March 18th, 2026
Land on “14er” Mount Bross permanently added to national forest
Forestland on Mosquito Range Peak purchased from The Conservation Fund, keeping DeCaLiBron Loop open to hikers
(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.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology–and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
About The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.
Forestland on Mosquito Range Peak purchased from The Conservation Fund, keeping DeCaLiBron Loop open to hikers
(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.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology–and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
About The Conservation Fund: The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.
September 21, 2023
THE CONSERVATION FUND SOLVES COLORADO “FOURTEENER” CLOSURE BY SECURING LAND AND PERMANENT PUBLIC ACCESS FOR MOUNT DEMOCRAT
The property is now on a path to long-term protection and hiking access; will become part of Pike-San Isabel National Forest
PARK COUNTY, Colo. (Sept. 21, 2023) — The Conservation Fund, a leading nonprofit in U.S. land and water protection, announced its purchase of nearly 300 acres on Mount Democrat in the Mosquito Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. After many years of land and trail closures, today The Conservation Fund is providing a solution to a long-standing recreation issue, with plans to convey the property to the Pike-San Isabel National Forest later this year.
Mount Democrat is one of Colorado’s beloved “Fourteeners,” a mountain peak scaling above 14,000 feet. It is one of four notable peaks along the famous DeCaLiBron hiking loop, a unique place to hike several Fourteeners in one day just a two-hour drive southwest from Denver. The DeCaLiBron trail also includes Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross, and contains the headwaters to the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers.
“Colorado Fourteeners are a national treasure and we are thrilled to protect Mount Democrat,” said Kelly Ingebritson, Colorado project manager at The Conservation Fund. “Buying this majestic peak is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a model for how conservation can solve America’s recreational access issues and benefit local communities.”
The Conservation Fund purchased the Mount Democrat property from Earth Energy Resources LLC, represented by John Reiber, a retired business executive who owns mining claims across several Fourteeners. Due to liability concerns, Reiber closed public access to the land and trails in 2023, 2021 and other prior years, and is now selling the property to the Fund. During trail closures, the nearby town of Alma and other trailhead communities lost about $5 million in tourism revenue.
The Conservation Fund’s purchase includes the Kite Lake Trailhead that leads to all the DeCaLiBron peaks, land along the Mount Democrat trail, and the Mount Democrat peak itself. The conservation nonprofit will temporarily hold the property and then convey it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service for their long-term ownership, using funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additional funding support was provided by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, Park County, Gehres 14er Fund at the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation, Morrough O’Brien Trust and Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation.
Mount Democrat will be open for hiking under The Conservation Fund’s ownership. In addition to permanently protecting and opening access to Mount Democrat, the conservation solution will also expand access to Mount Cameron, which is currently on public Forest Service land and had prior access issues, but is now accessible through the newly protected Mount Democrat property. The Fund’s acquisition also provides extensive environmental benefits, including protecting alpine headwaters for the two rivers that serve Colorado’s entire front range populations and habitat for endangered species such as the Canada lynx and greenback cutthroat trout.
The Conservation Fund works to protect key lands across the country that provide nature-based benefits for people, wildlife and the fight against climate change. By bringing together local partners, federal agencies like the Forest Service and private landowners, the Fund provides solutions to today’s most critical land challenges across the country. In Colorado, the Fund has conserved nearly 300,000 acres of environmentally and culturally significant land, helping protect destinations like Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Sweetwater Lake and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.
About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches, and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.
Supporting Quotes:
“Our partnership with The Conservation Fund is paramount in securing sustainable recreational access to the summit of Mount Democrat,” said Pike-San Isabel National Forest’s Forest and Grassland Supervisor Diana Trujillo.
“These are special properties that have been part of my life for a long time, so this was a tough decision. I truly appreciate the efforts and tenacity of The Conservation Fund to complete this transaction. The view from the top of Mt. Democrat is spectacular and I believe will be appreciated by all who choose to hike the mountain. I hope hikers will be prepared for challenges, complete their assent, stay safe, keep on the trail, avoid sensitive high alpine tundra, understand the inherent dangers, and leave the mountain as they found it. My wish is that others will enjoy this place that has meant so much to me,” said John Reiber, former landowner.
“More than 10 percent of Colorado’s Fourteeners are on or accessed by private land, which has posed access concerns over the decades. Through this landmark transaction, The Conservation Fund has now taken Mounts Democrat and Cameron off that list and ensured that hikers will get to experience these peaks in every future climbing season without fear of closure. This is a huge masterstroke and one that will reverberate among Fourteener enthusiasts across the globe,” said Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
“This conservation project is what we’ve been working toward for decades. Solving the hiking access here supports our local economy while also protecting the alpine headwaters our community depends on,” said Cara Doyle, executive director for the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative.
“Congratulations to all the partners who pulled this project together to help secure public access to one of Colorado’s iconic fourteeners, Mt. Democrat. This funding will allow the Forest Service to acquire claims from a willing seller, provide public access, and protect water quality and wildlife habitat in this high-use hiking and recreation area,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
“Land and Water Conservation Funds ensure Coloradans can enjoy our lands — and Fourteeners – for generations to come. This is a high point win for Colorado land conservation and accessibility!” said U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper.
“Colorado is home to more than half of the nation’s Fourteeners, and as a life-long Coloradan, I know how important these incredible outdoor spaces are to our way of life. I am delighted to see The Conservation Fund invest in critical efforts to conserve our beloved Fourteeners and increase access to trails at Mt. Democrat and the DeCaLiBron Loop,” said U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen.
“With the voters’ approval to create the Park County Land and Water Trust Fund, and the leadership of the advisory Board members and past and current County Commissioners, we can achieve the exact purpose of these funds, which is to preserve our most cherished assets, our Fourteeners. Mr. John Reiber is a valued member of our community, always making every effort to keep access to Mount Democrat open for recreational uses. Partnerships such as this with private property owners, local government, the USDA Forest Service, local nonprofits, and now The Conservation Fund, made this a reality. Thank you to all involved,” said Park County Manager Thomas Eisenman.
The property is now on a path to long-term protection and hiking access; will become part of Pike-San Isabel National Forest
PARK COUNTY, Colo. (Sept. 21, 2023) — The Conservation Fund, a leading nonprofit in U.S. land and water protection, announced its purchase of nearly 300 acres on Mount Democrat in the Mosquito Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. After many years of land and trail closures, today The Conservation Fund is providing a solution to a long-standing recreation issue, with plans to convey the property to the Pike-San Isabel National Forest later this year.
Mount Democrat is one of Colorado’s beloved “Fourteeners,” a mountain peak scaling above 14,000 feet. It is one of four notable peaks along the famous DeCaLiBron hiking loop, a unique place to hike several Fourteeners in one day just a two-hour drive southwest from Denver. The DeCaLiBron trail also includes Mount Cameron, Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross, and contains the headwaters to the South Platte and Arkansas Rivers.
“Colorado Fourteeners are a national treasure and we are thrilled to protect Mount Democrat,” said Kelly Ingebritson, Colorado project manager at The Conservation Fund. “Buying this majestic peak is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and a model for how conservation can solve America’s recreational access issues and benefit local communities.”
The Conservation Fund purchased the Mount Democrat property from Earth Energy Resources LLC, represented by John Reiber, a retired business executive who owns mining claims across several Fourteeners. Due to liability concerns, Reiber closed public access to the land and trails in 2023, 2021 and other prior years, and is now selling the property to the Fund. During trail closures, the nearby town of Alma and other trailhead communities lost about $5 million in tourism revenue.
The Conservation Fund’s purchase includes the Kite Lake Trailhead that leads to all the DeCaLiBron peaks, land along the Mount Democrat trail, and the Mount Democrat peak itself. The conservation nonprofit will temporarily hold the property and then convey it to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service for their long-term ownership, using funding from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additional funding support was provided by the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative, Park County, Gehres 14er Fund at the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation, Morrough O’Brien Trust and Meta Alice Keith Bratten Foundation.
Mount Democrat will be open for hiking under The Conservation Fund’s ownership. In addition to permanently protecting and opening access to Mount Democrat, the conservation solution will also expand access to Mount Cameron, which is currently on public Forest Service land and had prior access issues, but is now accessible through the newly protected Mount Democrat property. The Fund’s acquisition also provides extensive environmental benefits, including protecting alpine headwaters for the two rivers that serve Colorado’s entire front range populations and habitat for endangered species such as the Canada lynx and greenback cutthroat trout.
The Conservation Fund works to protect key lands across the country that provide nature-based benefits for people, wildlife and the fight against climate change. By bringing together local partners, federal agencies like the Forest Service and private landowners, the Fund provides solutions to today’s most critical land challenges across the country. In Colorado, the Fund has conserved nearly 300,000 acres of environmentally and culturally significant land, helping protect destinations like Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Sweetwater Lake and the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site.
About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund protects the land that sustains us all. We are in the business of conservation, creating innovative solutions that drive nature-based action in all 50 states for climate protection, vibrant communities and sustainable economies. We apply effective strategies, efficient financing approaches, and enduring government, community and private partnerships to protect millions of acres of America’s natural land, cultural sites, recreation areas and working forests and farms. To learn more, visit www.conservationfund.org.
Supporting Quotes:
“Our partnership with The Conservation Fund is paramount in securing sustainable recreational access to the summit of Mount Democrat,” said Pike-San Isabel National Forest’s Forest and Grassland Supervisor Diana Trujillo.
“These are special properties that have been part of my life for a long time, so this was a tough decision. I truly appreciate the efforts and tenacity of The Conservation Fund to complete this transaction. The view from the top of Mt. Democrat is spectacular and I believe will be appreciated by all who choose to hike the mountain. I hope hikers will be prepared for challenges, complete their assent, stay safe, keep on the trail, avoid sensitive high alpine tundra, understand the inherent dangers, and leave the mountain as they found it. My wish is that others will enjoy this place that has meant so much to me,” said John Reiber, former landowner.
“More than 10 percent of Colorado’s Fourteeners are on or accessed by private land, which has posed access concerns over the decades. Through this landmark transaction, The Conservation Fund has now taken Mounts Democrat and Cameron off that list and ensured that hikers will get to experience these peaks in every future climbing season without fear of closure. This is a huge masterstroke and one that will reverberate among Fourteener enthusiasts across the globe,” said Lloyd Athearn, executive director of the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative.
“This conservation project is what we’ve been working toward for decades. Solving the hiking access here supports our local economy while also protecting the alpine headwaters our community depends on,” said Cara Doyle, executive director for the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative.
“Congratulations to all the partners who pulled this project together to help secure public access to one of Colorado’s iconic fourteeners, Mt. Democrat. This funding will allow the Forest Service to acquire claims from a willing seller, provide public access, and protect water quality and wildlife habitat in this high-use hiking and recreation area,” said U.S. Senator Michael Bennet.
“Land and Water Conservation Funds ensure Coloradans can enjoy our lands — and Fourteeners – for generations to come. This is a high point win for Colorado land conservation and accessibility!” said U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper.
“Colorado is home to more than half of the nation’s Fourteeners, and as a life-long Coloradan, I know how important these incredible outdoor spaces are to our way of life. I am delighted to see The Conservation Fund invest in critical efforts to conserve our beloved Fourteeners and increase access to trails at Mt. Democrat and the DeCaLiBron Loop,” said U.S. Representative Brittany Pettersen.
“With the voters’ approval to create the Park County Land and Water Trust Fund, and the leadership of the advisory Board members and past and current County Commissioners, we can achieve the exact purpose of these funds, which is to preserve our most cherished assets, our Fourteeners. Mr. John Reiber is a valued member of our community, always making every effort to keep access to Mount Democrat open for recreational uses. Partnerships such as this with private property owners, local government, the USDA Forest Service, local nonprofits, and now The Conservation Fund, made this a reality. Thank you to all involved,” said Park County Manager Thomas Eisenman.