Schofield and the High Elk Corridor
The High Elk Corridor is a valley system situated in thenorthern part of Gunnison County that connects the Maroon Bells-Snowmass and the Raggeds Wilderness areas. A summer-only jeep road from Crested Butte passes through the High Elk, linking the town sites of Gothic, Crystal and Marble along a route traversed by modern outdoor enthusiasts, 19thcentury miners, and the Native American Ute before them. Thousands of people visit
john miller
this area in the summer, and there are over 100 different landowners within the boundaries of the corridor. To protect this extraordinary scenic natural land, the Crested Butte Land Trust joined with the Trust for Public Land, the Aspen Valley Land Trust, the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory and Crested Butte Mountain Resort to identify 2,500 acres of private in holdings within the National Forest whose protection is critical to maintain the High Elk Corridor’s ecological and scenic integrity.
The High Elk Corridor is a sub-alpine valley that provides important habitat for numerous species of plants and wildlife, an unpolluted water resource, a unique outdoor laboratory, an open-air museum showcasing Colorado’s mining history, and a multitude of year-round recreation opportunities.
chad martens
There have been multiple transactions involving purchases, donations, and Forest Service trades, which have protected over half of the Schofield town site as well as many mining claims. In July of 1997, CBLT, in a joint venture with the RMBL and CBMR, closed on the purchase of nearly one-half of the town site of Schofield(522 lots) for permanent protection as open space. Located up-valley from RMBL’s home in Gothic, Schofield town site was platted around the turn of the century into approximately 650 building sites. It is the three partners’ desire to keep this area open and possibly trade it into the National Forest. In 2005, nearly 800 high-priority acres in the High Elk were conveyed to the United States of America, through a purchasing and conveyance by the Trust for Public Land, for permanent protection and management as part of the White River National Forest. All of the properties allow public access; *the Cottage Home Easement allows public access to and around the waterfall.
A 7-acre conservation easement encumbered Cottage Home, donated by Brian Beitner in 2003. This former mining claim has a unique setting along the South Fork of Crystal River, and showcases scenic terraces surrounding cascading waterfalls. Public access to and around the waterfall on existing trails is allowed.
CBLT acquired the Rock Creek 10.3 acre mining claim in 2003. Located near Paradise Divide, this steep and rugged parcel near the Peeler Lakes provides wildlife habitat for black bear, deer and elk. The parcel is surrounded by Forest Service lands.
