The Wilderness Land Trust has an opportunity to acquire the Pearson Claims — 27 private parcels totaling 270 acres — located within Colorado’s Red Cloud Peak and Handies Peak Wilderness Study Areas (WSAs) in Hinsdale County. Upon acquisition, the Trust will work to transfer the land to the BLM for permanent public ownership.
These WSAs represent some of Colorado’s most spectacular backcountry, encompassing the highest BLM-managed land outside Alaska. The landscape spans elevations from 9,000 to over 13,500 feet and serves as an ecological corridor connecting the northern and southern San Juans. It provides headwaters for three major river systems and supports remarkable biodiversity, including endangered Canada lynx, the Uncompahgre fritillary butterfly, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, and elk. The combined 54,321-acre WSAs are already included in the Colorado Wilderness Act for wilderness designation — but private inholdings like the Pearson Claims remain a significant obstacle to that federal designation.
The Pearson Claims are situated in the most ecologically sensitive and heavily visited parts of the WSAs. Two popular trails — Alpine Gulch and Cataract Gulch — run directly through the parcels, providing access for hikers, backpackers, and participants in renowned events like the San Juan Solstice 50 and the Hardrock 100 ultramarathon. Despite current public access, no legal right-of-way exists. Acquisition would permanently secure trail access and prevent development that would irreparably alter the landscape’s ecological and recreational value.
The Trust has already purchased 31 parcels totaling 292 acres in the area since 2023, with strong support from Hinsdale and San Juan County commissioners, the Colorado Governor’s Office, and U.S. Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper. The Trust anticipates closing on acquisition by the end of 2026, with transfer to the BLM targeted for 2028.
