Troublesome South

Troublesome South encompasses 47,359 acres of the Routt National Forest in northwestern Colorado, spanning the Rabbit Ears Range and portions of the Continental Divide. The landscape rises from Troublesome Pass at 10,027 feet to Parkview Mountain at 12,303 feet, with Sheep Mountain and Haystack Mountain anchoring the terrain. Water originates across this high country and flows through a network of named drainages: the Middle Fork Creek headwaters feed the Middle Fork Creek, while East Fork Troublesome Creek, East Branch Willow Creek, Buckhorn Creek, and numerous smaller tributaries—including Coyote Creek, Deer Creek, Hay Park Creek, Haystack Creek, McBride Creek, Monument Creek, Paradise Creek, Round Creek, Siebert Creek, Timber Creek, Trail Creek, and Wheatley Creek—carve through valleys and canyons as they descend from the high ridges.

The forest composition shifts with elevation and moisture availability. At higher elevations, Subalpine Spruce-Fir Forest dominates, with Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forming dense, closed-canopy stands. Lower slopes and drier aspects support Lodgepole Pine Forest, while Aspen Forest occupies areas of past disturbance and moderate moisture. Along stream corridors, Willow Bottoms and Riparian Shrubland communities develop, where twinberry honeysuckle and willows stabilize banks and provide structure for aquatic and riparian-dependent species. Above timberline, Alpine Tundra and Montane-Subalpine Grassland communities replace forest, with specialized plants including sky pilot, moss campion, and dwarf bilberry adapted to exposed, wind-scoured terrain. Sagebrush Hillsides occupy drier ridges and south-facing slopes, where silver sagebrush and subalpine larkspur are characteristic. The federally threatened western prairie fringed orchid occurs in specific wetland microsites within these grassland and shrubland communities.

Large carnivores structure the predator-prey dynamics across this landscape. Gray wolves, present as an experimental population, hunt wapiti and mule deer across the forested slopes and grasslands. Canada lynx, federally threatened, pursue snowshoe hares through dense spruce-fir stands during winter. American black bears and mountain lions occupy the full elevation gradient, with bears feeding on berries in subalpine meadows and lions hunting deer in aspen and lodgepole forests. The federally threatened Mexican spotted owl hunts small mammals in old-growth spruce-fir canyons. In riparian zones and open water, the federally endangered Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker, pallid sturgeon, and bonytail inhabit the creek systems, though their primary strongholds lie downstream in larger river systems. Brook trout and rainbow trout occupy the cooler headwater reaches. Moose and bighorn sheep use high meadows and rocky terrain. Dusky grouse move between forest understory and alpine edges seasonally.

Walking through Troublesome South, a visitor experiences distinct ecological transitions. Following a trail from Troublesome Pass upslope, the landscape opens from lodgepole pine forest into subalpine grassland, where the air cools and wind increases. Crossing into a spruce-fir cove near one of the named creeks—say, Timber Creek or Trail Creek—the canopy closes overhead, light dims, and the sound of running water becomes audible through the dense understory. The forest floor softens with moss and duff. Climbing toward Parkview Mountain or Sheep Mountain, the forest thins again, subalpine larkspur and mountain bluebells bloom in meadow openings, and the view expands across the Continental Divide. In late summer, monarch butterflies move through these high meadows on their migration. Along the willow-lined bottoms of East Fork Troublesome Creek or Hay Park Creek, the landscape flattens briefly, water moves slowly through riparian shrubland, and the smell of wet soil and willows replaces the resinous scent of conifers. These transitions—from closed forest to open ridge, from rushing headwater to willow-bordered creek—define how the landscape reveals itself to those moving through it.

The Arapaho people historically used the lands of the Front Range and the high Rockies, including areas straddling the Continental Divide. The Yampa band of Utes inhabited the Yampa Valley and surrounding highlands, including the areas now managed as the Routt National Forest. The Grand River band of Utes also frequented the high country of north-central Colorado. The Cheyenne, often allied with the Arapaho, used the high plains and mountain valleys of northern Colorado for hunting and seasonal travel. Indigenous groups followed a nomadic seasonal cycle, moving into high-elevation areas during the summer months to hunt large game—elk, mule deer, and mountain sheep—and to gather medicinal plants and food sources. Well-established routes, such as the "Ute Trail," crisscrossed the mountain ranges, allowing tribes to navigate between high plateaus and lower valleys for trade and social gatherings. The broader region was considered sacred due to numerous mineral springs; tribes visited these springs annually for their perceived healing powers and spiritual significance. The name Yampa is derived from an Indigenous word for a native carrot-like root plant that grew abundantly along the riverbanks and served as a staple food source.

The Park Range Forest Reserve was established on June 12, 1905, by proclamation from President Theodore Roosevelt under authority of the Act of March 3, 1891, also known as the Forest Reserve Act. On March 1, 1907, a second proclamation enlarged the reserve to 1,133,330 acres, adding areas such as the Little Snake country and Hahn's Peak Basin. The transition from "Forest Reserve" to "National Forest" was formalized by an Act of Congress on March 4, 1907, which renamed all existing forest reserves. Upon this 1907 rename, the Encampment River and Big Creek watersheds were transferred to the Hayden National Forest. Following the dismantling of the Hayden National Forest in 1929, its Colorado portions were returned to the Routt National Forest. In 1930, additional lands were transferred to the Routt from the Arapaho and Colorado (now Roosevelt) National Forests. In 1934, lands along the eastern edge of North Park were removed from the Routt to create the Colorado State Forest. In 1946, a portion of the forest was transferred to the Arapaho National Forest. In 1954, a significant area, now the Yampa Ranger District, was added to the Routt from the White River National Forest.

The area has historically served as a critical migration corridor for mule deer and elk and is a core habitat for the Unit 18 moose population. The region is a popular destination for hunting, snowmobiling, camping, fishing, and hiking. The area is currently used for livestock grazing under a rotation permit system. The area was formally identified and evaluated as an Inventoried Roadless Area as part of the Forest Service's second Roadless Area Review and Evaluation (RARE II) completed in January 1979. While the area is currently protected as roadless, it has been impacted by widespread pine beetle kill, which has raised historical and modern concerns regarding fire danger and timber health. The U.S. Forest Service acknowledges the Arapaho, Ute, and Cheyenne tribes as the original stewards of the land who maintained a unique relationship with the ecosystem for thousands of years before the establishment of the National Forest system.

Vital Resources Protected

Headwater Protection for Four Federally Listed Fish Species

The Troublesome South area contains the headwaters of Middle Fork Creek and East Fork Troublesome Creek, which drain into the Colorado River system. These cold, high-elevation streams provide critical spawning and rearing habitat for four federally endangered fish species—bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, pallid sturgeon, and razorback sucker—that depend on unobstructed flow and clean gravel substrates throughout their entire range. The roadless condition preserves the intact riparian buffers and stable streambanks that maintain the low water temperatures and sediment-free conditions these species require; road construction would introduce chronic sedimentation from cut slopes and culvert installation, smothering spawning gravels and raising water temperatures through canopy removal.

Subalpine Forest Connectivity for Canada Lynx and Wolverine

This 47,359-acre block of spruce-fir and lodgepole pine forest provides contiguous, unfragmented habitat essential for Canada lynx (federally threatened) and wolverine, both of which require large territories with minimal human disturbance and intact canopy structure for denning and hunting. The area's connection to the adjacent Troublesome IRA on the Arapaho National Forest creates a nearly 60,000-acre roadless corridor—a landscape-scale refuge that cannot be replicated if fragmented by road networks. Road construction would break this connectivity, isolating populations and forcing these wide-ranging carnivores to cross developed areas where vehicle strikes and human conflict increase mortality.

Winter Range and Calving Habitat for Ungulates

The willow bottoms and riparian shrublands of this area provide approximately 2,700 acres of critical winter range for elk and mule deer, while the montane-subalpine grasslands and aspen forests support essential calving and fawning grounds. The area is also a core habitat block for the Unit 18 moose population and a connectivity corridor for bighorn sheep moving between the Never Summer herd and the Rabbit Ears Range. These ungulates depend on the area's roadless character to access forage without disturbance during the most energetically demanding seasons; roads would fragment winter range into smaller patches, increase predation risk through edge effects, and disrupt migration corridors that took decades to establish.

Alpine Tundra and Climate Refugia for High-Elevation Species

The alpine tundra at Parkview Mountain (12,303 ft) and surrounding peaks provides year-round habitat for white-tailed ptarmigan and serves as a climate refugia—a landscape where species can shift elevation as temperatures change. This high-elevation zone is also critical for whooping cranes (federally endangered) and piping plovers (federally threatened) during migration and breeding periods. Road construction at high elevations disrupts the elevational gradient connectivity that allows species to track suitable climate conditions; the loss of unbroken habitat from valley floor to alpine summit would trap populations in warming zones with no refuge.

Threats from Road Construction

Sedimentation and Temperature Increase in Headwater Streams

Road construction requires cutting slopes and removing forest canopy, both of which trigger erosion that delivers fine sediment into the drainage network. This sedimentation smothers the clean gravel spawning substrate that bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, pallid sturgeon, and razorback sucker require for reproduction, reducing recruitment and pushing these already-endangered populations toward local extinction. Simultaneously, removal of streamside forest canopy raises water temperature by 2–5°C in high-elevation streams, exceeding the thermal tolerance of these cold-water specialists and forcing them into smaller refugial pools where they become vulnerable to disease and predation.

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge Effects for Canada Lynx and Wolverine

Road networks break the continuous forest cover that lynx and wolverine depend on for movement and denning, creating isolated habitat patches too small to support viable populations. The edges created by road corridors expose these carnivores to vehicle strikes, increase visibility to hunters, and allow competing predators and invasive species to penetrate previously inaccessible interior forest. Once the nearly 60,000-acre roadless corridor is fragmented, the landscape-scale connectivity that allows these species to maintain genetic diversity and recolonize suitable habitat is permanently lost—restoration would require decades of active management and is often impossible.

Disruption of Ungulate Migration and Winter Range Fragmentation

Roads bisect the migration corridors and winter range that elk, mule deer, moose, and bighorn sheep depend on to survive seasonal transitions. Road construction fragments the 2,700 acres of winter range into smaller, isolated patches that cannot support the density of animals the intact landscape currently sustains; animals forced to cross roads during migration suffer increased vehicle mortality and behavioral avoidance that prevents access to critical forage. For bighorn sheep, road construction blocks the connectivity corridor to the Rabbit Ears Range, isolating the Never Summer herd and reducing genetic exchange with other populations—a loss that cannot be reversed even if roads are later closed.

Loss of Elevational Gradient Connectivity and Climate Refugia Function

Road construction at mid and high elevations severs the unbroken habitat corridor from valley floor to alpine summit that allows species to shift elevation as climate changes. Whooping cranes and piping plovers lose access to the full range of breeding and staging habitats they require during migration; white-tailed ptarmigan in the alpine tundra become trapped in warming zones with no lower-elevation refuge. This loss of climate refugia function is particularly irreversible because it depends on the intact spatial arrangement of ecosystems across elevation—once roads fragment this gradient, the landscape's capacity to buffer species against climate change is permanently diminished.

Troublesome South encompasses 47,359 acres of subalpine terrain in the Rabbit Ears Range, managed by the Parks Ranger District of the Routt National Forest. The area's roadless character—the absence of motorized access and road infrastructure—defines the recreation experience here. All activities depend on foot, horseback, or bicycle travel on maintained trails, preserving the quiet backcountry conditions that make this landscape valuable for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation.

Hiking, Horseback, and Bicycle Travel

Fifteen maintained trails provide access throughout the roadless area. The Troublesome Trail (56.1, 12.6 miles) is the primary corridor, following the East Fork of Troublesome Creek and serving as the main artery to other trails and camping areas. The Elk Mountain Trail (27, 7.4 miles) is a moderate hike with established camping spots; the Top of the World Trail (1211.1B, 12.7 miles) offers extended ridge travel. Shorter routes include the Paradise Creek Trail (54, 2.5 miles), Bill Miller Trail (53, 1.8 miles), and Poison Ridge Trail (1211.1C, 2.9 miles). Horse users access the area via the Troublesome Pass Trailhead (requiring high-clearance 4WD on Forest Road 106/730), the Bill Miller Trailhead (with horse trailer parking), the Elk Mountain Trailhead, and the Wheatley Creek Trailhead. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail crosses Parkview Mountain (12,303 ft), the highest point in the Rabbit Ears Range, offering views of North Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, the Never Summer Range, and the Indian Peaks. The CDT section near Parkview is marked with blazes at intersections and posts near the summit. Wildflowers peak from late June through early August, including Colorado columbine, silky phacelia, and American bistort. Snow persists on Parkview until July; water sources are scarce in late summer. Motorized use is prohibited on all trails.

Hunting

Troublesome South is a core hunting area within Colorado Game Management Unit 18, supporting year-round elk and mule deer populations that use the area as summer range, winter range (approximately 2,700 acres), and migration corridor. Moose are year-round residents in higher elevation parks and willow communities, making this a core area for the Unit 18 moose population. American black bear and mountain lion use the area as overall range. White-tailed ptarmigan occupy the alpine sections year-round. Access is by foot and horseback only; motorized hunting is prohibited. Two commercial outfitters are permitted for hunting and horseback trips. The area's large, unbroken roadless character provides essential wildlife security and movement corridors. Hunting is regulated under Colorado Parks and Wildlife rules for GMU 18. Access points include the Poison Ridge Trailhead (via NFSR 730/107), the Longs Lake Trailhead (informal, limited parking), and general access via Colorado Highway 125 south of Walden.

Fishing

Cold headwater streams throughout the roadless area support wild populations of brook trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout. The East Fork of Troublesome Creek, followed by the Troublesome Trail, is documented for good fishing. The East Branch of Willow Creek, a small freestone stream, offers angling for brook, rainbow, and cutthroat trout in a less-pressured backcountry setting. Large riparian zones dominated by willow and beaver colonies provide essential habitat. Standard Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations apply; a valid fishing license is required for anglers 16 and older. Access for fishing trips is via the Troublesome Pass Trailhead, Bill Miller Trailhead, Elk Mountain Trailhead, and Grassy Run Trailhead. Multi-day fishing trips are supported by established camping areas along the main trails.

Photography and Wildlife Observation

Parkview Mountain and Troublesome Pass provide panoramic vistas of the Rabbit Ears Range, Never Summer Mountains, and surrounding peaks. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail offers expansive alpine views across high ridges. Timberline at approximately 10,500 feet opens into alpine tundra with unobstructed views. The East Fork of Troublesome Creek corridor is scenic for riparian photography. Aspen forests provide seasonal color; alpine tundra hosts sky pilot and moss campion. Subalpine meadows feature mountain bluebells and subalpine larkspur. The area is documented habitat for moose, elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, American black bear, mountain lion, and Canada lynx. Dusky grouse are present in forest habitats. The roadless area's remote, undeveloped character means low light pollution for night sky photography. Access points for photography are the Troublesome Pass Trailhead, Bill Miller Trailhead, Grassy Run Trailhead, and Hyannis Trailhead.

The roadless condition is essential to all these activities. The prohibition on motorized use and the absence of road infrastructure preserve quiet trails, unfragmented wildlife habitat, undisturbed watersheds, and the backcountry character that defines recreation here. Road construction would fragment elk and moose habitat, disrupt migration corridors, introduce noise and disturbance to fishing streams, and eliminate the quiet necessary for wildlife observation and photography.