Crystal River
The Crystal River has withstood the test of time to become one of Colorado’s last untamed natural wonders. Flowing from its headwaters in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness to Carbondale, where it joins the Roaring Fork River, the free-flowing river carves one of western Colorado’s most scenic valleys.
Hidden Secion
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Wilderness
The headwaters of the Crystal River are in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness, high in the Elk Mountains above Marble. The upper Crystal Valley is framed by a visual feast of designated and proposed wilderness, including Treasure Mountain, a proposed expansion to the Raggeds Wilderness included in the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act.
Wildlife
The Crystal Valley provides critical winter range for bighorn sheep and elk. Avalanche Creek and the Crystal River support rare fish species, including Colorado River Cutthroat trout and Mottled Sculpin. It also supports wildlife populations including bighorn sheep, Rocky Mountain elk, Peregrine falcons, Townsend big-eared bats, long-legged myotis, black bear and black swift.
Water
The upper Crystal’s lack of dams or significant diversions make it one of the last free-flowing rivers in the state. Unrestrained springtime flows are integral to healthy river ecosystems, riparian habitat and groundwater recharge. Thirty-nine miles of the Crystal are classified by the Forest Service as eligible for Wild and Scenic designation with Outstandingly Remarkable Values for scenery, history and recreation. Many of its tributaries are recognized and protected as Outstanding Waters for their exceptional water quality and recreation values.
If You Visit
Keep an eye out for bighorn sheep as you drive along the West Elk Scenic Byway. The Crystal River Valley is packed with history — you’ll pass the historic towns of Redstone, Marble and Crystal, 19th-century coke ovens and large blocks of white marble from the Yule Creek Quarry, the source of the marble used for the Lincoln Memorial and Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. And if you are willing to navigate the challenging 4-wheel drive routes farther up the river, don’t miss the famous Crystal Mill.
Explore the Wild For Good Landscapes
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