Wilderness
Qualities
The Eagle Mountain addition consists of a steep, wooded hillside encompassing the lower elevation slopes of one of the high ridges of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. Stands of aspen and spruce-fir forest are intermingled with mountain shrubs. Outstanding panoramic views of the high peaks within the wilderness and the Snowmass Creek valley are visible from the area's slopes.
Eagle Mountain is home to deer, elk, mountain lion, and bear, but is generally used only as summer range for most species. Hunting is the primary recreational use of this area.
The addition of Eagle Mountain to the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness will more detinsibily define the boundary of the existing wilderness by generally following topographic contours. The existing boundary now slices straight across several steep hillsides.
Resource Information
No strategic or critical minerals are known to exist within the area. There are no existing mineral leases. There is little likelihood of timber harvest potential due to the small size of the area and the location of all timber on slopes greater than 40%. One grazing allotment is located within the area, for one week in June. Wilderness designation will have no affect on this use.
The area is entirely downstream of the designated
Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, and is thus a
headwaters area.
Boundary Issues
Both citizens and BLM support wilderness designation of the entire area.
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