Wilson Peak

Colorado’s list of mountains exceeding 14,000 feet (a.k.a. fourteeners) is exclusive and celebrated. And for hikers and climbers, the 53 peaks are sought-after summits.

The iconic, breathtaking Wilson Peak in Telluride is one of the most recognizable fourteeners, even among those who have never stepped foot in the state or considered climbing to such heights. That’s because the majestic peak is featured on every can of Coors Light beer.

It is not uncommon for a fourteener summit route to lie within a wilderness area or National Forest and to cross private land. For many years, the summit route to Wilson Peak traversed a mining claim held by a landowner. In 2004, the landowner began charging a trail usage fee and later decided to close the route to the summit altogether.

Over the next decade, Trust for Public Land worked to restore access by raising funds to secure permanent public use of the trails that lead to Wilson Peak. This involved a trade of land parcels between the landowner and the National Forest Service. Land swaps can be a handy conservation tool in communities with high property values. These land trades protect access to iconic areas, combat development, and create vital trail connections.

With the help of dedicated partners, TPL restored public access to Wilson Peak and protected it from future development.

“The magnitude of this acquisition is hard to overstate,” shares former TPL Colorado State Director Tim Wohlgenant. “Restoring access and preventing mining on Wilson Peak is a monumental conservation success for the people of the State of Colorado and the nation.”

This project restored the safest, most direct route for hikers and climbers and protected the property from mining in perpetuity.

The project went through a public hearing that included a meticulous study of potential impacts on everything from road maintenance to vulnerable species such as the Canada lynx.

To raise awareness for TPL and the need for outdoor access across the West, Erik Weinhenmayer, a Colorado resident and the only blind person to have reached the summit of the highest peak in each of the seven continents, ascended Wilson Peak in a historic summit still celebrated to this day.

“There’s a reason people are out here in the mountains,” Erik Weihenmayer says. “It’s because open spaces add to our quality of life.” He compares the process of protecting beloved mountains like Wilson Peak to scaling the world’s tallest mountain. “You do it the same way you climb Mount Everest,” he says. “You do it step by step, and you celebrate each triumph.”

TPL did it step by step, and we’re still celebrating this monumental triumph.