Last updated: October 20, 2023
Place
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area
Photo/Bureau of Land Management
Quick Facts
Location:
Located in western Colorado in Mesa and Delta counties. Multiple access points.
Significance:
The Old Spanish Trail passes through the eastern part of the NCA.
Designation:
National Conservation Area, Dominguez Canyon Wilderness
MANAGED BY:
Amenities
4 listed
Canoe/Kayak/Small Boat Launch, Historical/Interpretive Information/Exhibits, Restroom, Trailhead
The Old Spanish National Historic Trail passes through the eastern part of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA), which comprises 210,172 acres of protected public lands, and includes the 66,280-acre Dominguez Canyon Wilderness.
Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area was designated by Congress in 2009 by the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act. Known for its breathtaking scenery, Dominguez-Escalante NCA is a fine example of the spectacular canyon country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Red-rock canyons and sandstone bluffs hold geological and paleontological resources spanning 600 million years, as well as many cultural and historic sites.
Site Information
Location (in western Colorado in Mesa and Delta counties. Multiple access points)
The Escalante, Cottonwood, Little Dominguez and Big Dominguez Creeks cascade through sandstone canyon walls that drain the eastern Uncompahgre Plateau. Unaweep Canyon on the northern boundary of the NCA contains globally significant geological resources. Elevations in the NCA are approximately 4,800 to 8,200 feet.
Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through Dominguez-Escalante NCA, supporting fish, wildlife and recreational resources. 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. There are 115 miles of streams and rivers in the NCA, and there is habitat suitable for 52 protected species of animals and plants.
Safety Considerations