Roadless Areas

Roadless Areas provide outstanding opportunities for solitude or primitive and unconfined recreation; lands without roads or significant alterations; and a landscape affected only by the forces of nature with the imprint of man's work unnoticeable.

The Governor of Colorado determined that a state specific rule concerning roadless area management would be the best means of assuring consistent conservation and appropriate management of Colorado´s roadless areas (State Petition). The Forest Service and the State of Colorado are working together to develop language for the final roadless rule and to complete the final Environmental Impact Statement. The roadless areas within the GMUG and other Colorado National Forests will be determined based on the criterion defined in the language of the new rule.

On July 3, 2012, the Colorado Roadless Rule became effective with the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register.  The rule applies to 4.2 million acres of National Forest roadless areas within Colorado and conserves roadless area values for future generations, while providing for activities important to the citizens and economy of Colorado.  The final rule reflects the views and concerns of thousands of people who expressed interest during the rule-making process.  From July 2006 to June 2012, there were five public comment periods resulting in more than 310,000 comments from people throughout the country. 

Click here for more information on the roadless rule.