Explore the Dolores River Canyon for a memorable experience
Tucked into the southwest corner of Colorado, surrounded by ancient Puebloan ruins, is a spectacular river canyon known only to a few people. Information about this canyon is not in any guidebooks, except a few written in German and French. Maps show only a small wiggly blue line. You may find one or two small road signs, but nothing will shout for you to explore this natural wonder. The first time I saw the Dolores River Canyon, I was stunned.
The canyon is about 1,200’ deep; 3 miles wide at its widest point, and is 200 miles long from it’s source close to Telluride in the San Juan Mtns. and flows to a confluence where it joins the Colorado river.
The red rock walls of the canyon reveal 12 layers of geological strata.
The river canyon begins in an alpine forest and flows through five life zones, the last being the Sonoran life zone of Pinion, yucca, and cactus. It is full of wildlife. If you look closely you can find hoof prints of Elk, Mule Deer, Desert Big Horn sheep, Cougar and Bear.
Trail riding along the western rim of this beautiful canyon is an awesome experience. A few roads are maintained by the forest service and BLM. At the end of the roads you will find many animal trails. Venture south along the canyon for some stunning views of the Dolores River. Ride north and you can find an overlook of the “Pyramid”, see stunning views from the top of Bell Canyon, follow abandon mining trails, and explore a route some historians claim was Escalante’s entry point to the Dolores River, through Bishop’s and Summit canyons. Following any of these trails rewards you with scenic beauty and an appreciation for this dynamic canyon. My favorite is riding north along the western canyon rim to a spectacular view of the north Dolores River Canyon that extends out over the Uncompahgre (Un-com-pag-re) Plateau.
If you take some time to explore the western rim, you may find a hanging meadow and some cool springs. There may be grass to graze your horse. You can take a picnic lunch, enjoy it in a hanging meadow, and bask in the warm afternoon sun while the horses graze. When you look to the east you can see a tall peak on the San Juan Mountains called “Lone Cone”.
Go down inside the canyon to ride or hike the Snaggletooth trail and discover more surprises. If you start out early in the morning at the “pumps”; where Dove Creek, Colorado used to get it’s water, you may see a herd of Desert Big Horn Sheep drinking from the Dolores River. Then follow the Snaggletooth trail as it wiggles and winds through the canyon along the Dolores River. If the water level is low enough you will see huge boulders in the river, brought down by centuries of rock falls booming down from the canyon walls and you will know where the Snaggletooth gets it’s name. It's an easy trail along the Snaggletooth until you ride several miles beyond the “Pyramid”. The Pyramid is a peak of earth where the Dolores River bends to the west, in a section of river called the “Gooseneck. The Pyramid was created by Mother nature from the movement of river water over the centuries and is a dynamic example of nature sculpting the earth. Some speculate that the Dolores River Canyon itself was created at the end of the last ice age.
Beyond the Gooseneck is a rugged stretch of trail reserved only for the skilled rider and surefooted horse. Roads that follow the river were washed out, in quite a few places, long ago. Nature has since tossed large boulders, like so many giant sized marbles, into gaps in the road. The brave riders who venture beyond the Gooseneck will have to cross the river several times and follow a trail that vanishes and then reappears hundreds of feet away. You may have to backtrack to find the illusive trail and if you get a thrill from bushwacking you will enjoy the experience. If you find your way and follow the trail to its end you will see some signs of civilization and a road at Slick Rock.
Rock formations in the canyon are a treat for your imagination. Visitors to the canyon have reported seeing rocks that look like a Native American wrapped in his robes, or an angel with wings spread (depending on your perspective), a giant sized bird bath that looks like white alabaster, or groups of rocks along the east canyon wall that appear to be tall people posing for a family portrait. I have always wondered if some of the rock openings facing southwest along the top of the east canyon wall might have housed some of the ancient Puebloan people or could contain petroglyphs. I have never been brave enough to venture to the top of the east canyon to check it out. In hidden areas along the river you can find a grainery along the canyon rim.
Explore here as long as you like, you may rarely see another human being, other than your riding companions because the Dolores River Canyon is one of southwest Colorado’s best kept secrets.
Dolores River Canyon Rim trails are over 100 miles in length covering over 46,000 acres. The Snaggletooth trail is roughly 25 miles in length from the pumps to Slick Rock and covers about 16,000 acres. You can explore the Dolores River Canyon Rim over several days of riding from Sun Canyon Ranch, a guest ranch tucked up against the San Juan national forest.
Sun Canyon Ranch has trailhead access to Dolores River Canyon Rim trails. You can explore the “Snaggletooth Trail ” with a twenty-minute drive to the “pumps”. A thirty-minute trailer ride can take you to Canyon of the Ancients, one of Colorado’s newest national monuments. Canyon of the Ancients is SW of Dove Creek, Colorado. You can also explore the beautiful four corners area because Dove Creek is centrally located between Telluride and Durango, Colorado and Moab, Utah.
This article appeared in the Jan-Feb 2003 edition of "Trail Rider" magazine
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The canyon is about 1,200’ deep; 3 miles wide at its widest point, and is 200 miles long from it’s source close to Telluride in the San Juan Mtns. and flows to a confluence where it joins the Colorado river.
The red rock walls of the canyon reveal 12 layers of geological strata.
The river canyon begins in an alpine forest and flows through five life zones, the last being the Sonoran life zone of Pinion, yucca, and cactus. It is full of wildlife. If you look closely you can find hoof prints of Elk, Mule Deer, Desert Big Horn sheep, Cougar and Bear.
Trail riding along the western rim of this beautiful canyon is an awesome experience. A few roads are maintained by the forest service and BLM. At the end of the roads you will find many animal trails. Venture south along the canyon for some stunning views of the Dolores River. Ride north and you can find an overlook of the “Pyramid”, see stunning views from the top of Bell Canyon, follow abandon mining trails, and explore a route some historians claim was Escalante’s entry point to the Dolores River, through Bishop’s and Summit canyons. Following any of these trails rewards you with scenic beauty and an appreciation for this dynamic canyon. My favorite is riding north along the western canyon rim to a spectacular view of the north Dolores River Canyon that extends out over the Uncompahgre (Un-com-pag-re) Plateau.
If you take some time to explore the western rim, you may find a hanging meadow and some cool springs. There may be grass to graze your horse. You can take a picnic lunch, enjoy it in a hanging meadow, and bask in the warm afternoon sun while the horses graze. When you look to the east you can see a tall peak on the San Juan Mountains called “Lone Cone”.
Go down inside the canyon to ride or hike the Snaggletooth trail and discover more surprises. If you start out early in the morning at the “pumps”; where Dove Creek, Colorado used to get it’s water, you may see a herd of Desert Big Horn Sheep drinking from the Dolores River. Then follow the Snaggletooth trail as it wiggles and winds through the canyon along the Dolores River. If the water level is low enough you will see huge boulders in the river, brought down by centuries of rock falls booming down from the canyon walls and you will know where the Snaggletooth gets it’s name. It's an easy trail along the Snaggletooth until you ride several miles beyond the “Pyramid”. The Pyramid is a peak of earth where the Dolores River bends to the west, in a section of river called the “Gooseneck. The Pyramid was created by Mother nature from the movement of river water over the centuries and is a dynamic example of nature sculpting the earth. Some speculate that the Dolores River Canyon itself was created at the end of the last ice age.
Beyond the Gooseneck is a rugged stretch of trail reserved only for the skilled rider and surefooted horse. Roads that follow the river were washed out, in quite a few places, long ago. Nature has since tossed large boulders, like so many giant sized marbles, into gaps in the road. The brave riders who venture beyond the Gooseneck will have to cross the river several times and follow a trail that vanishes and then reappears hundreds of feet away. You may have to backtrack to find the illusive trail and if you get a thrill from bushwacking you will enjoy the experience. If you find your way and follow the trail to its end you will see some signs of civilization and a road at Slick Rock.
Rock formations in the canyon are a treat for your imagination. Visitors to the canyon have reported seeing rocks that look like a Native American wrapped in his robes, or an angel with wings spread (depending on your perspective), a giant sized bird bath that looks like white alabaster, or groups of rocks along the east canyon wall that appear to be tall people posing for a family portrait. I have always wondered if some of the rock openings facing southwest along the top of the east canyon wall might have housed some of the ancient Puebloan people or could contain petroglyphs. I have never been brave enough to venture to the top of the east canyon to check it out. In hidden areas along the river you can find a grainery along the canyon rim.
Explore here as long as you like, you may rarely see another human being, other than your riding companions because the Dolores River Canyon is one of southwest Colorado’s best kept secrets.
Dolores River Canyon Rim trails are over 100 miles in length covering over 46,000 acres. The Snaggletooth trail is roughly 25 miles in length from the pumps to Slick Rock and covers about 16,000 acres. You can explore the Dolores River Canyon Rim over several days of riding from Sun Canyon Ranch, a guest ranch tucked up against the San Juan national forest.
Sun Canyon Ranch has trailhead access to Dolores River Canyon Rim trails. You can explore the “Snaggletooth Trail ” with a twenty-minute drive to the “pumps”. A thirty-minute trailer ride can take you to Canyon of the Ancients, one of Colorado’s newest national monuments. Canyon of the Ancients is SW of Dove Creek, Colorado. You can also explore the beautiful four corners area because Dove Creek is centrally located between Telluride and Durango, Colorado and Moab, Utah.
This article appeared in the Jan-Feb 2003 edition of "Trail Rider" magazine
Return to Home