Who We Are

In 1964, the Colorado Sierra Club was established as a local Chapter of the larger National Sierra Club that was founded by John Muir in San Francisco in 1892.

Today, the Colorado Sierra Club is 60 years strong. We have led the work on preserving 1.2 million acres of public lands across Colorado, we have shut down or helped get a retirement date for 7 coal plants in Colorado, we worked to pass climate legislation to since 2018 to hold oil and gas accountable, reduce climate emissions through transportation and we helped bring wolves back to the state. 

All of this is led by volunteers and staff across the state through the amazing support of our 93,000 members and supporters. 

Together, we offer a wide array of activities to engage in our communities across the state in efforts to explore, enjoy and protect our shared environment. 

Our Core Values

In order to be more responsible and accountable allies as individuals and as a Sierra Club community at large, we commit ourselves to living out our five values: anti-racism, balance, collaboration, justice, and transformation. These values drive the decisions we make as we fight for the livable planet we all deserve. Learn more about our values in detail at www.sierraclub.org/sierra-club-values.

• Anti-Racism: We commit to shifting power away from white supremacy, repairing harm, and ending structural racism.
• Balance: Our effectiveness comes from committing to caring for ourselves and others.
• Collaboration: We believe in just relationships that support collective work.
• Justice: We are accountable for our actions, our work, and how we show up with trust and respect.
• Transformation: We commit to changing our relationships to power, privilege, and oppression—for ourselves and for the organization.

History

1892 - Sierra Club established by John Muir in San Francisco

1956 - Dinosaur National Monument protected.

1964 - Colorado Sierra Club Chapter established

1978 - Indian Peaks Wilderness established outside of Boulder.

1990 - Pesticide sensitivity written into law. 

1990 - Two Forks Dam defeated.

1993 - Colorado Wilderness Act passed creating over 600,000 acres of protected lands in Colorado. 

2004 - First ever voter led Renewable Energy Standard passed in the National. 

2008 - Arapahoe coal plant in Denver retired. 

2008 - Cameo coal plant in Grand Junction retired. 

2010 - Clark Station coal plant retired in Canyon City. 

2010 Cherokee 4 coal plant retired in Denver. 

2016 Craig and Nucla coal plants retired on the Western Slope. 

2016 - Boulder commits to 100% clean energy. 

2017 - Pueblo commits to 100% clean energy. 

2018 - 18,000 acres saved from fracking in Huerfano County on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands.

2019 - SB-181 passed reforming rules for oil and gas industry to protect public health and the environment. 

2019 - SB-1261 passed to reduce greenhouse gasses across the state.

2020 - Wolf reintroduction wins statewide. 

2022 - Martin Drake coal plant in Colorado Springs retired. 

2023 - Aurora passes oil and gas setback reforms to protect public health and the environment.