The Outside 285 Master plan is a regional planning effort focused on identifying opportunities for trail improvements and habitat conservation within public lands surrounding the eastern US-285 corridor, from the Front Range to Kenosha Pass.
While this plan does focus on trail building, it is important that the plan also considers impacts to wildlife and other recreation, with efforts to minimize these conflicts.
Click this map of the area, including existing trails and Wild Connections Conservation Plan areas, to download a full-sized version.
Wild Connections is part of the Outside 285 Steering Committee, working with a broad range of stakeholders to ensure consideration and protection for the wild lands and wildlife that call this area home. Our role in this committee is to help protect the remaining wild lands and wildlife along the heavily trafficked and developed US 285 corridor.
Impacts to wildlife habitat and migration corridors
Possible fragmentation of large open spaces
Existing area trails and development
Impacts to Colorado Upper Tier and Other Roadless Areas Impacts to other recreational uses
Click the map to download a full sized version that shows draft trails designations proposed by the Outside 285 group. WC priority areas are highlighed.
Some of our highest priority areas in the Outside 285 region include:
All lands west of Staunton State Park and north of US 285 including the Guanella Pass area. These areas, especially between Staunton and CR 62 (Guanella Pass Rd) have historically been well protected by privately held lands and is all High & Critically Sensitive habitat.
Southern portion of the planning area, from Wellington Lake and the east boundary of Lost Creek Wilderness, east to the west banks of the South Platte River, including the Buffalo Creek area. This area is of high sensitivity and significance to area wildlife as "CPW Important Habitat Areas", and migration routes.
Roxborough State Park area and west this area is important for elk concentration, production and migration corridors
When you participate in the Outside 285 public survey you will help create a plan that fully considers the trade-offs between recreational uses and wildlife and other conservation values.
Wild Connections' mission is to identify, protect, and restore wildlands, native species, and biological diversity in the Arkansas and South Platte watersheds. They are the ancestral lands of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho and other indigenous peoples.
