The Wilson Mountain Wild Area extends west from Lizard Head and
Blackface Mountains to Flat Top and Dolores Peaks and contains about
27,347 acres. Sunshine, Wilson, and Gladstone Mountains and Wilson Peak
are included, and the area affords the utmost in scenery and mountain
climbing. Nearly half of it is barren land above timberline. About 5,000
acres are wet meadows or alpine grasslands. The remainder is covered
with timber, chiefly Engelmann spruce and alpine fir. Grazing of
domestic stock, improvements necessary for fire protection, and
development of water-storage projects may be permitted, but there will
be no summer homes, no resorts or commercial enterprises, no scenic
highways, and no commercial timber cutting.
[Illustration: F-376868
LONE CONE PEAK]
An area of 2,800 acres, especially adapted to scientific and educational
use and known as the Narraguinnep Canyon Natural Area, has been
designated in the canyon of that name which drains into the Dolores
River, about 24 miles west of the town of Dolores. Access to this canyon
is difficult and no timber cutting or grazing of domestic stock is
permitted. Under these restrictions, it will be possible to preserve in
its virgin condition a typical southwestern Colorado canyon type of
ponderosa and piñon pine, juniper, oak, serviceberry, and other shrubs
and plants.