Land Conservation

MRHI works to identify permanent land conservation options for areas of key importance for conservation and recreation, particularly those that include aquatic and riparian habitat or areas that provide greater legal trail and recreation access. We work one-on-one with local landowners to find the best option and appropriate partnerships to conserve land in a way that best meets their needs and wishes.

Featured Projects

Mount Bross Land Protection

(Fairplay, CO, March 18, 2026) — Today, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and The Conservation Fund announced the Forest Service’s purchase and permanent protection of 480 acres on Mount Bross from The Conservation Fund, which acquired the property last September to secure outstanding recreational opportunities and access to Colorado’s high mountain peaks.

The agency plans to manage the land on this “Fourteener” — or “14er,” a peak that rises above 14,000 feet — for public trail access and to protect critical headwaters and wildlife habitat. The purchase includes a portion of the DeCaLiBron Loop Trail — across Mounts Democrat, Cameron, Lincoln and Bross — between Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross. Local communities have expressed support for the acquisition, including Park County and the nearby towns of Alma and Fairplay, who depend on the recreation economy that Mount Bross supports and the water that it provides.

"We are excited to bring access and conservation efforts that will benefit the community and wildlife in such a popular recreation area," said Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands Forest and Grassland Supervisor Ryan Nehl. "We could not have accomplished this without the support of The Conservation Fund, Park County and many other partners, with whom we are honored to care for the land and ensure its protection for many generations to come."    

This announcement continues momentum on a multiyear initiative to protect Colorado’s 14ers. It builds on The Conservation Fund’s and Forest Service’s recent work in 2023 to add 289 acres to the national forest at the Kite Lake Trailhead and major portions of the DeCaLiBron trail, places on the 14ers that had been closed to hikers in past years. The Mount Bross purchase occurs at a key time, as Colorado, the “Centennial State,” celebrates its 150th statehood anniversary.  

"Mount Bross is a place where Colorado’s recreation, heritage and natural wonder all come together. This project shows what’s possible when local communities, conservation partners and the Forest Service move quickly together to protect Colorado’s most cherished landscapes,” said Kelly Ingebritson, senior field representative at The Conservation Fund. 

As part of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands, these 480 acres will protect the headwaters of the South Platte River, a vital source of drinking water, agricultural irrigation and a healthy downstream environment. They will also protect and strengthen critical wildlife corridors by preserving continuous, undeveloped habitats for elk, moose and bighorn sheep, easing the threat of human-wildlife encroachment.
 

While this acquisition protects land and improves overall access on Mount Bross, it does not include the summit, which remains privately owned. Consequently, public access to the summit remains restricted at this time.

Funding for the acquisition came from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was permanently funded through the bipartisan Great American Outdoors Act signed by President Trump in 2020. LWCF, established in 1965, reinvests a small percentage of offshore energy revenues — not taxpayer dollars — in conservation and recreation access projects that support critical natural resources, wild habitats, historic sites and working lands. This project was made possible thanks to swift action by The Conservation Fund and in partnership with Park County, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, Colorado Mountain Club Foundation, and a local landowner, Earth Energy Resources, LLC. 

Leaders from partner organizations emphasized the project’s significance: 

"Park County celebrates this community driven project. Our Land and Water Trust Fund grant was a catalyst to protect the Mount Bross lands and headwaters, strengthen our outdoor recreation economy and preserve significant water resources for our communities,” said Lucas Meyer, Park County manager.

“Protecting another key portion of the DeCaLiBron trail and viewshed is a win for the 14ers and for hikers. This is one of the most popular 14er area hikes in Colorado, with over 15,000 hiker use days last year,” added Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. “We are glad to partner on this project that helps with trail access and protecting these peaks that make Colorado great.”

“We are thrilled to see Mount Bross lands protected and added to public lands. We have been glad to be a part of this effort to ensure the Mosquito Range’s exceptional alpine biodiversity and headwaters support our local communities and provide critical wildlife habitat,” said Cara Doyle, executive director of the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative. 

“Colorado Mountain Club Foundation is pleased to help with this important acquisition,” said John Lacher, a board member of the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation.

September 17, 2025 Access Secured on Colorado’s Mt. Bross and Iconic 14er Loop

The Conservation Fund just secured more than 480 acres on the slopes of Mount Bross — one of Colorado’s iconic 14,000-foot peaks — in a major win for conservation, recreation access, and mountain heritage.
This newly acquired land protects public hiking access along a nearly eight-mile alpine route that connects four breathtaking summits: Mount Democrat, Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Bross. For Coloradans and visitors alike, the trail known as the DeCaLiBron Loop is one of the state’s most known and awe-inspiring ways to experience multiple 14ers in a single hike.

The DeCaLiBron loop crosses both public and private land, where complex ownership has long posed challenges for hikers, land managers, and local communities that depend on outdoor recreation for economic stability. Without permanent protection, private land ownership could have blocked public access and fractured the scenic views that define Colorado’s high country.

In addition to securing trail access, this project will preserve the alpine viewshed from the highest points of the trail, and protect the fragile alpine ecosystems that exist only at these elevations. The newly conserved land also helps safeguard the headwaters of the South Platte River — a critical water source for communities, wildlife, and agriculture throughout the region. This effort is part of The Conservation Fund’s long-term vision to protect Colorado’s high peaks. It builds on our 2023 acquisition of Mount Democrat, now managed by the U.S. Forest Service, and moves us one step closer to fully securing public access and ecological protections across the entire trail system.

This project was made possible thanks to an extraordinary partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Park County, the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, and local landowner Earth Energy Resources, LLC. With their support, this land is expected to transfer into permanent public ownership within the year.