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From the headwaters at the northern boundary of the San Juan National Forest to the flume near Highway 550, Cascade Creek is eligible for Wild designation under the Act. Cascade Creek provides outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, vegetation, and wildlife values.
All most the entirety of this segment falls in the San Miguel Roadless Area, which is proposed for wilderness designation. Impressive peaks towering over several alpine cirques graced by indescribably delightful lakes in the San Miguel create some of Colorado's most breath-taking mountain scenery.
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Specifically, the area surrounding Cascade Creek is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the San Juan National Forest with spectacular views of the San Juan Mountains. Aspen forests grace the slopes around Cascade Creek. The Colorado Trail crosses Cascade Creek near Grizzly Peak. There are outstanding opportunities for solitude and backcountry recreation experiences in the area around the creek. Cascade Creek also boasts a terrific fishery, providing a wonderfully remote fishing experience.
The Grizzly Peak Research Natural Area is proposed adjacent to Cascade Creek, encompassing the alpine slopes and subalpine forests surrounding Grizzly Peak. The RNA is proposed for protection because of its high quality tufted hairgrass, its wet spruce-fir forest on moderate slopes, and alpine vegetation on large areas of shale geology. The spruce-fir forest offers important habitat for the federally threatened, state endangered lynx, which is thriving in the area.
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