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The Nature Conservancy in Colorado Home Contact Places We Protect Field Trips and Events Press Releases Volunteer Ways of Giving |
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South Fork Preserve
A Striking Spot Along the San Miguel River
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Why You Should Visit
More than 80 percent of Colorado's wildlife depends on rivers and riverside habitat. The San Miguel, one of the few remaining naturally functioning rivers in the West, supports some of the best riparian (streamside) habitat in the Upper Colorado Basin.
Natural flood cycles and a history of very little development have kept many parts of this river in pristine condition — much as they would have appeared before the state was settled.
Perhaps the most striking of the three Conservancy-protected preserves along the San Miguel, the South Fork Preserve lies below the towering 14,000-foot Wilson Peak of the western San Juan Mountains.
The preserve also fronts a backdrop of several incredible sights, including Ophir Needles, a designated National Natural Landmark, and Ames Wall, which is composed of stratified rock types (granite, sandstone and shale).
Location
Southwestern Colorado: near Telluride
When to Visit
Year-round, dawn to dusk
Size
67 acres
What to Expect
There is a handicap-accessible, 180-foot elevated boardwalk and viewing platform with interpretive signage.
There is a half-mile gravel hiking trail of moderate difficulty.
Fishing
Catch-and-release is allowed, but only with artificial flies and lures.
How to Prepare for Your Visit
To make the most of your trip, consider visiting the two other Nature Conservancy preserves downstream: San Miguel Canyon and Tabeguache.
Directions
From Montrose:
- Take 550 south to Ridgway.
- Turn right onto 62 West at the light.
- Continue for about 15 miles, then turn left onto Hwy 145 S towards Telluride.
- Make a right onto Ilium Valley Road at the bottom of Keystone Hill and follow it until you reach the preserve (about 5 miles).
- Park on the right.
From Durango:
- Follow Hwy 160 West to Mancos.
- Turn right on 184 towards Dolores.
- Turn right on Hwy 145 North to Telluride.
- After you go over Lizard Head Pass and pass Trout Lake, look for a sign on the right at Ophir; turn left towards Ames on FS road 625.
- You will see the preserve on your left about 1.5 miles down the hill.
- Park at the second South Fork sign on the left — you will be able to see the boardwalk.
What to See: Plants
This site plays host to the rare narrowleaf cottonwood-Colorado blue spruce/black twinberry plant community.
What to See: Birds
You could say that the ranch is a kind of birders' paradise. This site has been designated as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by the Audubon Society. Here are some of the species you might see:
- Beaver
- Black bear
- Mountain lion
- Peregrine falcon
- River otter
Why The Conservancy Selected This Site
Because it contains one of the best-known examples of the globally rare narrowleaf cottonwood-Colorado blue spruce/black twinberry plant community.
What The Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
The Conservancy established its first preserve on the San Miguel River in 1988. The South Fork Preserve, protected in the summer of 1989, was our most recent acquisition. Now, with three preserves and cooperative projects with the Bureau of Land Management and other partners, we have helped protect more than 30 miles of the San Miguel.
The Conservancy's foremost concern here is preservation of the riparian habitat. Staff and volunteers focus on:
- Non-native weed control;
- Creating partnerships within the region to promote conservation; and
- Educating the local community about riparian plant and animal communities.
Download a Brochure:
Colorado's Last Great Places:
Nature Conservancy Preserves & Cooperative Projects You Can Visit
