What we’re about
This meetup is for people who are interested in conservation of wild public lands, hiking, and volunteer projects such as restoration of natural habitat. Our activities take place over a wide geography, including the Front Range, Arkansas River Valley, and South Park.
Wild Connections protects and restores wild nature and public lands across the watersheds of the Arkansas and South Platte Rivers in central Colorado. We recognize these as the ancestral lands of the Ute, Cheyenne, Arapaho and other indigenous peoples.
Connecting Wildernesses and roadless areas in a landscape-wide wildlands network across the central Rockies benefits migratory animals, rare plant communities, clean water resources for urban and mountain communities , local economies, quiet recreation, historic and cultural locations, scenic vistas and spiritual values.
Upcoming events (3)
See all- FS North Tarryall Creek Project Monitoring Hike on National Public Lands DayNeeds location
Note, this hike is posted on multiple forums so you must contact the trip leader, John, directly by phone or e-mail to register.
Join us as we revisit our 2018 restoration project site at the headwaters of the North Tarryall Creek in South Park, just west of Boreas Pass Road. We will monitor for revegetation of the project site and illegal motorized use. The 5-6 mile round trip hike has approximately 900 feet of elevation gain, taking us just beneath the Continental Divide!
There will be optional camping the night before at the Selkirk Campground, home of our 2016 restoration project site and just below where our N. Tarryall Creek monitoring hike will begin.
Participants should bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water, clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Sorry, no dogs allowed. Maximum 15 participants. A carpool or caravan from Colorado Springs will be arranged.
For details or to sign up, contact John Sztukowski at 817-939-4239 or [email protected].
- Volunteer Seeding Restoration Project at the FS Puma Hills Roadless AreaNeeds location
Note, this hike is posted on multiple forums so you must contact the trip leader, John, directly by phone or e-mail to register.
Wild Connections is excited to partner once again with the USFS' South Park Ranger District. We will be closing about two and a half miles of illegal motorized routes that enter the Puma Hills Roadless Area just north of Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir.
The FS will be prepping the area for us, where we will seed and rake two large sections of illegal routes, stemming from adjacent BLM public lands. The FS will follow-up the project by rewiring the boundary fence and installing signs to keep out illegal motorized use in the future.
Volunteers should bring a lunch, water and clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Wear closed-toe shoes and bring work gloves if you have them. Wild Connections will provide tools, snacks, drinks, and a much deserved post-work day treat!
For details or to sign up, contact John Sztukowski at 817-939-4239 or [email protected].
- Beaver Creek Climate Educational HikeNeeds location
Note, this hike is posted on multiple forums so you must contact the trip leader, John, directly by phone or e-mail to register.
Join us for a hike into the wild Beaver Creek Wilderness Study Area, located between Colorado Springs and Cañon City, to retrieve data loggers that have been recording temperature and humidity data. Beaver Creek was identified as being on the of "Best" areas for Climate Refugia in Wild Connections Climate Corridor and Refugia Analysis.
This will be a strenuous hike of about 7.5 miles and 1,600 feet total ascent, rated strenuous for the distance, elevation gain, cliff-edged trails and creek crossings.
Participants should bring lunch, snacks, and plenty of water, clothing suitable for the weather conditions. Sorry, no dogs allowed. Maximum 15 participants. A carpool or caravan from Colorado Springs will be arranged.
For details or to sign up, contact John Sztukowski at 817-939-4239 or [email protected].
