Forests do not stop at state lines. While Colorado's 4.4 million acres of roadless areas are exempt from this move, the state can still amend protections for temporary roads, as done in 2017 with the North Fork Coal Mining Area.
Colorado national forests connect critical habitat with other pristine landscapes on three of its borders. This includes the Rio Grande National Forest, with roadless areas acting as "stepping stones" from the Carson National Forest in New Mexico. Most of these connected forests sit along the northern border into Wyoming. Both of these connect to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT).