Safety Considerations, Download the official NPS app before your next visit. 2023 Delta County Tourism. This small but dramatic petroglyph may be a depiction of the supernova that exploded in 1054 and was seen around the world. The NCA consists of 210,000 acres of protected land in Delta, Montrose and Mesa Counties. Featured image provided by BLM / Bob Wick. The feature service includes both wilderness polygons and non-wilderness . This National Conservation Area includes the 66,280 acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. An official website of the United States government. It now provides private ranch access. 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. Certainly, outlaws did. Ninemile Hill is easily identifiable by its communication towers along the crest. A 15-mile graded county road offers visitors a trip back to pioneer days through Escalante Canyon. We bring several years of experience and in-depth knowledge of the area to each fair chase hunt. 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. There are 115 miles of streams and rivers in the NCA, and there is habitat suitable for 52 protected species of animals and plants. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. However, she recruited her fellow Minneapolis firefighter, Ben Pena, to join me. This is an area of rugged, water-carved mesas covered with dense stands of pinyon and juniper. It provides shelter during summer rainstorms. 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. 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. Elk Hunting Maps page on StartMyHunt.com. HUNTING PRICES & DATES - 2024 GUIDED HUNTS . This area is rich in history, providing the only access route for settlers in Escalante Creek to Delta in the 1800s and early 1900s. 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. Grand Junction BLM District The areas contain canyon and dry meadow habitat and produce elk observations throughout the fall hunt period. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Please close gates behind you, beware of sheep dogs and avoid interfering with livestock operations. It worked out well since Ben's an experienced hunter and many grades . (deer, elk, bear paws and human figures) to Ute style from 1600 to 1880, including shield figures and bison hunting. by Eric Jensen. Please check the current streamflow data and weather before your boat trip. Yet the visible cliffs are 300 million-year-old Chinle sandstone.. Hes gone now, and the peace and quiet that he cherished endures for all of us. The maps are printed on waterproof, tear resistant paper. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The canyons test every hiker since there arent rangers, a visitor center, paved parking lots, or detailed trail maps. Choose just the GMU boundaries or add the elk concentration data as well. 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. 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. Located in western Colorado in Mesa and Delta counties. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez- Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompaghre Plateau. Dominguez Outfitters is based in Whitewater, CO. We hunt in Colorado Game Management Units (GMU) 61 and 62. 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. Introduced desert bighorns routinely travel between Escalante and Dominguez canyons. 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. Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions. The route takes three to five days. 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. This wilderness is located in the northern Blue Mountains of southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon and encompasses 176,557 acres. Uncover Colorado | Sitemap | Advertise. Escalante Canyon: Escalante Canyon includes the Potholes Recreation Area, popular with extreme kayakers in the spring and picnickers in the summer. Terms of Use Expect spacious views across scrubby mesas, lots of wildlife, and total isolation. Privacy Policy, Weather data from The Durango Herald and WeatherKit.org, History, geology tell old tales in these Colorado desert canyons. Access the north side via Dominguez Campground: from Grand Junction, travel south US-50. 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. 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. 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 Escalante Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC) contains sensitive plant species, natural seeps, and several globally-unique plant associations including beautiful hanging gardens of small-flowered columbine and Eastwoods monkeyflower. Farther along the trail, hikers can spot a large boulder with dry-laid stone walls underneath. JavaScript is disabled. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Related Pages, More Colorado Information, Photos and Maps, Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Campsites are marked and available along the river. The BLM recommends you let someone know your plans before visiting and to bring along plenty of water due to limited water availability. Learn more about Hiking in the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness. Official websites use .gov Elk Hunting Maps tab on the website. This trip can take several days to a week, depending on how much exploring you plan to do. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated with broad local, regional and national support by Congress in 2009. Fishing is year round in Big Dominguez Creek. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail is composed of three main routes: the Main Route, the Armijo Route, and the North Branch. There was a private property in Little Dominguez Canyon that was bought by the BLM in 1988. Use would depend on peril, weather, or simple opportunistic stops. 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. 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. Sounds like a great hunt. McCarty was headed for a canyon hideout, but instead, he and his brother died in the dust of Deltas dirt streets. It could be SN 1054, a supernova which exploded in the year 1054 and is astronomys most famous supernova. The Elk Ridge Recreation Area is located in San Juan County, Utah, west of Monticello and north of Blanding in southeastern Utah. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Mount Zirkel Wilderness Rawah Wilderness Cache La Poudre Wilderness Sarvis Creek Wilderness Flat Tops Wilderness Byers Peak Wilderness Vasquez Peak Wilderness Eagles Nest Wilderness Ptarmigan . Please call to speak directly with Josh about your elk hunt! A large boulder with stacked stone walls created a rough shelter in Dominguez Canyon. Miles of trails wind within the NCA provide access to the Uncompahgre National Forest, which manages a successful multi-recreational trail system. 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. 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. Release Agent for Glass Bedding Cerakote??? 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. Phone: (970)244-3000 The conservation areas three canyons, despite their wildness, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Delta. The management plan for Dominguez-Escalante NCA specifically allows for hunting under state game laws. It's located southeast of Grand Junction and northwest of Montrose. Ed Hake. All Rights Reserved. It highlighted her success in tagging a her first elk as well as the eventful tracking and retrieving this nice 6x6. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Stow your pack in your vehicle and head back to Delta to celebrate the wind, sand, and stars. Length 12.3 miElevation gain 1,112 ftRoute type Out & back. Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum closed for renovations through mid-May. With only about 500 in Colorado, they are a delight to see. Established in 2009, the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness contains 66,000 acres and is part of the larger Dominguez-Escalante Conservation Area. 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. For a cash-poor settler, it was a home. 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. 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. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is a Bureau of Land Management property situated near to Grand Junction, Colorado. Leave artifacts as you find them. The terrain is characterized by large mesas dissected by deep red slick-rock canyons and arroyos. East Creek is the eastern drainage that runs along Hwy141 which is designated by the state of Colorado as the Unaweep-Tabaguache Scenic Byway. 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. Please call 970-882-5600 for assistance. 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. Deluxe horse pack-in/tent camp 18 miles, Bob Marshall Wilderness. The area provides valuable wildlife habitat for desert bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, wild turkey and chukar. Cactus Park includes miles of existing routes,trails, and roads for motorized recreation. Multiple access points. 1600 Reeder Mesa RoadWhitewater, CO 81527, License # 2681 One of my favorites is a place in Colorado that looks and feels like Utah, except rocks are gone. For more information on hunting seasons, how to get your hunting license, and more, please visit the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website. 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. Also, its a good idea to use a canister to protect your food from black bears. East Creek: Unaweep Canyon is on the northern boundary of the NCA. Dec 18, 2017. Ah, look, it's a dam on Dominguez creek used to fill the orchard irrigation ditch. 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. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. The remote canyons also formed hideouts for outlaws and rustlers. 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. The bottom of Dominguez Creek has hard, brittle, blue-gray rock, yet all around are red sandstone cliffs. Changes in the Elk Woods Elk are a part of who I am. Shapefiles of the entire wilderness system, as well as individual areas, are available for download below. You should plan on finding and purifying water from trickling creeks and potholes filled with rainwater. The Old Spanish National Historic Trail, a 19th Century land trade route, also passes through it. This is a popular area for relatively unimproved exploration via hiking and horseback riding. But of all the prehistory, history and tales told in the canyons, I am most interested in a specific petroglyph. It is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and was created as part of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. Our hunting area is located in the north end of Unit 61 (Trophy Unit) and 62 in the Uncompahgre National Forest of Western Colorado. In early summer, collared lizards can be found doing their push-ups and mating dances. 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. The wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009 and is made up of most of what was previously the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area. There is Ute rock art nearby, but this panel looks old, very old, and it seems to be the image of a star exploding. 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. You may encounter livestock when visiting the NCA. After a few days of tramping through the ruddy canyons, youll be ready to ease back into civilization with a filling meal. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. It joins the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River. For overnight stays, the Big Dominguez and Potholes campgrounds are available. 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. Yet the visible cliffs are 300 million-year-old Chinle sandstone. Almost 30 miles of the river meanders through a cliff-lined gorge accessible only by boat or foot. email: gjfo_webmail@blm.gov. Park elevations range from 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Little Dominguez is the longer of the two at approximately 12 miles in length. Big Dominguez Canyon Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. 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. The conservation area allows for a wide variety of activities including hiking, boating and wildlife viewing. We can also help you properly fill out your hunting license application form. Several hundred million years of geology are missing between the cliff tops and the creek bottom. 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. We typically hunt elk and deer, but we also offer opportunities to pursue other animals such as bears and desert bighorn sheep. I think they carved it, too. Plenty of other recreational opportunities are available for your enjoyment such as, camping, hiking, horseback riding and don't forget your camera! 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. 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 youre looking to have a great time while hunting big game, get in touch with us today! 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. Was seen around the world Blanding in southeastern Utah most famous supernova the northern boundary of spectacular. Fine example of the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their with... 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