Centennial Program Visioning Process

Colorado's majestic 14,000-foot-peaks ("14ers") are iconic, popular sentinels. While they are extremely popular recreation sites, Colorado's 14ers represent more than recreational "peak bagging." The mountains also hold generations of historical and cultural significance—residents and visitors alike dream of seeing or experiencing 14ers.

The landscapes that 14ers create are unparalleled and attract visitors worldwide to Colorado, contributing to small Colorado communities' economic viability and inspiring stories that span generations. Colorado communities like Salida, Buena Vista, Leadville, Alma, Lake City, Estes Park, and Breckenridge are connected in many ways to the 14ers surrounding them. The peaks provide views, nature, inspiration, exercise, solace, water, and wildlife.

This process is made possible by support from Great Outdoors Colorado, which was awarded to the NFF and Chaffee County in 2022.

The Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Centennial Program visioning process will enable Colorado’s outdoor recreation organizations, government entities, tribal nations, and communities to create a vision to care for these treasured resources and to honor and support equitable access. The NFF, Chaffee County – home to 1/5 of Colorado’s 14ers – and 20+ partners will incorporate the many values associated with 14ers into a three-part vision to create sustainable recreation opportunities across Colorado’s 14ers.

We view sustainable recreation as the provision of desirable outdoor opportunities for all people in a way that supports ecosystems, contributes to healthy communities, promotes equitable economies, respects cultures and traditions, and develops stewardship values now and for future generations. With this view in mind, we will strive to be as inclusive and equitable as possible. As part of the visioning process, we will learn from people and communities that have been historically underrepresented in the 14ers stewardship and recreation community. Similarly, our goal will be to look to GOCO’s equity principles to guide our approach, particularly the community-centered approach.