BLM/CO/GI-15/009

Browns Canyon

National Monument

For centuries, the rugged granite cliffs, colorful 

rock outcroppings and stunning mountain vistas 

of Browns Canyon National Monument have 

attracted visitors from around the world. The 

area’s unusual geology and roughly 3,000-foot 

range in elevation support a diversity of life and a 

wealth of geological, ecological, riparian, cultural 

and historic resources.

President Obama designated the 21,589-acre 

Browns Canyon National Monument on February 

19, 2015. The Bureau of Land Management and the 

U.S. Forest Service jointly manage the Monument. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), through the 

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA), 

manages river-based recreation on 

the Arkansas River through 

Browns Canyon.

Recreation

Whitewater Activities

Whitewater boating is the most popular 

recreational activity that occurs in Browns Canyon. 

Through the AHRA partnership, CPW manages 

commercial and private boating through Browns 

Canyon along with all recreational use on the 

Arkansas River from the confluence of the Lake 

Fork and the East Fork of the Arkansas River to 

Lake Pueblo.

The Arkansas River is the most accessible way to 

enjoy the National Monument. The remote canyon 

provides a unique type of whitewater boating 

experience when compared to other segments of 

the Arkansas River, allowing visitors to experience 

solitude in a natural setting while enjoying the 

scenery.

For more information on water flows and float 

permits, visit http://bit.ly/1KqEsnW 

Browns

Canyon

National Monument

About National Monuments

National Monuments are designated 

to afford protection, conservation and 

restoration to landscapes of tremendous 

beauty, diversity, and historic or scientific 

interest. The Antiquities Act of 1906 

granted the President authority to 

designate national monuments to protect 

“objects of historic or scientific interest.” 

While most national monuments are 

established by the President, Congress 

has also occasionally established national 

monuments to protect natural or historic 

features. Since 1906, the President and 

Congress have created more than 100 

national monuments managed by the 

Bureau of Land Management, the National 

Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

BLM Photo by Kyle Sullivan

BLM Photo by Bob Wick

BLM Photo by Bob Wick

Cover: BLM Photo by Kyle SullivanBLM Photo by Bob Wick

For more Information

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

307 W. Sackett Avenue

Salida, CO 81201

719-539-7289

http://bit.ly/1KqEsnW

BLM Royal Gorge Field Office

3028 East Main Street

Cañon City, CO 81212

719-269-8500 

http://on.doi.gov/1JKWyQU

USFS Salida Ranger District

5575 Cleora Road

Salida, CO 81201

719-539-3591

http://1.usa.gov/1GziZti

Hiking Trails 

Ruby Mountain Trailhead (Ruby Mountain 

Recreation Site) distances and estimated hiking 

times:

Roundtrip to river at Little Cottonwood via Turret 

Trail (#6045): 2.7 miles, 2 hours

Roundtrip to the river via the River Bench Trail 

(#6045A): 5.5 miles, 3 hours

Roundtrip to the river via River Access Trail 

(#6045B): 9 miles, 4.5 hours

Roundtrip including Catkin Gulch Loop (#6046): 

11.5 miles, 5 hours

Roundtrip Ruby Mountain Trailhead to Forest 

Service Road 184: 11 miles, 5 hours

Hecla Junction Trailhead (Hecla Junction 

Recreation Site) distances and estimated hiking 

times:

Roundtrip out-and-back along the west bank of the 

river via Seidel’s Suckhole Trail: 2 miles, 1.5 hours

Turret Trail 6045 en route to the Arkansas River 

at Little Cottonwood Creek is a steep but short 

2-mile roundtrip hike with wide views of the area’s 

northern half. 

The 5.5-mile “in and out” hike along the gentle 

dead-end River Bench Trail 6045A provides a 

good sample of the northern Monument with an 

Arkansas River overlook. 

The 11.5-mile Catkin Gulch Loop 6046 roundtrip 

via the Turret Trail 6405 goes deep into the 

Monument for a fuller experience of its wilderness 

character.

For more information about trails and hiking in the 

area, visit http://brownscanyon.org/wp-content/

uploads/2015/02/2-Browns-Canyon-NorthernTrails-42_-FINAL-OL-lowrez-8.24.14.pdf

Fishing

The Arkansas River within the AHRA is a world 

class fishery and provides an excellent opportunity 

for anglers to test their skills at catching brown 

and rainbow trout. As a testament to the excellent 

fishery, CPW designated the Arkansas River 

from the confluence with the Lake Fork of the 

Arkansas River downstream to Parkdale, Colorado 

(102 miles), as a Gold Medal Trout Fishery in 

2014. This addition to the Gold Medal registry is 

the state’s longest--nearly a third of Colorado’s 

322 Gold Medal river miles in a single segment. 

The Gold Medal designation itself doesn’t carry 

any special fishing regulations; however, a valid 

Colorado Fishing License is required and other 

special fishing regulations apply within certain 

portions of the Gold Medal stretch of river. For 

more information, please refer to CPW fishing 

regulations (http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/

RulesRegs/Brochure/fishing.pdf). 

Cultural Resources 

The story of people living in the upper Arkansas 

River valley is told through sites and artifacts 

dating back 11,000 years. Within the monument, 

evidence of seasonal camps remains, including 

open campsites, prehistoric stone structures and 

rock shelter sites, among other features. These 

sites range from the PaleoIndian (11,000 years 

before present) to the Late Prehistoric Period (from 

around 2,000 years ago to the 1700s). The cultural 

resources within Browns Canyon provide future 

generations with the opportunity to learn from 

those who preceded us in exploring this beautiful 

area.

Discovery of gold near the Arkansas River in 1859 

brought an influx of people to the area, along 

with the need for transportation. While the old 

Stagecoach Road provided a route to Leadville for 

many years, it was very rugged and the trip was a 

long one. The arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande 

Railroad in 1880 allowed for much easier access to 

the booming mining area around Leadville. Many 

interesting historic prospecting sites can still be 

found throughout the monument.

Browns Canyon has a rich cultural history that 

we are still investigating. The Archaeological 

Resources Protection Act of 1979 prohibits 

removing, disturbing or defacing archaeological 

sites or artifacts on federal public lands. 

Access

All access to Browns Canyon National 

Monument is via unpaved roads that have 

blind corners and other hazards.

One of the main trailheads into the 

Monument is located adjacent to the Ruby 

Mountain Recreation Site (AHRA), which 

features a campground with restrooms, 

changing facilities, a boat ramp and picnic 

sites.

The Hecla Junction Recreation Site 

(AHRA) is the primary location for taking 

boats out after floating through Browns 

Canyon. The area features a campground 

with restrooms, changing facilities, a boat 

ramp and picnic sites. The road into Hecla 

Junction is steep and unpaved.

Forest Service Road 1434A is an ATV route 

that traverses the northern boundary of 

the Monument. There is a seasonal gate 

closure Dec 1 – April 15 every year. 

Aspen Ridge Road (Forest Service Road 

185) comprises the eastern boundary of 

the Monument. High clearance 4x4 vehicles 

recommended. Vehicles must remain 

within one vehicle length of the road when 

parking.

Turret Road (Forest Service Road 184) off 

Aspen Ridge Road provides a rugged 4x4 

experience into the heart of the Monument 

while traveling through open meadows and 

granite spires with the Collegiate Peaks 

Wilderness serving as the backdrop. 

Photo by Susan Mayfield

Photo © Tim Brown Photography

BLM Photo by Bob Wick

Stay on designated trails unless confident in

cross-country hiking and navigation skills. •• ••
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Fisherman's Bridge

Rec Site

Hecla Junction

Rec Site

Ruby Mountain

Rec Site

BROWNS CANYON

WILDERNESS STUDY AREA

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BROWNS CANYON

NATIONAL MONUMENT

Arkansas River

Browns Canyon National Monument

2WD Dirt Road

High Clearance Road - 4WD Recommended

Trail - Open to Motorized Use 50" or Less

Trail - Open to Non-Motorized Use

Trail - Open to Non-Motorized, Non-Mechanized Use

!9 Camp Ground - Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

! Boat Ramp/Slide - Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area

Land Ownership

BLM Wilderness Study Area

Bureau of Land Management

US Forest Service

State

Private

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Plants

The plant community in this area has repeatedly evolved during 

periods of climate change since the Eocene Epoch (56-33.9 

million years ago). Geologic and climate changes since the 

Precambrian (4,600-541 million years ago) make the area an 

important site for research on paleoclimatology and the effects of 

climate change, wildland fire and other disturbances.

Unique plant species within Browns Canyon include the endemic 

Brandegee’s buckwheat as well as imperiled species such as 

Fendler’s Townsend-daisy, Fendler’s false cloak-fern, Livermore 

fiddleleaf and the endemic Front Range alumroot.

Wildlife

Browns Canyon is home to some of Colorado’s most emblematic 

animal species, including mountain lions, bighorn sheep, elk, 

mule deer, bobcat, red and gray fox, black bear and coyote, among 

others. The area’s cliffs provide excellent habitat for peregrine 

falcons, prairie falcons and golden eagles.

The rugged river corridor of Browns Canyon National Monument 

represents one of the only riparian ecosystems along the 

Arkansas River that remains relatively undisturbed. Riparian 

corridors provide very important migration routes for birds and 

insects. A number of reptile and amphibian species are found in 

the area, including Woodhouse’s toads, chorus frogs, bullsnakes, 

plains garter snakes, western rattlesnakes, Short-horned lizards, 

and some other less common species.

Grazing

The Monument contains several active livestock grazing 

allotments that have been permitted since implementation of 

the Taylor Grazing Act in 1934. Grazing use in this area supports 

the local economy and maintains the historic ranching heritage 

of Chaffee County. Livestock grazing management practices 

are conducted in a manner that promotes a balance in use with 

wildlife needs, protection of riparian areas and healthy plant 

ecosystems.

Fees

Browns Canyon National Monument does not require fees for 

entrance. However, parking at the Ruby Mountain Recreation Site 

and/or the Hecla Junction Recreation Site requires either a CPW 

annual or daily parks pass. Annual park passes can be obtained at 

the AHRA Visitor Center in Salida or daily passes can be obtained 

at self-serve kiosks at the recreation sites. 

For more information about fees, visit http://cpw.state.co.us/

placestogo/parks/ArkansasHeadwatersRecreationArea/Pages/

Fees.aspx

Leave No Trace

Following the Leave No Trace principles and combining them 

with your personal judgment, awareness and experience will 

help protect natural and cultural resources and preserve the 

experience for future visitors. Please learn and practice Leave No 

Trace skills and ethics and pass them on to those you meet. It’s 

easy to enjoy and protect the Monument simultaneously. 

• Plan ahead and prepare.

• Travel and camp on durable surfaces.

• Dispose of waste properly.

• Leave what you find.

• Minimize campfire impacts.

• Respect wildlife.

• Be considerate of other visitors.

For more information, visit https://lnt.org/ 

Photo © John Fielder