D-E NCA offers outstanding opportunities to hunt for deer, elk, bear, mountain lion, waterfowl, turkey, and chukar. It joins the larger Big Dominguez Canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River. The NCA's terrain ranges from dry, high plains desert, mountain timber to deep canyons along the Gunnison River. 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. Later, bands of Utes traversed the canyons and engraved shield figures and a bison hunt on sandstone cliffs. 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. It took a special kind of woman to make an Escalante Canyon ranchers wife, Marshall wrote. 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. Joined. The trail takes a right turn away from the river, where you will see an old dam on the left, pass by a gate post made from old wagon wheel axle and spy an abandoned corral on the right. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet. However, she recruited her fellow Minneapolis firefighter, Ben Pena, to join me. Park elevations range from 4,800 to 8,200 feet. Rare plants and animals with prickly pear cactus and Indian rice grass grow within feet of narrow-leaf Fremont cottonwood trees. Plan your trek in spring and fall when the weather is generally pleasant, since summers are too hot. Grand Valley Ranger District It lies about 300 miles east of Denver, and 30 miles south of Fruita. Sycamore Canyon Wilderness and Red Rock - Secret Mountain . 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 wilderness was designated by Congress in 2009 and is made up of most of what was previously the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Besides its rich wilderness and scenic qualities, the area echoes with human history. You are using an out of date browser. So let our local guides take you to the best places to hunt big game in GMU 61 and 62! 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. Hunting and guiding have been a part of our families lifestyle for generations, and we are excited to share this experience with you! The conservation areas three canyons, despite their wildness, are easily accessed by backpackers and hikers from U.S. 50 northwest of Delta. Established in 2009, the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness contains 66,000 acres and is part of the larger Dominguez-Escalante Conservation Area. Just across the wilderness boundary is this historic cowboy corral from the 1914 Ennors homestead. Miles of trails wind within the NCA provide access to the Uncompahgre National Forest, which manages a successful multi-recreational trail system. 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 | 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 . Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Dominguez Canyon Wilderness consists of two major canyon systems, Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez. 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. 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. Official websites use .gov Funds for Delta County Social Media and PR provided from a Marketing Matching Grant from the Colorado Tourism Office. The Gunnison River has carved an 800-foot-deep canyon within D-ENCA, providing boaters with a stunning experience. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. As the snow piles up, I think of warm desert hikes. 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 . There are 115 miles of streams and rivers in the NCA, and there is habitat suitable for 52 protected species of animals and plants. Please click the link to the CPW for current Hunting Seasons, draw deadlines, and pricing of licenses. 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 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. In early summer, collared lizards can be found doing their push-ups and mating dances. 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. For overnight stays, the Big Dominguez and Potholes campgrounds are available. Described as a guest star and like a path clothed in brightness adorned by countless gleaming lamps, people around the world saw it as a living, pulsing, fireworks display. 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. They left the wilderness and all that hard work. 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. View the alert: Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum closed for renovations through mid-May. Big Dominguez Canyon Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. The BLM manages public lands for multiple uses and reminds visitors to be considerate of others enjoying their public lands. The Uncompahgre band, Weminuche band and Grand River band of Utes may all have traversed this canyon at different times of year. The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness is the premier dry camping location within Dominguez-Escalante NCA. 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. 1600 Reeder Mesa RoadWhitewater, CO 81527, License # 2681 The maps are printed on waterproof, tear resistant paper. 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) Peregrine falcons have nested nearby. I love to arrive by canoe from Delta or Escalante Canyon and camp at one of the four campsites at the mouth of Dominguez Creek. The second half of the hike descends the Pack Trail for 10 miles and then edges along the Gunnison River back to the trailhead. Cactus Park: This area provides rich opportunities to motorized vehicle enthusiasts to experience the back country. The trail continues along the west side of the river to the mouth of Big Dominguez Canyon, nearly two miles from the trailhead. One panel with an exploding star may depict the famed supernova of AD 1054. You should plan on finding and purifying water from trickling creeks and potholes filled with rainwater. Human habitation in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area goes back 10,000 years. River Access Points: Escalante Put-In Whitewater Put-In/Take-Out Redlands Dam Take-Out(outside the NCA Boundary). Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites. ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. A variety of wildlife call the area home, including desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, golden eagles, turkeys, elk, mountain lions, black bears, andcollared lizards. 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. | Campsites are first come, first serve. The Old Spanish Trail passes through the eastern part of the NCA. Equal Opportunity Employer A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Wooley Built This House March the 18, 1901.. One of my favorites is a place in Colorado that looks and feels like Utah, except rocks are gone. 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! 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. Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated by Congress in 2009 by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. 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! Geologists call this missing strata The Great Unconformity. 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. Traces of the early miners and settlers who lived and worked there are also evident. 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