Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act

The Sarvis Creek Wilderness Completion Act would expand the existing Sarvis Creek Wilderness Area in the Routt National Forest near Steamboat Springs, Colorado by adding approximately 6,817 acres. This land was originally excluded from the wilderness designation decades ago due to a previously proposed ski area development plan. If enacted, the bill would extend wilderness protection to the Harrison and Green Creek watersheds that feed into the Yampa River, safeguarding water quality and aquatic resources.

The expansion would protect subalpine wildlife habitats, including winter range and calving areas for elk and other native Colorado wildlife. The bill would preserve public access for nonmotorized outdoor recreation activities such as hunting, fishing, backcountry skiing, and hiking. The legislation also includes provisions allowing Indian Tribes continued access for traditional, religious, and cultural purposes, and permits the Secretary of Agriculture to manage fire, insects, and disease within the expanded wilderness area.

The bill is currently under consideration by the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining, which held hearings on it in December 2025. It has not yet been voted on by the full Senate.