Grand Junction and Uncompahgre Field Offices • COLORADO

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

BLM

Dominguez

Canyon

Wilderness

Study Area

BLM/CO/GI-07-012

Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov/co

Grand Junction Field Office

2815 H. Road

Grand Junction, CO 81506

970-244-3000

or

Uncompahgre Field Office

2505 S. Townsend Avenue

Montrose, CO 81401

970-240-5300

Those Who Came Before

For thousands of years Native Americans used these canyons 

for shelter, hunting, and as a travel corridor from the river 

valley to the high country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. 

As you walk the canyon trails you may see bits and pieces 

of Native American cultures – a chip of rock, a stone tool, 

or a battered cobble. Early miners and settlers followed, 

leaving their mark in the canyon as well. Today’s visitors 

may discover a rock-walled shelter, or an old can or bottle 

fragment. Enjoy looking, but please leave artifacts where 

you find them so others can enjoy this glimpse of the 

canyon’s historical significance. 

The most popular archaeological sites in the canyon are the 

rock art sites, located on the main trail, that tell the story 

of those who came to this spectacular canyon before us. 

The oldest are very faint and may be over 2,000 years old, 

while more recent images show the Utes on horseback and 

may date to the 1880s. Please respect these sites and do 

not touch the fragile sandstone surface or camp 

near the boulders. More information 

on the prehistory of the area 

is available at local 

museums, in books, or 

through programs 

sponsored by the 

Colorado Office 

of Archaeology 

and Historic 

Preservation.

Life Estate Lease

The Dominguez Canyon WSA is home to an individual 

who was granted a life estate lease upon selling his property 

in Little Dominguez Canyon to the BLM in 1988. Until 

his death, he has legal use of the lands in his lease, as well 

as motorized access to these lands on the existing road into 

the WSA. The trail passes near his home as it travels through 

Little Dominguez Canyon. Please respect his rights and 

privacy and remain on the trail.

For more information, please contact:
Grand Junction and Uncompahgre Field Offices • COLORADO

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

BLM

Dominguez

Canyon

Wilderness

Study Area

BLM/CO/GI-07-012

Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov/co

Grand Junction Field Office

2815 H. Road

Grand Junction, CO 81506

970-244-3000

or

Uncompahgre Field Office

2505 S. Townsend Avenue

Montrose, CO 81401

970-240-5300

Those Who Came Before

For thousands of years Native Americans used these canyons 

for shelter, hunting, and as a travel corridor from the river 

valley to the high country of the Uncompahgre Plateau. 

As you walk the canyon trails you may see bits and pieces 

of Native American cultures – a chip of rock, a stone tool, 

or a battered cobble. Early miners and settlers followed, 

leaving their mark in the canyon as well. Today’s visitors 

may discover a rock-walled shelter, or an old can or bottle 

please leave artifacts where fragment. Enjoy looking, but 

 so others can enjoy this glimpse of the you find them

canyon’s historical significance. 

The most popular archaeological sites in the canyon are the 

rock art sites, located on the main trail, that tell the story 

of those who came to this spectacular canyon before us. 

The oldest are very faint and may be over 2,000 years old, 

while more recent images show the Utes on horseback and 

do may date to the 1880s. Please respect these sites and 

not touch the fragile sandstone surface or camp 

. More information near the boulders

on the prehistory of the area 

is available at local 

museums, in books, or 

through programs 

sponsored by the 

Colorado Office 

of Archaeology 

and Historic 

Preservation.

Life Estate Lease

The Dominguez Canyon WSA is home to an individual 

who was granted a life estate lease upon selling his property 

in Little Dominguez Canyon to the BLM in 1988. Until 

his death, he has legal use of the lands in his lease, as well 

as motorized access to these lands on the existing road into 

the WSA. The trail passes near his home as it travels through 

Little Dominguez Canyon. Please respect his rights and 

privacy and remain on the trail.

For more information, please contact:
Dominguez Canyon

Wilderness Study Area

Access Points

Dominguez Campground:•	 Two-wheel drive access when roads are dry.

Not recommended when roads are wet.

•	 Recommend high-clearance vehicles.•	 Not recommended for trailers or recreational

vehicles.

Cactus Park Trailhead:•	 Two-wheel drive access when roads are dry.	 Not recommended when roads are wet.•	 Recommend high-clearance vehicles.•	 Cactus Park Trail not recommended for

horseback use.

Bridgeport Trailhead:•	 Two-wheel drive access on an improved road.•	 The public bridge that crosses the Gunnison

River near the trailhead is open to hiking andhorseback use.

•	 Public access to the WSA is also available by

floating down the Gunnison River. Contact theBLM in Grand Junction or Montrose for moreinformation.

McCarty Trailhead:•	 Two-wheel drive access on an improved road.Upper McCarty and GunnisonPack Access:•	 Recommend high-clearance four-wheel drive

vehicle when roads are dry. Not recommendedwhen roads are wet.

•	 Recommend using Escalante Forks USGS 7.5’

quad map for navigation.

Upper Bar X Access:•	 Recommend high-clearance four-wheel drive

vehicle when roads are dry. Not recommendedwhen roads are wet.

•	 Recommend using Escalante Forks USGS 7.5’

quad map for navigation.

Black Point Trailhead:•	 Recommend high-clearance four-wheel drive

vehicle when roads are dry. Not recommendedwhen roads are wet.

•	 Recommend using Keith Creek USGS 7.5’ quad

map for navigation.

Key to Recreation SymbolsTrailhead RestroomsCampground Boat LaunchPicnic Area HorsebackHiking Primitive Camping

No Facilities

Please 

Private