Our featured proposed wilderness area

Dominguez Canyon

By Clare Bastable,
Western Slope Conservation Coordinator

Dominguez Canyon is one of the most biologically and geologically diverse places on the western slope, and it is a wonderful place to go for a hike now that the warm months are upon us.

Dominguez Canyon is located southwest of Grand Junction, only minutes away from Delta’s and Grand Junction’s centers. This canyon offers unparalleled opportunities for solitude and a true backcountry experience.

Of all the areas proposed for wilderness by the Colorado Wilderness Network, Dominguez Canyon spans the most elevation range, from 4,800 to over 9,000 feet. Wandering through this proposed wilderness area, one can find an incredibly broad array of topographic and biological diversity.

The geology of Dominguez Canyon leave its observers in awe. Erosion caused by the Dominguez River has exposed seven sedimentary strata, covering a geologic history of more than 600 million years. Some of the most phenomenal geological features of the canyon include the numerous free-standing “hoodoos” and perched rocks grouped throughout the canyon in clusters, which provide hours of entertainment for the expert photographer and the day-hiker alike.

The flora of this proposed wilderness is equally as impressive as its geologic features. Dominguez Canyon hosts a broad diversity of ecosystems from upper Sonoran along the Gunnison River to Douglas fir–aspen forest atop the plateau. Dominguez Canyon includes 102 sensitive species of plants and animals, all of which live within the proposed wilderness boundaries. Mule deer, elk, black bear, mountain lion, and numerous game birds also inhabit the area. If you are a quiet and patient hiker, you may even find some desert bighorn sheep.

Dominguez Canyon includes plentiful opportunities to find solitude, take a quiet afternoon swim in one of the warm pools, or study impressive rock art panels carved into the towering sandstone walls. It is truly a gem of western Colorado, found in the heart of our beloved canyon country.

To find out more information about Dominguez Canyon as well as other proposed wilderness areas, contact Clare Bastable, Western Slope Conservation Coordinator, at bastac@cmc.org or (970) 243-0002. Please let us know how your hike went if you visit Dominguez Canyon.