Hikers can see it in the Grand Canyon or you can hike into the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness along the Gunnison River between Delta and Grand Junction. There is also plenty of solitude and a raw silence that keeps the sounds of civilization far away. You may encounter livestock when visiting the NCA. The captain called the canyon a hidden paradise. 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. 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. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is near Grand Junction, Colorado, near the the Uncompahgre National Forest. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 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. Dec 18, 2017. There is Ute rock art nearby, but this panel looks old, very old, and it seems to be the image of a star exploding. There are 115 miles of streams and rivers in the NCA, and there is habitat suitable for 52 protected species of animals and plants. HUNTING PRICES & DATES - 2024 GUIDED HUNTS . Multiple access points. Official websites use .gov The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area 2) National Conservation Area located in western Colorado southeast of Grand Junction and northwest of Montrose. 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. Please call 970-882-5600 for assistance. Introduced desert bighorns routinely travel between Escalante and Dominguez canyons. 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. Rare plants and animals with prickly pear cactus and Indian rice grass grow within feet of narrow-leaf Fremont cottonwood trees. Unit 61 has a very limited number of licenses and requires preference points to draw. This trail is 12.3 mi long with an elevation gain of 1,112 ft. It could be SN 1054, a supernova which exploded in the year 1054 and is astronomys most famous supernova. Big game, upland bird and migratory waterfowl hunting contributes millions to the regional economy and is a valued activity in the NCA. 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. 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. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. National Conservation Area, Dominguez Canyon Wilderness, Old Spanish Trail National Historic Trail. A ruby gem at the bottom of the world. Ranchers tried to make a living but the country was hard on horses and even harder on wives. Terms of Use Nearly 30 miles of the river flow through the NCA. Created Date: 20140413130415Z . Yet the visible cliffs are 300 million-year-old Chinle sandstone. The bottom of Dominguez Creek has hard, brittle, blue-gray rock, yet all around are red sandstone cliffs. 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. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. After 3 years of trying to draw a tag, I finally drew a Unit 52 bull elk tag during the Muzzleloader season, Oct 7 - 11. 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 . 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. 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. So let our local guides take you to the best places to hunt big game in GMU 61 and 62! The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness . 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. A public wilderness feature service can be added in ArcGIS online or to other online maps. East Creek: Unaweep Canyon is on the northern boundary of the NCA. Human habitation in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area goes back 10,000 years. East Creek is the eastern drainage that runs along Hwy141 which is designated by the state of Colorado as the Unaweep-Tabaguache Scenic Byway. The maps are printed on waterproof, tear resistant paper. Grand Junction Field Office & Uncompahgre Field Office, Collaborative Action and Dispute Resolution, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The canyon is a rare palimpsest of time with layer after layer of geology and human history. There are 115 miles of streams and rivers in the NCA, and there is habitat suitable for 52 protected species of animals and plants. Dates Visit Length Price; 10/2911/04: 7 DAYS: $6,500 ea: 11/711/13: 7 DAYS: $6,500 ea: 11/1611/22: . The NCA consists of 210,000 acres of protected land in Delta, Montrose and Mesa Counties. Almost 30 miles of the river meanders through a cliff-lined gorge accessible only by boat or foot. Peregrine falcons have nested nearby. Unaweep Canyon on the northern boundary of the NCA contains globally significant geological resources. 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. 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. View Website. Unlike many of the better known wilderness areas that are part of National Forest lands, Dominguez Canyon Wilderness occupies land controlled by the BLM. It took a special kind of woman to make an Escalante Canyon ranchers wife, Marshall wrote. While the Rockies get all the glory in Colorado, the . Look for petroglyphs on trailside boulders and desert bighorn sheep grazing below cliffs. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Shapefiles of the entire wilderness system, as well as individual areas, are available for download below. We look forward to your visit; here's hoping that you are inspired to linger a little while longer with us. Ninemile Hill is easily identifiable by its communication towers along the crest. The NCA's terrain ranges from dry, high plains desert, mountain timber to deep canyons along the Gunnison River. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. The canyon is unique because it has drainages running east and west out of the canyon. 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. 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. You will encounter picturesque views, fascinating historical artifacts, as well as unique plants and geologic features. They put their kids in school so they wouldnt have that life. It worked out well since Ben's an experienced hunter and many grades . 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). The trail continues along the west side of the river to the mouth of Big Dominguez Canyon, nearly two miles from the trailhead. Dominguez Outfitters is based in Whitewater, CO. We hunt in Colorado Game Management Units (GMU) 61 and 62. The Escalante, Cottonwood, Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez Creeks cascade through sandstone canyon walls that drain the eastern Uncompahgre Plateau. Campsites are marked and available along the river. We are proud to say that we have enjoyed a very high success rate, and we show no signs of slowing down. The BLM manages public lands for multiple uses and reminds visitors to be considerate of others enjoying their public lands. Established in 2009, the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness contains 66,000 acres and is part of the larger Dominguez-Escalante Conservation Area. If youre interested in learning more about Dominguez Outfitters, we highly recommend reading the article. Unit 61 has a very limited number of licenses and requires preference points to draw. Phone: (970)244-3000 Length 12.3 miElevation gain 1,112 ftRoute type Out & back. The area possesses outstanding geological features, spectacular scenery, ecological diversity, two cascading mountain streams and opportunities for solitude and primitive unconfined recreation. Plan your trek in spring and fall when the weather is generally pleasant, since summers are too hot. 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. 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. email: gjfo_webmail@blm.gov. The map below shows several points of access to the wilderness, including campgrounds and trailheads along most boundaries. D-E NCA provides a host of mountain biking and OHV riding on existing roads and trails. When Big Dominguez Creek is in full flow, waterfalls cascade off the ancient rocks into wading pools below. 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. A new metal bridge provides pedestrian access to Dominguez Canyon Wilderness from the Bridgeport Road south of Grand Junction. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. It lies about 300 miles east of Denver, and 30 miles south of Fruita. Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA, supporting fish, wildlife and recreational resources. One of my favorites is a place in Colorado that looks and feels like Utah, except rocks are gone. Cactus Park includes miles of existing routes,trails, and roads for motorized recreation. There was a private property in Little Dominguez Canyon that was bought by the BLM in 1988. The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness was created by the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978. Scenic auto touring, bouldering and multi pitch climbing occur along East Creek. 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. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. D-E NCA offers outstanding opportunities to hunt for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, turkey, and chukar. Grand Junction, CO 81505 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. 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. 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. Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Restroom, Trailhead. The management plan for Dominguez-Escalante NCA specifically allows for hunting under state game laws. The Elk Ridge Recreation Area is located in San Juan County, Utah, west of Monticello and north of Blanding in southeastern Utah. This wilderness, which is characterized by diverse ecosystems, features two major canyon systems which drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Thank you for visiting deltacountycolorado.com! Details Address: Grand Junction, CO Phone: 970-240-5300 Season: Year round Website: blm.gov/visit/dominguez-canyon-wilderness Join our Colorado travel community A lock ( 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. I think they carved it, too. This trip can take several days to a week, depending on how much exploring you plan to do. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Please click the link to the CPW for current Hunting Seasons, draw deadlines, and pricing of licenses. 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. Safety Considerations, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. 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. 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 | Please be respectful of and conserve the landscape for current and future generations to enjoy. 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 conservation area allows for a wide variety of activities including hiking, boating and wildlife viewing. Four years later, Tom McCarty robbed the Delta Bank only to be shot by a hardware store owner with a buffalo gun so powerful that it lifted the robber out of his saddle, dead before he hit the ground. Opportunity exists for BLM to link into this system. The McCarty Trail is a landscape feature named after the McCarty family whose brothers rode with Butch Cassidy to rob the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride in 1889. After a few days of tramping through the ruddy canyons, youll be ready to ease back into civilization with a filling meal. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail is composed of three main routes: the Main Route, the Armijo Route, and the North Branch. (deer, elk, bear paws and human figures) to Ute style from 1600 to 1880, including shield figures and bison hunting. The conservation areas three canyons, despite their wildness, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Delta. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Vegetation varies from pinon-juniper woodlands near the Gunnison River to Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir and aspens in the higher reaches. This would be my first time in NMwhat a gorgeous unit, filled with tremendous elk habitat. An outstanding historic Ute Indian petroglyph is this bison-hunting scene with the vanquished bison spurting blood. Just across the wilderness boundary is this historic cowboy corral from the 1914 Ennors homestead. You are using an out of date browser. Elk Hunting Maps tab on the website. 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. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. McCarty was headed for a canyon hideout, but instead, he and his brother died in the dust of Deltas dirt streets. We bring several years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the area to each fair chase hunt. 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. Learn more about Hiking in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. This is a popular trail for backpacking, camping, and hiking . Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. Find more information about recreating in Dominguez Canyon Wilderness here. For almost two years, it was visible, and it can now be seen as the Crab Nebula. Campsites are first come, first serve. 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. For a cash-poor settler, it was a home. But of all the prehistory, history and tales told in the canyons, I am most interested in a specific petroglyph. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area is a special place. Hes gone now, and the peace and quiet that he cherished endures for all of us. L.O. 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. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and was created as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Petroglyphs include Archaic styles from 1000 B.C. Arches and Canyonlands 4X4 Adventure from Moab 55 Recommended Full-day Tours from $324.37 per adult Canyonlands & Arches National Parks Airplane Tour 52 Recommended Air Tours from $329.00 per adult LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Moab Rappeling Adventure: Medieval Chamber Slot Canyon 38 Recommended from $110.00 per adult SPECIAL OFFER In early summer, collared lizards can be found doing their push-ups and mating dances. 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. In 2009 66,280 acres (26,820 ha) were also designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. 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. Collared lizards enact marvelous mating dances. Geologists call this missing strata The Great Unconformity. Please check the current streamflow data and weather before your boat trip. 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. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Ah, look, it's a dam on Dominguez creek used to fill the orchard irrigation ditch. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez- Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau. Due to last minute changes, my normal hunting partner, Rita, was unable to go. The area has mountain lion, black bear, mule deer, elk, coyote, golden eagle, wild turkey and collared lizard. Our family has been outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness since 1976. However, she recruited her fellow Minneapolis firefighter, Ben Pena, to join me. Release Agent for Glass Bedding Cerakote??? 2023 Delta County Tourism. Please call 970-882-5600 for assistance. Please call to speak directly with Josh about your elk hunt! Geology, botany, natural history all abound in Dominguez Canyon, named in 1874 by the Hayden Expedition as it mapped Colorados Western Slope. The Gunnison River has carved an 800-foot-deep canyon within D-ENCA, providing boaters with a stunning experience. 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. 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. 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. 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. It's located southeast of Grand Junction and northwest of Montrose. 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. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 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. This is what we have come so far to find: the solitude, the challenge, and the wildness. Written by Stewart Green for RootsRated Media in partnership with Delta County Colorado. This National Conservation Area includes the 66,280 acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Ed Hake. The Old Spanish Trail passes through the eastern part of the NCA. All Rights Reserved. If you do hike in summer, check the forecast beforehand and carry sunscreen, a hat, and light-colored clothing. We are here to hunt elk. Wooley Built This House March the 18, 1901.. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (D-E NCA) offers beautiful hiking year-round; regardless of where you hike, expect to see rare plants, a diverse array of wildlife, and cultural/historical sites along the way. 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. 2815 H Road As the snow piles up, I think of warm desert hikes. . Colorado Units 61 and 62, Discover the Best Public Hunting Grounds in Western Colorado, Colorado Parks and Wildlife Hunting Information. Traces of the early miners and settlers who lived and worked there are also evident. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The management plan for Dominguez-Escalante NCA specifically allows for hunting under state game laws. Expect Class I and II water. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness consists of two major canyon systems, Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez. Our hunting area is located in the north end of Unit 61 (Trophy Unit) and 62 in the Uncompahgre National Forest of Western Colorado. 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. The Ute Tribes today consider these pinyon-junipercovered lands an important connection to their ancestral past. Completely unfitted em for cattle ranching.. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. 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 canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Also, its a good idea to use a canister to protect your food from black bears. Certainly, outlaws did. We could see why this was a chosen hunting grounds, nearby was the creek . Fishing is year round in Big Dominguez Creek. Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum closed for renovations through mid-May. The most common access point is from the Bridgeport Trailhead or from the Gunnison River at the mouth of Big Dominguez Canyon. The remote canyons also formed hideouts for outlaws and rustlers. Created Date: 20140413123814Z . The areas contain canyon and dry meadow habitat and produce elk observations throughout the fall hunt period. Restrooms and picnic tables are available for day-use recreation as well. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated with broad local, regional and national support by Congress in 2009. Welcome to Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The second half of the hike descends the Pack Trail for 10 miles and then edges along the Gunnison River back to the trailhead. If youre looking to have a great time while hunting big game, get in touch with us today! 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. 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. by Eric Jensen. Wooley Built This House March the 18, 1901.. Cap Smith said, Escalante Canyon is a hidden paradise. Farther along the trail, hikers can spot a large boulder with dry-laid stone walls underneath. 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.