Badger Creek, a BLM Wildlands Hike with GARNA and Wild Connections
Sunday, September 15
7:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Badger Creek, located about 10 miles east of Salida in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, is one of few perennial waterways in the otherwise rugged and arid Arkansas River Canyonlands. This easy-to-moderate hike of up to six miles and 400 feet elevation gain begins at Badger Creek’s confluence with the Arkansas River and follows a historic wagon route along the creek on BLM managed public lands.
The landscape consists primarily of pinyon-juniper woodlands blanketing rugged rocky uplands, ideal habitat for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, mountain lion, and birds of prey like the bald eagle and red-tailed hawk. Brook trout inhabit the creek itself. This area has extraordinary biological values as well including the imperiled and endemic Arkansas Canyon Stickleaf, the vulnerable blue-eyed grass, and a tributary that contains an imperiled riparian natural community.
Join us and learn about BLM’s ongoing Eastern Colorado Resource Management Draft Plan, how the Department of Interior is rolling back locally proposed protections, including at Badger Creek, and what you can do about it! The BLM is accepting comments through Sept 20: https://go.usa.gov/xQcZT.
Plan on packing a lunch and snacks, plenty of water, layers of clothing, rain gear, sturdy boots, and your standard hiking essentials. This trip is sponsored by Wild Connections and GARNA.
Maximum 15 participants. For more trip and carpool information and to register, contact John Sztukowski, 817-939-4239 or e-mail [email protected] by 5:00 PM, Saturday, September 14.