Hundreds of acres on Mount Bross near Fairplay, including a portion of the popular DeCaLiBron Loop trail, are now permanently in the public domain.
On Wednesday, the U.S Forest Service announced it purchased 480 acres of land on the 14,178-foot mountain from The Conservation Fund. That includes a portion of the DeCaLiBron Loop trail, so-named because it traverses numerous peaks reaching more than 14,000 feet in elevation. Those include Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross.
Notably, the purchase does not include the Mount Bross summit, which will remain privately owned and inaccessible to hikers.
“We are excited to bring access and conservation efforts that will benefit the community and wildlife in such a popular recreation area,” said Ryan Nehl, supervisor of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, in a statement. “We could not have accomplished this without the support of The Conservation Fund, Park County and many other partners, with whom we are honored to care for the land and ensure its protection for many generations to come.”
The Conservation Fund, a nonprofit, purchased the parcels from a private landowner last September with the intention of moving them to public domain. The Forest Service is now charged with managing the land, which will further enable public trail access and protect critical headwaters and wildlife habitat, the announcement said. The area includes headwaters for the South Platte River, a source of drinking and agricultural irrigation water. It is also a habitat for moose, elk, and Bighorn sheep.
The Forest Service used money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to make the acquisition.
“Mount Bross is a place where Colorado’s recreation, heritage and natural wonder all come together. This project shows whatap possible when local communities, conservation partners and the Forest Service move quickly together to protect Colorado’s most cherished landscapes,” Kelly Ingebritson, senior field representative at The Conservation Fund, said in a statement.
The Forest Service has been steadily acquiring private parcels on the Mosquito Range near Fairplay and Alma. In 2023, the agency picked up 289 acres on Mount Democrat and the Kite Lake Trailhead from The Conservation Fund, which had previously purchased it from a private landowner. The owner, John Reiber, had previously closed the area to hikers due to liability issues.
