But of all the prehistory, history and tales told in the canyons, I am most interested in a specific petroglyph. Petroglyphs include Archaic styles from 1000 B.C. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in sun canyon and . Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. Made doctors and lawyers of em. Photos and wilderness maps courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management. 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. 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. If you are lucky enough to draw one of the 4-5 desert bighorn sheep tags issued each year, youre in for an amazing experience! Generally considered an easy route, it takes an average of 4 h 40 min to complete. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and was created as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. 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. It joins the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River. 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. 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. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Each map displays Wilderness Boundaries as well as Unit (GMU) boundaries. Recently, I returned from my first elk hunt, which was in Colorado's Mount Zirkel Wilderness area. Cactus Park: This area provides rich opportunities to motorized vehicle enthusiasts to experience the back country. Thanks to Chinese astronomers, we have a date. Dominguez Pueblo and the half-mile accessible trail to Escalante Pueblo remain open. Our family has been outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1976. JavaScript is disabled. A public wilderness feature service can be added in ArcGIS online or to other online maps. No permit is required for backpacking. You will encounter picturesque views, fascinating historical artifacts, as well as unique plants and geologic features. 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. Dominguez Outfitters and our team have been providing packing and guiding services since 2009 on public lands. 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. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is a special place. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking . At Whitewater, turn right onto Highway 141 and continue to the Tabeguache Trail turnoff. All Rights Reserved. The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was dedicated on August 12, 2009 by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar. Elk and White Tail. The remote canyons also formed hideouts for outlaws and rustlers. The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness . Congrats, thats is beautiful area and a fun hunt. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez- Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau. The canyon is rich in remains of other days that, like place markers in a book, remind us where to turn for favorite stories, wrote Muriel Marshall in Red Hole in Time. Dominguez Outfitters is based in Whitewater, CO. We hunt in Colorado Game Management Units (GMU) 61 and 62. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. 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. Wooley Built This House March the 18, 1901.. If you do hike in summer, check the forecast beforehand and carry sunscreen, a hat, and light-colored clothing. There is Ute rock art nearby, but this panel looks old, very old, and it seems to be the image of a star exploding. Unit 52 includes the Cruces Basin Wilderness area and boarders Colorado to the North. This National Conservation Area includes the 66,280 acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. For a cash-poor settler, it was a home. View Website. Learn more about Hiking in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. You should plan on finding and purifying water from trickling creeks and potholes filled with rainwater. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is near Grand Junction, Colorado, near the the Uncompahgre National Forest. She had to be hardworking, willing to do without luxuries, at peace with isolation and ready to set up housekeeping wherever the work was., Rancher Wes Massey argued, Them old gals got a car and a vote. Grand Valley Ranger District Temperatures soar in the canyons and little shade is found. Please click the link to the CPW for current Hunting Seasons, draw deadlines, and pricing of licenses. Leave artifacts as you find them. The area provides valuable opportunities for many different forms of recreation, particularly OHV and horseback riding. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Elk Hunting Maps tab on the website. The country we hunt rivals any of the . 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. Hes gone now, and the peace and quiet that he cherished endures for all of us. The Gunnison River angles along the eastern edge of sprawling Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, a vast 210,172-acre swathe of protected land that includes the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. 970-244-3000. You might also come across areas that still show traces of early miners and settlers who tried to eke out a living in this wild and woolly countryside back in the early days of Euro-American settlement. Yet the visible cliffs are 300 million-year-old Chinle sandstone. 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. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS Campsites are marked and available along the river. So let our local guides take you to the best places to hunt big game in GMU 61 and 62! Sounds like a great hunt. We are here to hunt elk. . After a few days of tramping through the ruddy canyons, youll be ready to ease back into civilization with a filling meal. The Ute Tribes today consider these pinyon-ju. Due to last minute changes, my normal hunting partner, Rita, was unable to go. Andrew Gulliford is a professor of history and environmental studies at Fort Lewis College. 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. I visited this place several times, and keep coming back. The 142-mile Tabeguache Mountain Bike Trail, which connects Grand Junction to Montrose, goes from Cactus Park on its ascent from Grand Junction to the top of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Grand Junction Field Office & Uncompahgre Field Office Geology, botany, natural history all abound in Dominguez Canyon, named in 1874 by the Hayden Expedition as it mapped Colorados Western Slope. Escalante Canyon to the south and Dominguez Canyon to the north, both parts of the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, made perfect hideouts for cattle rustlers and bank robbers. Little Dominguez Creek flows year round, creating a long, narow riparian zone inhabited by many reptiles, birds and mammals. Find more information about floating the Gunnison River here. Fishing is year round in Big Dominguez Creek. Access the north side via Dominguez Campground: from Grand Junction, travel south US-50. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. The Elk Ridge Recreation Area is located in San Juan County, Utah, west of Monticello and north of Blanding in southeastern Utah. Then theres the famous canyon shootout of June 9, 1917, when Ben Lowe, who often brought destitute homesteader families sides of beef not his own, faced off with former Sheriff Cash Sampson, who had been a state stock and brand inspector. Multiple access points), The Escalante, Cottonwood, Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez Creeks cascade through sandstone canyon walls that drain the eastern Uncompahgre Plateau. You must obtain a free, self-issued permit if you are taking an overnight trip. Equal Opportunity Employer 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. HUNTING PRICES & DATES - 2024 GUIDED HUNTS . 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. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. The 66,280 acres of Dominguez Canyon Wilderness are wholly contained within the boundaries of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Colorado Units 61 and 62, Discover the Best Public Hunting Grounds in Western Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunting Information. 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. 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. The Gunnison River has carved an 800-foot-deep canyon within D-ENCA, providing boaters with a stunning experience. The majority of the wilderness is characterized by rugged basaltic ridges and outcroppings separated by deep . 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. email: gjfo_webmail@blm.gov. 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. Sawmill Mesa: Immediately adjacent to the town of Delta, this area provides critical motorized links to the Uncompahgre National Forest. 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