Sept. 3 marks the 60th anniversary of the Wilderness Act. President Lyndon B.
Johnson signed it into law in 1964. In Eagle County, we are fortunate to have three designated wilderness areas: Eagles Nest Wilderness , Holy Cross Wilderness , and the Flat Tops Wilderness . These areas were designated wilderness areas in 1976, 1980, and 1975 respectively, totaling over 488,000 acres.
Wilderness areas protect the natural beauty and stunning landscapes we enjoy throughout our community. They provide recreational opportunities and are crucial for maintaining biodiversity and supporting healthy ecosystems. They serve as living classrooms where people can learn about ecology, conservation, and the natural and cultural history of the region.
They support our tourism-driven economy by attracting visitors and by protecting these areas to sustain the economic benefit. Please note that the Wilderness Act of 1964 and other environmental protection legislation do not represent Indigenous people who had previously inhabited these lands. Indigenous people have not, historically, been represented or recognized during these processes.
And although progress has been made, we still have a long way to go. Please be mindful of the language used below. The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines wilderness as: “A wilderness, in contrast with those areas where man and his own works dominate the landscape, is hereby recognized as an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where .