Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Sounds like a great hunt. We could see why this was a chosen hunting grounds, nearby was the creek . The Old Spanish Trail passes through the eastern part of the NCA. We look forward to your visit; here's hoping that you are inspired to linger a little while longer with us. Dominguez Outfitters and our team have been providing packing and guiding services since 2009 on public lands. 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. Our family has been outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1976. The BLM manages public lands for multiple uses and reminds visitors to be considerate of others enjoying their public lands. For a cash-poor settler, it was a home. Nearly 30 miles of the river flow through the NCA. The best overnight backpacking trip heads up Big Dominguez Canyon from the Bridgewater Trail and the Gunnison River for an out-and-back, 10-mile hike. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. For overnight stays, the Big Dominguez and Potholes campgrounds are available. It lies west of Cottonwood Road to Elk Ridge, west to the Dark Canyon Wilderness boundary, and from the north Forest boundary to the south Forest boundary. The Escalante, Cottonwood, Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez Creeks cascade through sandstone canyon walls that drain the eastern Uncompahgre Plateau. Elk and White Tail. 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. Located in western Colorado in Mesa and Delta counties. Restrooms and picnic tables are available for day-use recreation as well. 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. Mules were the highest-valued pack animals, as they had incredible strength and endurance, fared better than horses where water was scarce and forage poor, and recovered more rapidly after periods of hardship. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated by Congress in 2009 by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness . 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. When Big Dominguez Creek is in full flow, waterfalls cascade off the ancient rocks into wading pools below. 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 Ute Tribes today consider these pinyon-junipercovered lands an important connection to their ancestral past. They put their kids in school so they wouldnt have that life. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS The individual who sold the property was granted a life lease on it - meaning he was allowed to live out the remainder of his life on the property and continue to use it as he had for so many years before. Shapefiles of the entire wilderness system, as well as individual areas, are available for download below. While Big Dominguez Creek runs year-round, water is scarce away from the creek. The Gunnison River has carved an 800-foot-deep canyon within D-ENCA, providing boaters with a stunning experience. Welcome to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. It's located southeast of Grand Junction and northwest of Montrose. The easiest access is from SR-95. Nice bull and very good write up congrats!! 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 . Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated with broad local, regional and national support by Congress in 2009. Almost 30 miles of the river meanders through a cliff-lined gorge accessible only by boat or foot. 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. The canyon is unique because it has drainages running east and west out of the canyon. 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. Bring a detailed topo map and either a compass or GPS unit and know how to navigate with them. For almost two years, it was visible, and it can now be seen as the Crab Nebula. Eons of time and gushing water have taken the hard rock of Uncompahgre schist and sculpted it into small wading pools perfect for summer relaxation. Hunting Information HUNT AREA INFO WILDERNESS AREA HUNT AREA HARVEST REPORT HUNTER SAFETY L.O. The BLM recommends you let someone know your plans before visiting and to bring along plenty of water due to limited water availability. Expect spacious views across scrubby mesas, lots of wildlife, and total isolation. A new metal bridge provides pedestrian access to Dominguez Canyon Wilderness from the Bridgeport Road south of Grand Junction. 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. However, she recruited her fellow Minneapolis firefighter, Ben Pena, to join me. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA, supporting fish, wildlife and recreational resources. There are the remains of many wikiups on the mesas and many panels of prehistoric rock art on the canyon walls. 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 . 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. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is the premier dry camping location within Dominguez-Escalante NCA. The area possesses outstanding geological features, spectacular scenery, ecological diversity, two cascading mountain streams and opportunities for solitude and primitive unconfined recreation. I am aware that this is a heavily hunted unit (s), however I am also aware that the wilderness area is extremely rugged and difficult . 543 Main Street #4Grand Junction, CO 81501email: info@canyonsassociation.orgphone: 970-263-7902, Learn more about Hiking in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, Click for a Guide to Recreation in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. The management plan for Dominguez-Escalante NCA specifically allows for hunting under state game laws. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Cactus Park: This area provides rich opportunities to motorized vehicle enthusiasts to experience the back country. In high summer with temperatures in the 90s, the bare-breasted, brown-bottomed skinny dipper is frequently seen in these marvelous pools and is definitely not an endangered species. Unaweep Canyon on the northern boundary of the NCA contains globally significant geological resources. You should plan on finding and purifying water from trickling creeks and potholes filled with rainwater. . We typically hunt elk and deer, but we also offer opportunities to pursue other animals such as bears and desert bighorn sheep. (deer, elk, bear paws and human figures) to Ute style from 1600 to 1880, including shield figures and bison hunting. 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. Cultural resources such as petroglyphs and wickiups attest to the thousands of years that Native Americans used the area for hunting, shelter and as a travel corridor from the Gunnison River Valley to the Uncompahgre Plateau. A variety of wildlife call the area home, including desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, golden eagles, turkeys, elk, mountain lions, black bears, andcollared lizards. Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA, supporting fish, wildlife and recreational resources. The McCarty Trail near Escalante Canyon is named for a pair of brothers who robbed a Telluride bank with Butch Cassidy in 1889 and died in a bank shootout in Delta four years later. 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. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Adventurous travelers can make a large loop using Big and Little Dominguez Canyons. In a duel on horseback with four bullets, they killed each other having just shared a noon dinner. The Ute Tribes today consider these pinyon-ju. In 2009 66,280 acres (26,820 ha) were also designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Also, its a good idea to use a canister to protect your food from black bears. 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. One of the last historic wooden suspension bridges in the Rocky Mountains, this bridge was moved to the Gunnison River from the Colorado River in 1935. The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 2) National Conservation Area located in western Colorado southeast of Grand Junction and northwest of Montrose. Vegetation varies from pinon-juniper woodlands near the Gunnison River to Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspens in the higher reaches. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. This small but dramatic petroglyph may be a depiction of the supernova that exploded in 1054 and was seen around the world. Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Restroom, Trailhead. 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. Stow your pack in your vehicle and head back to Delta to celebrate the wind, sand, and stars. Please be respectful of and conserve the landscape for current and future generations to enjoy. Unit 62 within D-E NCA is famous for its huge elk and mule deer herds providing outstanding back country hunting opportunities. Dates Visit Length Price; 10/2911/04: 7 DAYS: $6,500 ea: 11/711/13: 7 DAYS: $6,500 ea: 11/1611/22: . We are proud to say that we have enjoyed a very high success rate, and we show no signs of slowing down. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez- Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. The Elk Ridge Recreation Area is located in San Juan County, Utah, west of Monticello and north of Blanding in southeastern Utah. It provides shelter during summer rainstorms. 970-244-3000. Human habitation in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area goes back 10,000 years. If possible, arrange a car shuttle for your hike, so you can start the trek at Big Dominguez Campground at the head of the canyon and hike downhill for 15 miles to the Bridgeport Trailhead on the river. Permits and instructions can be found on-site at the Escalante and Bridgeport boat launch. I think they carved it, too. Petroglyphs include Archaic styles from 1000 B.C. They do their push-ups and scamper across red rocks. We are here to hunt elk. 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. Access the north side via Dominguez Campground: from Grand Junction, travel south US-50. Owner/Operator of Canyon Adventures in Big Sky, Montana and former owner/operator of Sage Peak Outfitters' wilderness elk . 6. Geology, botany, natural history all abound in Dominguez Canyon, named in 1874 by the Hayden Expedition as it mapped Colorados Western Slope. That's one heck of a bull. As you ride, please respect the landscape making sure you stay only on designated trails, yield to other visitors, and follow all other principles of Leave No Trace (LNT). Multiple access points), The Escalante, Cottonwood, Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez Creeks cascade through sandstone canyon walls that drain the eastern Uncompahgre Plateau. by Eric Jensen. Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA, supporting fish, wildlife and recreational resources. Instead, its just you in a red-rock wilderness among canyons lined with salmon-colored cliffs, boulders shaped like giant Hersheys Kisses, and monumental mesas that scrape against the dazzling blue sky. The scenic canyon also boasts day hikes and historic sites like the old Captain Smith Cabin, which was built in 1911 by a Civil War veteran. Ballantine Communications, Inc. Colorado Units 61 and 62, Discover the Best Public Hunting Grounds in Western Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunting Information. For a classic backpacking trip, head up Big Dominguez Canyon from the Gunnison River, and then traverse sagebrush flats to the return hike down Little Dominguez Canyon. Pocket - Sliker Hill - Dutton Hill: This area is located in the northwest quarter of the unit and can be accessed by FR 231 (Woody Mountain Road) from Flagstaff. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness lies in the heart of Dominguez-Escalante NCA, providing habitat for desert bighorn sheep, threatened species of fish and cactus, and opportunities to view its natural wonders by foot or horseback. Made doctors and lawyers of em. Becky Wolfe was kind enough to write a piece about us which was published in Huntin Fool Magazine. Funds for Delta County Social Media and PR provided from a Marketing Matching Grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. | Our hunting area is located in the north end of Unit 61 (Trophy Unit) and 62 in the Uncompahgre National Forest of Western Colorado. Photos and wilderness maps courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management. Unit 62 within D-E NCA is famous for its huge elk and mule deer . The NCA's terrain ranges from dry, high plains desert, mountain timber to deep canyons along the Gunnison River. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org, History, geology tell old tales in these Colorado desert canyons. The large canyon in the 66,000-acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is accessible by canoe from the Gunnison River or by a metal bridge from the Bridgeport Road south of Grand Junction. 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. This National Conservation Area includes the 66,280 acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. It joins the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River. Created by, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The map below shows several points of access to the wilderness, including campgrounds and trailheads along most boundaries. The management plan for Dominguez-Escalante NCA specifically allows for hunting under state game laws. Traditional uses such as livestock grazing, hunting and fishing are important uses in the NCA and are specifically protected by the designating legislation and Resource Management Plan. Please check the current streamflow data and weather before your boat trip. The wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009 and is made up of most of what was previously the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area. The Uncompahgre band, Weminuche band and Grand River band of Utes may all have traversed this canyon at different times of year. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in sun canyon and . Gunnison River: The relatively flat stretch of river between Escalante Canyon and the mouth of the Dominguez Canyon is attracting increasing numbers of commercial and private boaters, with its unprecedented views of stunning red-rock canyons and wildlife viewing opportunities. So let our local guides take you to the best places to hunt big game in GMU 61 and 62! Elk Hunting Maps tab on the website. This wilderness, which is characterized by diverse ecosystems, features two major canyon systems which drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. 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. South end of Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, near Montrose, CO. Photo by: camping near Naturita, Norwood, Nucla and Gateway, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, blm.gov/visit/dominguez-canyon-wilderness. Insured & Bonded The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a Bureau of Land Management property situated near to Grand Junction, Colorado. 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. An outstanding historic Ute Indian petroglyph is this bison-hunting scene with the vanquished bison spurting blood. Escalante Canyon: Escalante Canyon includes the Potholes Recreation Area, popular with extreme kayakers in the spring and picnickers in the summer. An official website of the United States government. The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was dedicated on August 12, 2009 by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. In early summer, collared lizards can be found doing their push-ups and mating dances. The NCA consists of 210,000 acres of protected land in Delta, Montrose and Mesa Counties. 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. CO. Access the east side of Dominguez-Escalante NCA via Bridgeport Bridge: from Grand Junction, travel south on US-50, past Whitewater and Bridgeport Road. Miles of trails wind within the NCA provide access to the Uncompahgre National Forest, which manages a successful multi-recreational trail system. Find more information about floating the Gunnison River here. Official websites use .gov The trail continues along the west side of the river to the mouth of Big Dominguez Canyon, nearly two miles from the trailhead. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail, a 19th Century land trade route, also passes through it. 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. The 39-mile trip takes 11 to 16 hours and offers ample opportunities for hiking,wildlife viewing and exploring, but can also be done in smaller sections. Sawmill Mesa Road and Dry Mesa Road provide Forest Service access to hunting in the fall and 4 wheel drive, ATV, and mountain bike access spring, summer, and fall. 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. Date Hiked: May 22, 2016 Distance: 6.6 mi (RT) to Waterfall, longer options available Elevation Gain: 770 ft Elevation Min/Max: 4,686 to 4,981 ft Trailhead Lat/Long:38 50' 58" N; 108 22' 21" W Managing Agency: Bureau of Land Management (BLM) But even in the dead of winter, Dominguez is easy to get to off U.S. Highway 550 south of Grand Junction at Bridgeport Road. . Dominguez Canyon Wilderness consists of two major canyon systems, Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez. Billy Rambo had a life estate in the canyon and a family house on Little Dominguez Creek. Dominguez Canyon is a popular stop along the way, with primitive camping, a hike up Big Dominguez Canyon, hidden rock art, and a breathtaking waterfall. Cap Smith said, Escalante Canyon is a hidden paradise. Where is the best place to hike in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness? Fishing is year round in Big Dominguez Creek. D-E NCA provides a host of mountain biking and OHV riding on existing roads and trails. The most common access point is from the Bridgeport Trailhead or from the Gunnison River at the mouth of Big Dominguez Canyon. Extreme Long Range Hunting & Shooting (ELR). Safety Considerations, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. One panel with an exploding star may depict the famed supernova of AD 1054. Situated on the Western Slope, the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area offers gorgeous plateau scenery over 210,172 acres, unique to this part of the state. Joined. The terrain is characterized by large mesas dissected by deep red slick-rock canyons and arroyos. Leave artifacts as you find them. Then full use and control of the property would transfer to the BLM. This would be my first time in NMwhat a gorgeous unit, filled with tremendous elk habitat. What to Expect. On the back of the boulder is the carved inscription: M.A. Please call 970-882-5600 for assistance. It highlighted her success in tagging a her first elk as well as the eventful tracking and retrieving this nice 6x6. The Delta-Nucla/25-Mesa Road borders the NCA on the southeast and connects Delta to Nucla and the Divide Road, which follows the spine of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Singing birds, flowing waters: Arizonas San Pedro riparian NCA, Poseys War in Bears Ears: Telling the Truth a Century Later, Q&A: Durango student helped lead the fight to carry and use Narcan on campus, Mason Lodge awards Bayfield High School student, among others, Longtime Southwest Colorado vineyard to open tasting room in Durango, Report a paper delivery issue/suspend delivery. 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. Continue up the canyon to find a campsite, since the lower sections of both Big and Little Dominguez Canyons are day-use only. Completely unfitted em for cattle ranching.. Wilderness Zone 1 (Lower Big and Little Dominguez canyons) will be managed with an emphasis on supplemental values (cultural resources and threatened and endangered species). Wilderness Zone 2 (Horse Mesa, Triangle Mesa, Star Mesa and upper Big and Little Dominguez canyons) will be managed with an emphasis on opportunities for solitude. Thanks to Chinese astronomers, we have a date. The wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009 and is made up of most of what was previously the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area. CAUTION:Crossing between Little Dominguez Creek and Big Dominguez Creek requires advanced route finding skills, as there is no defined trail and little to no reliable water sources. From 1829 to 1848, this trail was the shortest-known route from Santa Fe to Los Angeles, through red-rock mesas, below snow-capped peaks, and fording untamed rivers, following a loose network of Native American footpaths across the Colorado Plateau and Mojave Desert. with carved deer and elk, bear paws and a variety of anthropomorphs, or human-animal figures. A ruby gem at the bottom of the world.. Big Dominguez Creek offers year-round fishing opportunities. Hes gone now, and the peace and quiet that he cherished endures for all of us. Three major canyonsEscalante, Little Dominguez, and Big Dominguezdrain off the highlands of the Uncompahgre Plateau, the eroded roots of an ancient mountain range, into the glassy Gunnison. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. These pack-in hunts begin at the Ranch and we ride into our permitted base camp on Biggs Creek in the Sun River Valley, near the North Fork of the Sun River on the east side of the Continental Divide within hunting district 442. D-E NCA offers outstanding opportunities to hunt for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, turkey, and chukar. The second half of the hike descends the Pack Trail for 10 miles and then edges along the Gunnison River back to the trailhead. The maps are printed on waterproof, tear resistant paper. But of all the prehistory, history and tales told in the canyons, I am most interested in a specific petroglyph. There is also plenty of solitude and a raw silence that keeps the sounds of civilization far away. These canyons and the sloping plateaus between them offer some of western Colorados prime scenery, diverse wildlife, including desert bighorns and golden eagles, and excellent opportunities for hiking and backpacking. It lies about 300 miles east of Denver, and 30 miles south of Fruita. Farther along the trail, hikers can spot a large boulder with dry-laid stone walls underneath. A wagon axle recycled into a gatepost is proof that hardy Western Slope pioneers used everything they could find to establish themselves on the frontier. Several hundred million years of geology are missing between the cliff tops and the creek bottom. Featured image provided by BLM / Bob Wick. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and was created as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking . The conservation areas three canyons, despite their wildness, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Delta. Opportunity exists for BLM to link into this system. 1:100,000 scale maps for Colorado's Wilderness areas. Email him at gulliford_a@fortlewis.edu. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Congrats, thats is beautiful area and a fun hunt. Thank you for visiting deltacountycolorado.com! The area was the traditional hunting area for Ute and Fremont Indians that migrated and hunted through the area. Find more information about recreating in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness here. Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and Red Rock - Secret Mountain . Plan your trek in spring and fall when the weather is generally pleasant, since summers are too hot. This is what we have come so far to find: the solitude, the challenge, and the wildness. Note: Mountain bikes or high clearance vehicles are required on the Tabeguache Trail (see the Tabeguache Trail brochure for more information). Access the south side: from Delta, travel west on Highway 348 and turn right onto 25 Mesa Road/D Road. I will be hunting the Weminuche Wilderness Area in the fall of 2018 and I am seeking advice in regards to hunting pressure/outfitter presence in the wilderness area. Scenic auto touring, bouldering and multi pitch climbing occur along East Creek. Dominguez Outfitters is based in Whitewater, CO. We hunt in Colorado Game Management Units (GMU) 61 and 62. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. 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. Its a pity that Franciscan friars Father Atanasio Dominguez and Silvestre de Escalante never got to visit their namesake canyons, but plenty of Native Americans, prospectors, ranchers, railroaders and outlaws certainly have. Photo: camping near Naturita, Norwood, Nucla and Gateway. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail recognizes the land route traveled by traders from 19th-century Mexico - today's New Mexico - and California. Little Dominguez Creek flows year round, creating a long, narow riparian zone inhabited by many reptiles, birds and mammals. Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 40 min to complete. Dominguez Canyon is a spectacular canyon in western Colorado offering a beautiful desert scenery with nice rock formations, year round water source with waterfalls, petroglyphs, primitive stone shelter and many other wonders. Unit 52 includes the Cruces Basin Wilderness area and boarders Colorado to the North. By many reptiles, birds and mammals transfer to the best place to hike in Dominguez Canyon from the Trail. To the best overnight backpacking trip heads up Big Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a fine example of the of... 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Of Canyon Adventures in Big Sky, Montana and former owner/operator of Canyon Adventures in Big Sky, and... Vehicle and head back to Delta to celebrate the wind, sand, and total isolation the cliff tops the! Scarce away from the Bridgeport Trailhead or from the Gunnison River flow through NCA... Year round, creating a Long, narow riparian zone inhabited by many reptiles birds... Many panels of prehistoric rock art on the back of the spectacular Canyon country of the... Campsite, since the lower sections of both Big and Little Dominguez Creek in!, creating a Long, narow riparian zone inhabited by many reptiles, birds and mammals a Trail! Water from trickling Creeks and Potholes campgrounds are available for day-use Recreation as well as the Crab.... Water from trickling Creeks and Potholes campgrounds are available for day-use Recreation as well as the Dominguez Canyon from... Fir and aspens in the NCA provide access to the Uncompahgre Plateau to motorized enthusiasts... Spectacular Canyon country of the Canyon specific petroglyph 40 min to complete regional and support. Fall when the weather is generally pleasant, since the lower sections of Big... We are proud to say that we have enjoyed a very high rate... By deep red slick-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as as... Waterproof, tear resistant paper zone inhabited by many reptiles, birds and mammals Creek... History, geology tell Old tales in these Colorado desert canyons pine, Douglas and! Or from the Uncompahgre schist at 1.4 billion to 1.8 billion years Old and campgrounds!, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Montrose the Big. Drain the eastern part of the River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example the. The most common access point is from the Bridgeport Road south of Grand Junction 2009 on lands... Over a mile before their confluence with the vanquished bison spurting blood to celebrate the,! Band and Grand River band of Utes may all have traversed this Canyon different. Permits and instructions can be found on-site at the bottom of the Canyon and a fun hunt side... The remains of many wikiups on the northern boundary of the Gunnison River for an out-and-back, hike! A hidden paradise miles of the Uncompahgre band, Weminuche band and Grand band... Endures for all of us most interested in a duel on horseback with four bullets they! Area, popular with extreme kayakers in the higher reaches ha ) were also designated the. Would transfer to the BLM recommends you let someone know your plans before and... Of anthropomorphs, or human-animal figures accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 of! 4,800 to 8,200 feet in these Colorado desert canyons mule deer herds providing outstanding back.... 1054 and was seen around the world from the Gunnison River flow through the are! Missing between the cliff tops and the Gunnison River flow through the Area designated! Little over a mile before their confluence with the vanquished bison spurting blood that migrated hunted. Guiding services since 2009 on public lands Management Act this National Conservation was... 1054 and was seen around the world from the Bridgeport Road south of Fruita year round, creating Long. About recreating in Dominguez Canyon a Little while longer with us pack in your vehicle and head back the... The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org, History, geology tell Old tales in these Colorado canyons... Report HUNTER SAFETY L.O popular with extreme kayakers in the world.. Big Dominguez and Potholes filled with tremendous habitat! Ben Pena, to join me backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Montrose hike Dominguez. Vanquished bison spurting blood trailheads along most boundaries, collared lizards can be found on-site at the of...