Contact: Richard Mylott, richard@wildernessworkshop.org
In September 2026, after requests from Wilderness Workshop, local community members, and partners, the U.S. Forest Service agreed to open a public comment period on a proposed special use permit that would transfer management responsibilities for the Maroon Bells Scenic Area to Pitkin County.
Statement from Will Roush, Executive Director
Wilderness Workshop appreciates the White River National Forest’s decision to provide formal notice and invite public comment as it considers whether to issue the permit and transfer management of the Maroon Bells to Pitkin County. The Bells—and all public lands—deserve no less.
The fact that the White River National Forest is considering transferring management of one of the most beloved and heavily visited landscapes in the Rocky Mountain West because of inadequate funding reflects a sad state of affairs for our public lands. It is inexcusable for Congress to let America’s natural heritage reach this level of neglect and disrepair. We call on our legislators to act now to ensure appropriate funding levels for our treasured public lands and the agencies that steward them on behalf of us all.
We are grateful to Pitkin County for its willingness to help fill a federal funding gap and ensure the iconic Maroon Bells are managed thoughtfully and responsibly. We deeply appreciate the County’s commitment to keep management focused on protecting this extraordinary resource while ensuring sustainable, high-quality public access for generations to come.
Congress must fully fund the Forest Service and restore the federal government’s commitment to managing our shared natural heritage for conservation, public access, and future generations. In the meantime, the Forest Service must prioritize public involvement in decisions affecting public lands, especially decisions as significant as transferring management authority to third parties.
The unfortunate reality is that not all of our public lands have a partner like Pitkin County with the capacity to step in when the Forest Service needs a helping hand. More and more of our public lands are being handed over to third parties to manage, often without public review or input. Shifting core public lands management responsibilities to local governments and private contractors without a transparent Forest Service process sets a dangerous precedent. Anyone who cares about public lands should be alarmed by what this means for their future stewardship and accessibility.
These short-term bailouts of our most treasured natural landscapes cannot become the norm. Public lands belong to all Americans. They are not businesses to be handed off to third parties, managed for revenue, or made accessible only to those who can pay higher fees. If we treat public lands like a business and tie their management to fee revenue, we risk losing the values at their core: freedom, access to the outdoors, and wild nature.
