Crystal River Valley

Home to bighorn sheep, geothermal hot springs, rare orchids, and even fireflies, the Crystal River Valley is one of a kind

The North and South Forks of the Crystal River begin in the Maroon-Bells Snowmass Wilderness (doubled in size by Wilderness Workshop’s founders), come together at the iconic Crystal Mill, then travel downstream through Marble and Redstone, eventually converging with the Roaring Fork River in Carbondale. Whether it’s new wilderness, efforts to permanently protect the Crystal River, or proposed trails, there is no shortage of public lands projects in the Crystal River Valley.

Our work with stakeholders led to local governments and water districts signing a landmark agreement in 2026 to oppose mainstem dams and out-of-basin water diversions on the Crystal. In 2024, Wilderness Workshop and a coalition of partners also helped secure Outstanding Waters designations on two tributaries to the Crystal: Avalanche Creek and North and Middle Thompson Creeks. This state designation recognizes streams with high water quality and protects them from future degradation. In addition to the projects highlighted below, the Thompson Divide abuts the Crystal River Valley and our work to permanently protect the Divide directly impacts the Crystal’s watershed.

Want to get involved in our Crystal River Valley work? Reach out to Advocacy Director Erin Riccio.

Permanently protecting the Crystal River

WW is a founding member of the Coalition to Keep the Crystal River Wild & Scenic, which seeks Wild and Scenic designation for the Crystal River. This federal designation would keep the river as it is today: free-flowing and free of dams. With an ongoing drought and climate change impacts escalating, demand for the Crystal’s water will only increase.

We are currently helping lead a collaborative stakeholder process to develop proposals for instream-flow water rights and a Wild and Scenic designation. At the recommendation of the stakeholder group, the local governments and water districts signed a historic intergovernmental agreement in 2026 that commits to preserving the Crystal River’s free-flowing character, agricultural heritage, and ecological integrity.The agreement between Pitkin and Gunnison Counties, the Town of Marble, the Colorado River District, and the West Divide Water Conservancy District shows a real commitment to river health and provides meaningful protections while we continue working toward instream flows and a Wild and Scenic designation.

We encourage community members to learn more about the current collaborative stakeholder process and sign the petition supporting Wild & Scenic designation. You can learn more about the current process we are helping lead here.

Potential Wilderness Areas Additions

Senator Michael Bennet and Representative Jeff Hurd are proposing bipartisan legislation that would designate wilderness areas right in our backyard! The Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection Act (GORP Act) would protect spectacular public landscapes from Gunnison to Ashcroft. The GORP Act includes new wilderness designations for Star Peak, at the headwaters of Castle Creek, and Treasure Mountain, an expansion of the Raggeds Wilderness above Marble. We’re enthusiastically supportive of the GORP Act, and the Star Peak and Treasure Mountain wilderness designations in particular.

We’re also encouraging Senator Bennet to increase protections for additional public lands in the North Fork Valley just over McClure Pass from the Crystal– places like the Clear Fork and Pilot Knob roadless areas. WW has worked for a decade to protect our wild roadless forests in the North Fork from oil and gas drilling, and it’s time these places get the permanent protection they deserve.