Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness

The Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness is an apolitical nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation formed in 1994 which helps the Dillon Ranger District of the White River National Forest maintain the Summit County Colorado portions of the Eagles Nest and Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness areas. Starting in summer 2006, FENW will be partnering with the Holy Cross Ranger District of the White River National Forest in the Eagle County portions of the Eagles Nest and Holy Cross Wilderness areas.

We accomplish our mission through four focus areas: Education, Outreach, Advocacy, and Stewardship.

Thanks to FENW's Wonderful Sponsors!

Thanks to our 2007 Eagles Nest Wilderness noxious weed treatment program supporters: The Summit Foundation, the National Forest Foundation/Ski Area Contribution Program, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Patagonia/Wilderness Sports, and FENW members.

Thanks to our 2007 Wilderness Volunteer and trail projects sponsors:
The Summit Foundation; Towns of Breckenridge, Frisco, and Silverthorne; Colorado State Parks/Trails; Abbey's Coffee, and FENW members.

Hot topics:

June 28 - Gateway Trail Project 2008 More Information .doc or .pdf

Colorado Weed Pull Saturday July 12th - Click Here for more info on Noxious Weeds

FENW Annual party being planned for October 9th Location TBD

FENW Receives NFFSCF Grant -Janaury 15, 2008

Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness are pleased to announce the receipt of a $10,000 National Forest Foundation Ski Conservation Fund (NFFSCF) Grant for 2008. The Friends submitted a Wilderness Ecosystem Improvement Project to continue its fight against noxious weeds in the Eagles Nest Wilderness and the adjoining National Forests.

The Grant, funded in partnership with Vail Resorts, will be used in Summit, as well as the Eagle County side of the Eagles Nest Wilderness. Such noxious weeds as oxeye daisy, yellow toadflax, musk and Canada thistle and diffuse knapweed are targeted. Stay tuned, the Friends will be looking for volunteer help in our early detection of noxious weeds. For additional information, contact John Taylor at (970) 262-5940.

Dues and donations to FENW are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law. We're a 501(c)(3).

More Information

The Eagles Nest Wilderness straddles the Gore Range and extends from the communities of Copper Mountain, Frisco, and Silverthorne in the south to Heeney in the north. On the west side of the Gore Range, lie the towns of Vail and Minturn. Ptarmigan Peak Wilderness lies to the east of Silverthorne and north of I-70 atop the Williams Fork Mountains. Holy Cross Wilderness in Eagle County extends from Minturn south to the Lake County line and west to almost Eagle.

The Eagles Nest, Ptarmigan Peak, and Holy Cross Wilderness areas are comprised of alpine tundra, alpine lakes, dense lodgepole, spruce and aspen forests, meadows, and high desert sagebrush. Significant wildlife in the area include elk, black bear, moose, mule deer, mountain lion, marmot, pika, ptarmigan, hare, red fox, coyote, bobcat, and lynx. Common flowers of the Wilderness areas include columbine, lupine, wild geranium, and aster.

Trailheads maintained with the assistance of the Friends of the Eagles Nest Wilderness provide backpacker, horseback, and hunter access to more than fifty miles of the Gore Range Trail. Our trail maintenance and trailhead projects will expand to Eagle County in the next few years.Click on Wilderness Information for more information.