High Creek Fen Preserve
A Thriving Wetland Nestled in the Rocky Mountains

What is a fen?
A type of wet meadow or marshland fed primarily by groundwater that is constantly flowing to the surface.

Why You Should Visit
Situated at just under 10,000 feet, this fen is an astonishing vestige of the last Ice Age. The preserve is the most ecologically diverse, floristically rich fen known to exist in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Indeed, it contains more rare plant species than any other wetland known in Colorado.

Visit during mid-July to enjoy wildflowers in bloom: You can see Indian paintbrush, bluebell, day lily, pale blue-eyed grass and shrubby cinquefoil.

Location
Central Colorado: about 8.5 miles south of Fairplay and 2.5 hours southwest of Denver

When to Visit
Open year-round, dawn to dusk

Size
1,200 acres

What to Expect
High Creek Fen is a very boggy area with level terrain. There are no established trails.

Caution: Afternoon lightning storms are fairly common in this area, so please be alert for dark clouds. And remember, your car is the safest place to take shelter during an electrical storm. Other tips:

• Do NOT stand under a tree.
• Do NOT stand in the middle of a barren field.
• DO crouch in a ball - the only thing between you and the ground should be the soles of your shoes.

Camping
You can camp at the U.S. Forest Service's Buffalo Springs Campground, located 5 miles south of the preserve on U.S. Route 285.  

How to Prepare for Your Visit
Traversing the fen can be hazardous: It is quite easy to get, if you'll pardon the expression, "stuck in the muck." Please wear either rubber boots or a pair of old shoes that you're willing to throw away afterwards.

During summer months, deer flies are an issue; please come prepared with long sleeves/pants and insect repellent.

Please leave pets at home while you enjoy the native plants and animals at High Creek Fen.

Directions
From Denver/Boulder:

• Take U.S. Highway 285 south (through Conifer and Bailey) to Fairplay, or
• Take Interstate 70 to State Highway 9 south (exit at Frisco) to Fairplay, and then see below  ("From Fairplay").

From Fairplay:

• Drive south on U.S. Highway 285 for 8.5 miles.
• Turn east on a private gravel road that is .2 miles south of milepost 175. (The milepost is on the west side of the road; the gravel road is on the east.)
• Cross the cattle guard, then drive about one mile to a small parking area and visitor kiosk.

What to See: Plants
High Creek Fen supports two rare plant communities and 14 state-rare plant species, most of which are isolated populations that survived here after the glaciers receded.

State-rare plants include the following:

• Autumn willow
• Bladderwort
• Green sedge
• Greenland primrose
• Hoary willow
• Little bullrush
• Moss
• Myrtleleaf willow
• Pale blue-eyed grass
• Porter feathergrass
• Ragwort
• Sedge
• Wood lily

What to See: Birds

• Mountain plover, a candidate for listing as an endangered species, live in the prairie uplands surrounding the fen.
• Shorebirds, such as the spotted sandpiper and Wilson's phalarope, can be found here.

What to See: Animals

• Antelope
• Coyote
• Elk
• Wyoming ground squirrels

Why The Conservancy Selected This Site  
In the late 1980s, Dr. David Cooper identified High Creek Fen as the best example of an "extreme rich fen" wetland in Colorado. (Only 2-3 other fens with this classification exist in the entire United States.) The Conservancy is working to keep the fen intact and protect the extraordinary diversity of plants and animals that it supports.  

What The Conservancy Has Done/Is Doing
Since 1991, The Conservancy has worked to protect the areas in and around the fen. In the late 1990s, research indicated the need to protect not only the land, but also the water and watershed in the region. Today, The Conservancy is working with partners and the local community to protect upwards of 15,000 acres in this area.

Download a Brochure:
Colorado's Last Great Places:
Nature Conservancy Preserves & Cooperative Projects You Can Visit