---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 539i"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "539i"
heading: "Fossil Ridge Recreation Management Area"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/539i"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — National Forests"
  - "Subchapter I — Establishment and Administration"
---

# §539i. Fossil Ridge Recreation Management Area

- (a) **Establishment—**
  - (1) In order to conserve, protect, and enhance the scenic, wildlife, recreational, and other natural resource values of the Fossil Ridge [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A), there is hereby established the Fossil Ridge Recreation Management [Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) (hereinafter referred to as the “recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A)”).
  - (2) The recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall consist of certain lands in the Gunnison National Forest, Colorado, which comprise approximately 43,900 acres, as generally depicted as “[Area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) A” on a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) entitled “Fossil Ridge [Wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) Proposal”, dated January, 1993.
- (b) **Administration—** The [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) of Agriculture shall administer the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) in accordance with this section and the laws and regulations generally applicable to the National Forest System.
- (c) **Withdrawal—** Subject to valid existing rights, all lands within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) are hereby withdrawn from all forms of entry, appropriation, or disposal under the public land laws, from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and from disposition under the mineral and geothermal leasing laws, including all amendments thereto.
- (d) **Timber harvesting—** No timber harvesting shall be allowed within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) except to the extent that would be permitted in [wilderness](/usc/16/3102.md?p=13) under [section 1133(d)(1) of this title](/usc/16/1133.md?p=d-1) for necessary control of fire, insects, and diseases, and for public safety.
- (e) **Livestock grazing—** The designation of the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) shall not be construed to prohibit, or change the administration of, the grazing of livestock within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (f) **Development—** No developed campgrounds shall be constructed within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A). After August 13, 1993, no new roads or trails may be constructed within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A).
- (g) **Off-road recreation—** Motorized travel shall be permitted within the recreation management [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) only on those established trails and routes existing as of July 1, 1991, on which such travel was permitted as of such date, except that other trails and routes may be used where necessary for administrative purposes or to respond to an emergency. No later than one year after August 13, 1993, the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) shall identify such routes and trails and shall prepare and make available to the public a [map](/usc/16/430f–7.md?p=1) showing such routes and trails. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as precluding the [Secretary](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-1) from closing any trail or route from use for purposes of resource protection or public safety.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 103–77, § 5, Aug. 13, 1993, 107 Stat. 760.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title

Pub. L. 103–77, § 1(a), Aug. 13, 1993, 107 Stat. 756, provided that: “This Act [enacting this section and section 539j of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 539j of this title, and enacting and amending provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993’.”