Crested Butte Land Trust Expands Conservation Efforts with Acquisition of Five Mining Claims

The Crested Butte Land Trust is proud to announce the recent acquisition of five patented mining claim parcels, totaling more than 44 acres in our local backcountry. Remnants of the hardrock mining era of the late 1800s, mining claims are private property embedded in public lands. These high-elevation parcels, spread throughout the National Forest, feature a mix of subalpine forest, lakeshore, and rugged mountain terrain.

Alpine ecosystems are among the most fragile in the world. Even small disruptions can have huge impacts on water quality, fragment wildlife habitats, and diminish the recreational experiences we all cherish. These parcels, classified as Wilderness in-holdings, edge-holdings, or out-holdings, play a key role in preserving uninterrupted landscapes.

This acquisition builds on the Land Trust’s 30-year legacy of conserving high-altitude ecosystems, from mining claims along Paradise Divide to historic parcels in Schofield Park and North Pole Basin. It also follows the landmark achievement in permanently protecting Mt. Emmons (Red Lady), another mining-threatened area critical to our watershed’s health. With the most recent mining claim acquisitions, the Crested Butte Land Trust has helped protect more than 900 acres of our mountain backcountry within the past six months!  

Whether large or small, every conserved parcel helps protect our water, wildlife, and wild places. With support from our community, CBLT will continue safeguarding these important landscapes. Thank you for helping us secure the heart of the high country.