Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. This scenic wonderland was declared a national wilderness site in 2009 and consists of 66,280 acres of land that is ripe for exploration. Some of that rock art is up to 2,000 years old and is fading in places due to the ravages if time and weather. Ute-style rock art goes from 1600 to 1880, including shield figures and a bison hunting scene with Native Americans on horseback surrounding a bison dripping blood. Desert bighorn sheep were re-introduced in the 1990's and the growing herd can often be seen grazing at the foot of the cliffs in the wilderness. Welcome to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Hunting and guiding have been a part of our families lifestyle for generations, and we are excited to share this experience with you! The road provides easy vehicle and viewing access to historic cabins and trails,rock walls with early settler and Native American inscriptions and spectacular geologic formations. Ed Hake. No permit is required for backpacking. Billy Rambo had a life estate in the canyon and a family house on Little Dominguez Creek. Dec 18, 2017. Not only did an enlightened Congress vote to preserve the 209,000-acre landscape, but the one private property owner in Dominguez Canyon agreed to donate his familys homestead to the Bureau of Land Management and let it revert to the public domain. The area provides valuable opportunities for many different forms of recreation, particularly OHV and horseback riding. The NCA was created by the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act and is managed as part of the Bureau of Land Managements National Conservation Lands. Photos and wilderness maps courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management. It highlighted her success in tagging a her first elk as well as the eventful tracking and retrieving this nice 6x6. Petroglyphs include Archaic styles from 1000 B.C. Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and Red Rock - Secret Mountain . The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a Bureau of Land Management property situated near to Grand Junction, Colorado. A few tried and tasty establishments that dont disappoint are Fiesta Vallarta, the areas best Mexican restaurant; Davetos for Italian cuisine, pizza, and a superb smothered green chili burrito; and Needle Rock Brewing Company for burgers and cold beers. Find your next adventure Congressionally designated in 2009 for its distinctive canyon country, the Dominquez-Escalante National Conservation Area includes the remote Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, recreation along the Gunnison River, and a network of off-highway vehicle trails. Joined. Sawmill Mesa: Immediately adjacent to the town of Delta, this area provides critical motorized links to the Uncompahgre National Forest. The conservation areas three canyons, despite their wildness, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Delta. Grand Junction BLM District New member. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Certainly, outlaws did. Big Dominguez Creek offers year-round fishing opportunities. Grand Junction, CO 81505 While the Rockies get all the glory in Colorado, the . For overnight stays, the Big Dominguez and Potholes campgrounds are available. Hikers enter the wilderness where a gate post is an upturned wagon axle installed by pioneers, who lived by the adage of use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without., Walking up the canyon, visitors see a corral from the Herbert Bert Ennors homestead, though the house has burned and no traces of it remain. This loop trek, ranging between 35 and 50 miles (depending on how much side-exploring you do), is for experienced backpackers with route-finding skills. Almost 30 miles of the river meanders through a cliff-lined gorge accessible only by boat or foot. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Wilderness Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Platte River Wilderness Huston Park Wilderness Encampment River Wilderness Mount Zirkel Wilderness Rawah Wilderness Cache La Poudre Wilderness Sarvis Creek Wilderness Flat Tops . The remote canyons also formed hideouts for outlaws and rustlers. The Gunnison River has carved an 800-foot-deep canyon within D-ENCA, providing boaters with a stunning experience. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. On a three-day backpacking trek here you might see only a half-dozen other people, and the only sound besides the wind is an occasional plane far overhead. D-E NCA offers outstanding opportunities to hunt for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, turkey, and chukar. by Eric Jensen. Dominguez Creek has some of the oldest rocks in the world from the Uncompahgre schist at 1.4 billion to 1.8 billion years old. Find more information about floating the Gunnison River here. As the snow piles up, I think of warm desert hikes. The area possesses outstanding geological features, spectacular scenery, ecological diversity, two cascading mountain streams and opportunities for solitude and primitive unconfined recreation. A variety of wildlife call the area home, including desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, golden eagles, turkeys, elk, mountain lions, black bears, and collared lizards. The Tabeguache trail, a long distance mixed use trail popular with mountain bikers, motorcycle riders and jeep enthusiasts, also runs through the Ninemile Hill area. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail passes through the eastern part of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), which comprises 210,172 acres of protected public lands, and includes the 66,280-acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail is composed of three main routes: the Main Route, the Armijo Route, and the North Branch. Thank you for visiting deltacountycolorado.com! HUNTING IN WYOMING Hunt Planner / Elk Hunting / Elk Area 13 Elk Area 13 Licensing Information AVAILABLE LICENSES SPECIAL ARCHERY SEASON APPLICATION DATES & DEADLINES LICENSE PRICES RESIDENT DRAWING ODDS NONRESIDENT DRAWING ODDS Apply For License! Extreme Long Range Hunting & Shooting (ELR). Ballantine Communications, Inc. Length 12.3 miElevation gain 1,112 ftRoute type Out & back. Safety Considerations, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. Big Dominguez Canyon Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Little Dominguez is the longer of the two at approximately 12 miles in length. Sounds like a great hunt. Official websites use .gov Wooley Built This House March the 18, 1901.. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. Unaweep Canyon on the northern boundary of the NCA contains globally significant geological resources. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. Find more information about recreating in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness here. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness displays an array of ecosystems, ranging from upper Sonoran pion-juniper desert along the Gunnison River, to Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine to aspen at higher elevations. Continue up the canyon to find a campsite, since the lower sections of both Big and Little Dominguez Canyons are day-use only. Several hundred million years of geology are missing between the cliff tops and the creek bottom. The Ute Tribes today consider these pinyon-ju. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area located southeast of Grand Junction in western Colorado.The 66,280-acre (268.2 km 2) wilderness area established in 2009, the largest BLM roadless area in the state of Colorado, includes two major canyon systems that drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau.The Wilderness Area is a portion of the larger Dominguez . Where is the best place to hike in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness? Learn more about Hiking in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Permits and instructions can be found on-site at the Escalante and Bridgeport boat launch. Visitors can rest in the shade of cottonwoods and, using binoculars, spy birds like cliff swallows, canyon wrens, ravens, bald eagles, goldfinches, Western towhees, orioles, hummingbirds and, my favorite, small blue gray gnat catchers. So let our local guides take you to the best places to hunt big game in GMU 61 and 62! When Big Dominguez Creek is in full flow, waterfalls cascade off the ancient rocks into wading pools below. The canyon is a rare palimpsest of time with layer after layer of geology and human history. While Big Dominguez Creek runs year-round, water is scarce away from the creek. JavaScript is disabled. View the alert: Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum closed for renovations through mid-May. Note: Mountain bikes or high clearance vehicles are required on the Tabeguache Trail (see the Tabeguache Trail brochure for more information). Unit 62 within D-E NCA is famous for its huge elk and mule deer . Hunting Grounds: West of Hwy 50 and east of the Gunnison River this area is rich in cultural heritage resources and a popular location for dispersed recreation. That's one heck of a bull. Over the last 10,000 years, ancient Native Americans left a rock art legacy including petroglyphs of bear tracks, deer, bighorn sheep, and strange human-like figures. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and was created as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez- Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau. The conservation area allows for a wide variety of activities including hiking, boating and wildlife viewing. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 40 min to complete. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. If you really want to escape the world and revel in the wild, then hike the McCarty Trail to Historic Gunnison Pack Trail for a three-day trek. Walk 2.5 miles to the junction of the two canyons, turn right, and then walk about another 1.5 miles to reach a gorgeous waterfall. with carved deer and elk, bear paws and a variety of anthropomorphs, or human-animal figures. Rare plants and animals with prickly pear cactus and Indian rice grass grow within feet of narrow-leaf Fremont cottonwood trees. Farther along the trail, hikers can spot a large boulder with dry-laid stone walls underneath. A 15-mile county road offers visitors a trip back to pioneer days through Escalante Canyons Red Hole in Time (popularized by local author Muriel Marshall. Official websites use .gov Traces of the early miners and settlers who lived and worked there are also evident. Also, its a good idea to use a canister to protect your food from black bears. In early summer, collared lizards can be found doing their push-ups and mating dances. Dominguez Creek has some of the oldest rocks in the world from the Uncompahgre schist at 1.4 billion to 1.8 billion years old. If you do hike in summer, check the forecast beforehand and carry sunscreen, a hat, and light-colored clothing. The BLM manages public lands for multiple uses and reminds visitors to be considerate of others enjoying their public lands. There are the remains of many wikiups on the mesas and many panels of prehistoric rock art on the canyon walls. Equal Opportunity Employer It provides shelter during summer rainstorms. Stow your pack in your vehicle and head back to Delta to celebrate the wind, sand, and stars. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. We bring several years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the area to each fair chase hunt. Peregrine falcons have nested nearby. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is near Grand Junction, Colorado, near the the Uncompahgre National Forest. Further up you cross into the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. We look forward to your visit; here's hoping that you are inspired to linger a little while longer with us. For more information on hunting seasons, how to get your hunting license, and more, please visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Cap Smith said, Escalante Canyon is a hidden paradise. Ninemile Hill: As a result of its close proximity to the Grand Valley, this area is valued for its easily available recreation opportunities for nonmotorized recreation. LockA locked padlock One of my favorites is a place in Colorado that looks and feels like Utah, except rocks are gone. Sign up for our daily email newsletter or to receive breaking news delivered to your inbox: Choose from several print and digital subscription packages, 2023 Durango Herald | Grand Valley Ranger District GENERAL SEASON RIFLE HUNTS Cabin Creek Camp. The 210,172-acre Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, which includes the 66,280-acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, was created by the 2009 Omnibus Public Lands Management Act and is part of the Bureau of Land Management's National Conservation Lands. The second half of the hike descends the Pack Trail for 10 miles and then edges along the Gunnison River back to the trailhead. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in sun canyon and . A twisting dirt road follows the floor of broad Escalante Canyon, offering plenty of adventures for rock climbers on vertical cliffs and backpackers who reach the wilderness area on the McCarty Trail. The Elk Ridge Recreation Area is located in San Juan County, Utah, west of Monticello and north of Blanding in southeastern Utah. East Creek is the eastern drainage that runs along Hwy141 which is designated by the state of Colorado as the Unaweep-Tabaguache Scenic Byway. It took a special kind of woman to make an Escalante Canyon ranchers wife, Marshall wrote. They put their kids in school so they wouldnt have that life. The Big Dominguez Trail accesses some of the most popular areas of the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, including waterfalls and rock art. Dominguez Outfitters is based in Whitewater, CO. We hunt in Colorado Game Management Units (GMU) 61 and 62. The best overnight backpacking trip heads up Big Dominguez Canyon from the Bridgewater Trailand the Gunnison River for an out-and-back, 10-mile hike. Terms of Use Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated by Congress in 2009 by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, Recreationin Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, Gunnison River Campsite and Allocation System Planning, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Science Plan, Dominguez Canyon Wilderness 66,280 acres. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is the premier dry camping location within Dominguez-Escalante NCA. Vegetation varies from pinon-juniper woodlands near the Gunnison River to Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspens in the higher reaches. On the back of the boulder is the carved inscription: M.A. There is evidence all through Dominguez Canyon wilderness of thousands of years of use for hunting, fishing and as a travel corridor connecting the Gunnison River Valley with the upper Uncompahgre plateau. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 970-244-3000. Elk Hunting Maps page on StartMyHunt.com. According to users from AllTrails.com, the best place to hike in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is Big Dominguez Canyon , which has a 4.6 star rating from 488 reviews. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. You will encounter picturesque views, fascinating historical artifacts, as well as unique plants and geologic features. The road provides easy vehicle and viewing access to historic cabins and trails, rock walls with early settler and Native American inscriptions, and spectacular geologic formations. Elk and White Tail. Funds for Delta County Social Media and PR provided from a Marketing Matching Grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. We can also help you properly fill out your hunting license application form. Nearly 30 miles of the river flow through the NCA. The majority of the wilderness is characterized by rugged basaltic ridges and outcroppings separated by deep . Elk Hunting Maps tab on the website. Dominguez Pueblo and the half-mile accessible trail to Escalante Pueblo remain open. Multiple access points. The wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009 and is made up of most of what was previously the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Visitors interested in the geology of the area can stop at the Gunnison Gravels Area of Critical Environmental Concern, which contains geologic evidence of the ancestral route of the Gunnison River through Unaweep Canyon. Located in western Colorado in Mesa and Delta counties. Each map displays Wilderness Boundaries as well as Unit (GMU) boundaries. Josh works diligently alongside his experienced guides and camp crew to assure every hunt is outfitted with a memorable experience in the backcountry. You should plan on finding and purifying water from trickling creeks and potholes filled with rainwater. They do their push-ups and scamper across red rocks. Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center & Museum is closed to the public through mid-May 2023 for major floor renovations. East Creek: Unaweep Canyon is on the northern boundary of the NCA. But of all the prehistory, history and tales told in the canyons, I am most interested in a specific petroglyph. 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