend Naturalist Workshopsare offered from March –October. Ranch tours Weekend NaturalistWorkshops and guided RanchTours areoffered. Please visitnature.org/colorado for a schedule.

Phantom Canyon PreservePhantom Canyon Preserve is a spectacular, roadless canyon encompassing 6 miles of theNorth Fork of the Cache la Poudre River in the Laramie Foothills. This 1,700-acre rim-to-rimsanctuary is host to a variety of wildlife and more than 100 species of birds. Its varied topography, slope and soil conditions supports more than 200 plant species including theLarimer Aletes, a rare plant found in only a handful of places on Earth. Visit during earlysummer to experience the migration of neotropical songbirds and native wildflowers in bloom.Two well-maintained trails wind through the canyon and along the rim above the river.

About the preserveLocation: Northwest of Ft. CollinsContact: (970) 416-8620Visiting the Preserve: BecausePhantom Canyon Preserve is surrounded by private property,visitors must join a NatureConservancy field trip or volunteer workday to enjoy thepreserve. Please visitnature.org/colorado for aschedule.

Colorado’s Last Great PlacesNature Conservancy Preserves & Cooperative Projects You Can Visit

12 Mueller State Park and Dome Rock

5 Medano-Zapata Ranch

7 San Miguel River Canyon Preserve

9 San Miguel River Tabeguache Preserve

4 High Creek Fen

8 San Miguel River South Fork Preserve

2 Bohart Ranch1Aiken Canyon Preserve

North Star Nature Preserve13

15 Sheep Mountain Ranch

11 Heil Valley Ranch16 White Rocks Nature Preserve

6 Phantom Canyon Preserve

Yampa River Preserve103

Carpenter Ranch

14 Ryan Ranch

Nature Conservancy Preserves1) Aiken Canyon Preserve2) Bohart Ranch3) Carpenter Ranch4) High Creek Fen5) Medano-Zapata Ranch6) Phantom Canyon Preserve

San Miguel River Preserves7) San Miguel River Canyon Preserve8) San Miguel River South Fork Preserve9) San Miguel River Tabeguache Preserve10) Yampa River Preserve

Nature Conservancy Cooperative Projects11) Heil Valley Ranch12) Mueller State Park and Dome Rock State Wildlife Area13) North Star Nature Preserve14) Ryan Ranch15) Sheep Mountain Ranch16) White Rocks Nature Preserve

For further information about these places, please visit us on the web at nature.org/colorado.

San Miguel River PreservesNatural flood cycles and a history of very limited developmenthave kept many portions of the San Miguel River in pristinecondition, much as they were before the state was settled.The riparian habitat, with it’s varying topography and slope,supports a vast array of wildlife such as great blue heron,bald eagle, river otter, beaver, black bear, elk and porcupine.The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 950acres within 3 preserves along the San Miguel River.

About the preservePreserve Hours: Year-round, dawn to duskContact: (970) 728-5291

San Miguel River Canyon Preserve

Dramatic, narrow, red-rock canyons loom nearly 2,000 feet abovethe San Miguel providing habitat for nesting American dippers.No well-established trails, but foot traffic is allowed.

San Miguel River South Fork Preserve

Perhaps the most striking of the three Conservancy-protected preserves along the San Miguel, the South Fork Preserve liesbelow the towering 14,000-foot Wilson Peak of the western SanJuan Mountains. There is a handicap-accessible, 180-foot elevatedboardwalk and viewing platform with interpretive signage.

San Miguel RiverTabeguache Preserve

A 7-mile stretch of the San Miguel meanders through this pre-serve, occupying a broad floodplain. Unlike areas upstream, thewaters flowing through this site are tame and peaceful. A picnicarea, kiosk and outhouses are available for public use.

About the preserveDirections: From Telluride, takeHwy 145 north toward Placerville.Turn left, remaining on Hwy 145past Norwood. Continue for 4miles until you see the preservesign on the left. Park at any turn-out for the next two miles.

About the preserveDirections: From the north, takeHwy 145 south towards Telluride.Turn right on Ilium Valley road atthe bottom of Keystone Hill andfollow it to the preserve (approximately 5 miles).

About the preserveDirections: From Telluride, takeHwy 145 north to Placerville. Turnleft, remaining on Hwy 145 pastNorwood. Turn left onto Hwy 141through Naturita. Park in the visi-tor area on the north side of theroad at mile post 74. The preserveruns from mile post 67.2 to 74.

Yampa River Preserve

About the preserveLocation: West of SteamboatSpringsPreserve Hours: Year-round,dawn to duskContact: (970) 879-1546Directions: From SteamboatSprings, drive west on Hwy 40 forapproximately 17 miles. Once youcross railroad tracks and a bridge(“5-Mile Bridge”), make an imme-diate left into a parking area forthe preserve.

The Yampa River is one of the few rivers remaining in the Westthat can support an extensive riparian (streamside) ecosystem.Seventeen miles west of Steamboat Springs, the Yampa Riverdrops through a narrow gap before flowing onto one of thebroadest floodplains in western Colorado. The 580-acre YampaRiver Preserve is located on the eastern edge of this floodplain.The preserve protects 3 miles of riparian habitat and harborsthe rare box-elder narrowleaf cottonwood/red-osier dogwoodplant community. Visitors can access 265 acres of the preserveand enjoy a 2-mile roundtrip walk through the cottonwoods.

Nature Conservancy Cooperative Projects

About Nature Conservancy Cooperative Projects

The Nature Conservancy assists government agencies and other conservationorganizations in acquiring ecologically significant places for natural areas,parks and other conservation purposes.

About the cooperativeLocation: Northwest of BoulderMore Information: Visit BoulderCounty Parks and Open Space onthe web at:www.co.boulder.co.us/openspace/recreatingVisiting Open Space: ContactBoulder County Parks and OpenSpace for a map and recreationinformation regarding Heil ValleyRanch

Heil Valley RanchIn 1994, The Nature Conservancy partnered with BoulderCounty to protect one of the largest undeveloped pieces ofprivate land remaining in the county. Boulder County, througha loan from The Nature Conservancy, purchased 2,374 acresof what is now the 4,923-acre Heil Valley Ranch Open Space.The site’s natural values include a ponderosa pine/mountainmahogany/big bluestem plant community, critical winteringground for elk and a golden eagle nesting site. The Heil ValleyRanch also serves as an integral part of a larger landscapethat connects lands managed by the U.S. Forest Service,Bureau of Land Management and Boulder County. The area is managed by Boulder County Parks and Open Space and isopen for year-round recreational activities.

Mueller State Park and Dome Rock State Wildlife Area

About the cooperativeLocation: 25 miles west ofColorado SpringsMueller State Park:(719) 687-2366 orhttp://parks.state.co.usDome Rock State Wildlife Area:http://wildlife.state.co.us/swa/view.aspDirections: Take U.S. Highway 24west from Colorado Springs for 25miles to Divide. Turn left ontoSouth Highway 67 for 3.5 miles.

The Nature Conservancy began acquiring the Mueller Ranch in 1978 and in 1980 transferred the property to the State ofColorado. The original property is now divided into two protectedareas: Mueller State Park managed by Colorado State Parks and Dome Rock State Wildlife Area, managed by the ColoradoDivision of Wildlife. The two sites combined protect more than12,000 acres of prime wildlife habitat. Mueller State Park offersa full range of recreational activities and more than 50 miles oftrails. The Wildlife Area offers hiking and fishing, but no camping.

North Star Nature PreserveIn 1977, the 175-acre North Star Nature Preserve was acquired by The Nature Conservancy and transferred to Pitkin County thefollowing year becoming the County’s first significant open spaceacquisition. The preserve has grown to 315 acres and protectsimportant riparian (streamside) habitat along the Roaring ForkRiver. It harbors a blue heron colony as well as elk, deer andbeaver. Portions of the preserve are wildlife areas and are thereforeclosed to the public, but other areas – between Roaring Fork Riverand Hwy 82 – contain a wildlife viewing area and trails designated for hiking.

Ryan RanchLocated just outside of Gunnison County, the 829-acre Ryan Ranchrepresents a partnership between The Nature Conservancy and theBureau of Land Management (BLM). The Conservancy purchasedthe ranch in 1990 and transferred it to the BLM the following year.Managed by the BLM, this site protects a rare plant community ofnarrowleaf cottonwood-Colorado blue spruce/thinleaf alder. It alsoprovides important public access to the BLM’s PowderhormWilderness Study Area and is open to the public year-round forday use.

About the cooperativeLocation: Near AspenMore Information: View PitkinCounty Open Space and Trails On the web at:http://www.aspenpitkin.com/depts/21/ Contact: (970) 920-5232.Directions: There are accesspoints to trailheads along Hwy 82.Contact Pitkin County OpenSpace and Trails for details.

About the cooperativeLocation: Southwest Colorado,near Lake CityMore Information: Visit theBLM, Gunnison Field Office On the web at:http://www.co.blm.gov/gra/index.html or Contact: Gunnison Field Officeat (970) 641-0471Directions: Ryan Ranch is locat-ed 2 miles south of the Gunnisonand Hinsdale County lines. FromLake City, drive north on StateHwy 149 for 6.75 miles. Turn righton a gravel road at a BLM sign.Drive 200 yards to the river andpark on the left side of the road.The property extends downstreamfor about one mile on the eastbank of the river.

Sheep Mountain Ranch

In the summer of 1990, The Nature Conservancy protected theSheep Mountain Ranch, 320 acres of beautiful canyon countryalong the North St. Vrain Creek in Boulder County. Later that year,the Conservancy transferred the property to the U.S. Forest Serviceto become part of the Arapahoe-Roosevelt National Forest. Carvedinto precambrian granite by North St. Vrain Creek, the SheepMountain Ranch boasts steep canyon walls, spectacular sceneryand great fishing.

About the cooperativeLocation: Near Boulder, alongNorth St. Vrain CreekMore Information: Visit theArapahoe-Roosevelt NationalForest on the web at:http://www.fs.fed.us/arnf/.Click on Recreation Information,click on Boulder Ranger District,and click on Hiking to access thetrail map for Coulson’s Gultch Trail.Directions: Take US Hwy 36about 9 miles west of Lyons, andturn on County Road 118 to BigElk Meadows. Follow theCoulson’s Gulch Trail to St. VrainCreek. Hike upstream along thejeep trail for about a mile, thenfollow the foot path, along thecreek for another mile. The SheepMountain Ranch straddles thecreek on the north and south.

White Rocks Nature PreserveIn 1982, The Nature Conservancy and the City of Boulderentered into an agreement to purchase a conservationeasement on approximately 200 acres adjacent to Teller Lake and Teller Preserve. The Nature Conservancy loanedthe City funds to protect White Rock’s fragile sandstonecliffs. The City repaid the loan and currently manages theland as open space. The area is host to magnificent sand-stone outcroppings that support lush vegetation such as a rare, small fern called Asplenium andrewsii. The site alsosupports a wide variety of mammals, birds and reptilesincluding a heron rookery, barn owls and mule deer. Due to the fragility of the cliffs, a portion of the property is not open for hiking, however visitors can walk alongEast Boulder Trail through the preserve.

About the cooperativeLocation: BoulderMore Information: Visit the City ofBoulder Open Space andMountain Parks on the web at:http://www.ci.boulder.co.us/open-space/ Contact: (303) 441-3440Directions: From Boulder, takeValmont Road east to 95th Street.Go north (left) on 95th Street forapproximately 1.5 miles and thenhead west (left) on W. PhillipsRoad. Park in the small parkingarea on the north side of the roadat the trailhead.

Photo CreditsCover © JD MarstonBack Cover © Jim SteinbergPage 2 © Harold E. MaldePage 3 © JD MarstonPage 4 © Harold E. MaldePage 6 © Jim SteinbergPage 8 © Harold E. MaldePage 12 © Harold E. MaldePage 14 © John FielderPage 16 © Sydney Shafroth MacyPage 18 © John Fielder

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The Nature Conservancy in Colorado2424 Spruce StreetBoulder, CO 80302

phone: 303-444-2950email: co_info@tnc.orgweb: nature.org/colorado

Colorado’s Last Great Places

Nature Conservancy Preserves &Cooperative Projects You Can Visit