Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area

On October 21, 1999, legislation creating the 17,700 acre Gunnison Gorge Wilderness Area was signed into law.  The wilderness area forms the core of the newly designated 57,725 acre Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area. Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area

Tabeguache Area

The Colorado Wilderness Act of 1993 designated Tabeguache Creek as one of a number of "Areas" in Colorado. Under the terms of the Act, BLM and the US Forest Service are directed by Congress to manage the Tabeguache Area to protect its wilderness values, but it was not officially designated as wilderness.

The Tabeguache Area (17,240 acres) is located on the south slopes of the Uncompahgre Plateau about 4 miles north of Nucla, Colorado, and is jointly managed by BLM and the US Forest Service. Elevations range from 5,600 feet to 8,800 feet, and the central feature of the Tabeguache Area is the 400-800 foot deep canyon of Tabeguache Creek. The predominant vegetation types are pinon-juniper woodland at the lower elevations and ponderosa pine and oakbrush at the higher elevations. Cottonwoods, willows, scattered ponderosa pine and various shrubs form a riparian zone along Tabeguache Creek. Recreational opportunities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing.

Wilderness Study Areas

The Federal Land Management and Policy Act of 1976 directed BLM to inventory its lands for wilderness characteristics and report its findings to the President by October 21, 1991. As a result of that mandate, BLM identified wilderness study areas (WSA) that met certain wilderness characteristics. These WSAs are managed to preserve their wilderness values until Congress makes a decision to either designate the areas as wilderness or to release the areas for non-wilderness management.

Camel Back

Camel Back WSA (10,402 acres) is located on the north slopes of the Uncompahgre Plateau and is contiguous to the US Forest Service's Roubideau Area. Elevations range from 5,400 feet to 7,000 feet, and the WSA is characterized by a series of steep canyons and extensive mesas. Mesa tops and canyon slopes are predominantly pinon-juniper woodland and sagebrush, while the canyons are characterized by riparian vegetation consisting of cottonwoods, willows, skunkbush, and in the upper reaches, Douglas fir and ponderosa pine. Recreational opportunities include hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, fishing, and wildlife viewing. (0 acres recommended for wilderness; 10,402 acres recommended for non-wilderness).

Adobe Badlands

The Adobe Badlands WSA (10,425 acres) is located  approximately 3 miles northwest of Delta at elevations ranging from 5,200 feet to 8.000 feet. The WSA is characterized by abrupt sloping hills of Mancos shale dissected by rugged serpentine canyons. Vegetation is relatively sparse and is characterized by low saltbush with some pinon-juniper woodland at the highest elevations. Very little recreational use occurs in the WSA although adjacent adobe badlands are extensively used by off-road vehicles. (0 acres recommended for wilderness; 10,425 recommended for non-wilderness).

Dominguez Canyon

The Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Study Area (WSA) is the largest BLM roadless area in the state of Colorado at 68,505 acres, 67,222 of which is proposed for wilderness by BLM.  The area displays an array of ecosystems, ranging from upper Sonoran piñon-juniper desert along the Gunnison River, up to Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine to aspen. Dominguez WSA consists of two major canyon systems, Big Dominguez and Little Dominguez. The canyons drain the northeastern corner of the Uncompahgre Plateau. Little Dominguez is the longer of the two at approximately 12 miles in length. It joins the larger Big Dominguez canyon a little over a mile before their confluence with the Gunnison River. 

The WSA possesses outstanding geological features, spectacular scenery, ecological diversity, two cascading mountain streams and opportunities for solitude and primitive unconfined recreation. The terrain is characterized by large mesas dissected by deep red slick-rock canyons and arroyos. The area provides valuable wildlife habitat for desert bighorn sheep, deer, elk, mountain lion, black bear, wild turkey and chukar. Fishing is year round in Big Dominguez creek. Plenty of other recreational opportunities are available for your enjoyment, camping, hiking, horseback riding and don't forget your camera. Off-highway-vehicles and mountain bikes are NOT allowed in the WSA, however there are nearby areas that are open to such activities. For more information link to the BLM Grand Junction Field Office Dominguez Canyon web page and/or link to this brochure (.pdf file includes map).

Instant Study Areas

The Federal Land Policy and Management Act directed BLM to identify, and study for wilderness characteristics, those areas that were formally identified as natural or primitive areas prior to November 1, 1975.

Needle Rock Natural Area

The Needle Rock Instant Study Area (80 acres) is located 4 miles northeast of Crawford. Needle Rock is a spectacular volcanic formation that abrubtly rises almost 1000 feet above Smith Fork River valley. The natural area is withdrawn from mineral entry. (0 acres recommended for wilderness; 80 acres recommended for non-wilderness).