Dolores River undefined - Colorado
The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 241 miles (388 km) long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the Spanish El Rio de Nuestra Señora de Dolores, River of Our Lady of Sorrows. The river was explored and possibly named by Juan Maria Antonio Rivera during an 1765 expedition from Santa Fe.
The mean annual flow of the Dolores prior to damming was approximately 1,200 cu ft/s (34 m3/s), but due to diversions it has been reduced to about 600 cu ft/s (17 m3/s).
maps McKenna Peak - Visitor Map Visitor Map of McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) in the BLM Tres Rios Field Office area in Colorado. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
Dolores River Canyon - Visitor Map Visitor Map of Dolores River Canyon Wilderness Study Areas (WSA) in the BLM Tres Rios Field Office area in Colorado. Published by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
San Juan MVUM - Dolores 2023 Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) of Dolores Ranger District in San Juan National Forest (NF) in Colorado. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
San Juan MVUM - Dolores - Hunting 2023 Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) for Hunting Season Game Retrieval of the Dolores Ranger District in San Juan National Forest (NF) in Colorado. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
San Juan - Overview Map Overview Map of San Juan National Forest (NF) in Colorado. Published by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
Hovenweep - Area Map Area Map of Hovenweep National Monument (NM) in Colorado and Utah. Published by the National Park Service (NPS).
Dolores River
https://www.blm.gov/visit/dolores-river
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolores_River
The Dolores River is a tributary of the Colorado River, approximately 241 miles (388 km) long, in the U.S. states of Colorado and Utah. The river drains a rugged and arid region of the Colorado Plateau west of the San Juan Mountains. Its name derives from the Spanish El Rio de Nuestra Señora de Dolores, River of Our Lady of Sorrows. The river was explored and possibly named by Juan Maria Antonio Rivera during an 1765 expedition from Santa Fe.
The mean annual flow of the Dolores prior to damming was approximately 1,200 cu ft/s (34 m3/s), but due to diversions it has been reduced to about 600 cu ft/s (17 m3/s).
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Colorado
Recreation
Backyard to Backcountry
Map
Guide
& Guide
BLM Colorado Recreation
Backyard to Backcountry
M
ore than a quarter of public lands in
Colorado are managed specifically
for recreation and tourism. Recreation on
BLM lands is all about the visitor’s freedom
to choose where to go and what to do.
Unlike many other recreation destinations,
the BLM’s public lands are still quite
rustic. There are no entrance stations and
comparatively few developed recreation
areas.
Diversity is the name of the game in
Colorado, from our lands, to our recreation
opportunities, to our adjoining communities. Dozens of nearby communities
provide permitted guiding and outfitting
services, gear and equipment sales, and
lodging. BLM Colorado is always seeking
recreation partnerships to enhance visitors’
experiences and provide quality recreation
opportunities.
Public lands are not set aside solely
for recreation; they offer energy potential
and—in an increasingly urban world—vast
open spaces. In many places, the flavor
of the Old West is still plainly visible—in
historic mining structures as well as
contemporary ranching activities.
syMBOLs Legend
A
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V
C
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Camping
Hiking
Horse Trail
Historic Site
Rock Climbing
Mt. Biking
4WD
Wildlife Viewing
Fishing
Back Country Byway
Kayaking
Cover Photo: Kevin Krill - Crested Butte Photography, Penitente Canyon
Top: Photo ©Jerry Sintz, Animas Forks
Bottom: BLM Photo by Matt McGrath, McInnis Canyons NCA
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O
T
D
Q
E
P
Q
I
H
B
W
Dirt Bike Trail
Rafting
Hunting
ATV Trail
Scenic Geology
Fossil Site
Scenic Area
Winter Rec Area
Snowshoeing
Canoeing
Off-Highway Vehicle
Know Before you go
BLM Colorado Offices
9
1
Craig
8
3
Kremmling
Meeker
10
2
DENVER
Silt
6
4
5
7
6
Grand Junction
7
8
Gunnison
Montrose
3
5
Cañon City
1
2
4
9
10
Monte Vista
Durango
ROyAL gORge FIeLd OFFICe
sAn LUIs VALLey FIeLd OFFICe
gUnnIsOn FIeLd OFFICe
TRes RIOs FIeLd OFFICe
UnCOMPAHgRe FIeLd OFFICe
gRAnd JUnCTIOn FIeLd OFFICe
COLORAdO RIVeR VALLey FIeLd OFFICe
KReMMLIng FIeLd OFFICe
LITTLe snAKe FIeLd OFFICe
WHITe RIVeR FIeLd OFFICe
For additional information, contact
the local BLM field office for the area
you are planning to visit, or go to
www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/
recreation-activities/colorado.
B
LM Colorado wants you to have the best experience possible on your public lands. When
planning your trip, take all necessary safety precautions and be aware of regulations.
Take into consideration the weather conditions, necessary equipment and wildlife
inhabiting the area.
CAMPIng
BLM-managed public lands provide a
variety of options for overnight trips:
• developed campgrounds may include
a variety of facilities, such as restrooms,
potable water, fire rings, picnic areas,
garbage cans, tent pads, etc.
• dispersed (undeveloped) campsites are
normally recognized by a hardened surface
with no vegetation, where others have
already camped. Use pre-existing fire rings
or firepans, and be sure you know the local
fire restrictions.
TARgeT sHOOTIng
Target shooting is permitted in most
locations on BLM lands in Colorado.
However, some areas are closed to target
shooting for safety and resource protection.
To ensure the well-being and enjoyment of
all visitors on public lands, please follow
laws, regulations and guidelines.
OFF-HIgHWAy VeHICLes
To ensure that all visitors have a chance to
enjoy their public lands, visitors must abide
by vehicle travel designations. In most
BLM areas, OHVs are limited to operating
on roads and trails that are identified on
travel maps and/or posted as available for
motorized use. Please check in with your
local field office for more information on the
best locations for motorized recreation.
CULTURAL sITes
Archaeologists study cultural sites to help
understand the past. These important sites
act as an outdoor classroom for all ages
and provide insight into the lives of previous
cultures. Collecting artifacts–including
arrowheads–from federal public lands or
Indian Tribal lands is illegal under federal
laws and regulations. Violators may face
prosecution and prison sentences of up to
one year or more and possible fines.
Never touch painted or plastered walls,
petroglyphs or pictographs. The oil and dirt
from hands can eventually destroy these
remnants of past lives. Leave all artifacts
exactly where you find them for others to
enjoy.
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BLM Colorado offers a diversity of recreation
activities and destinations. Here are a just few of
the highlights:
FIsHIng
With four gold medal trout waters and three
blue ribbon waters, some of Colorado’s
best fishing is found on BLM public lands.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area,
Gunnison Gorge National Conservation
Area and the Upper Colorado River are just
a few areas that offer excellent fishing
opportunities.
ByWAys
Several scenic and historic byways such
as the Alpine Loop Backcountry Byway,
Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Histor
U.S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Leave What You Find
• Prehistoric and historic sites help
us understand our past (collection
of artifacts is against the law).
Camping
TM
Plan Ahead and Prepare
• Know the special concerns that go
along with traveling in the back
country. Minimize risk by planning
a trip that matches your skills
and expectations, and prepare for
hazards and emergencies.
• Please leave rocks, plants, fossils
and other natural objects as you find them.
N
W
E
S
TM
• Visit in small groups when possible.
• Protect riparian areas by camping
at least 200 feet from lakes and
streams.
TM
• Burn all wood and coals to ash, put out campfires
completely, then scatter cool ashes.
TM
• Use a lightweight stove for cooking, and enjoy a
candle lantern for light.
Respect Wildlife
• Never feed wild animals.
• Good campsites are found, not made.
Dispose of Waste Properly
• Pack it in, pack it out. Inspect your
campsite and rest areas for trash
or spilled foods. Pack out all trash,
leftover food, and litter (including
toilet paper and hygiene products).
Minimize Campfire Impacts
• Where fires are permitted, use
established fire rings, fire pans, or
mound fires.
• Keep fires small. Only use sticks
from the ground that can be broken
by hand.
Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
• Durable surfaces include
established trails and campsites,
rock, gravel, dry grasses, or snow.
on Public Lands
• Enjoy rock art by viewing it, not touching it.
• Control pets at all times.
• Observe wildlife from a distance.
Do not follow or approach them.
TM
• Deposit solid human waste in catholes dug 6-8
inches deep, at least 200 feet from water, camp
and trails. Cover and disguise the cathole when
finished.
TM
• Avoid wildlife during sensitive times: mating,
nesting, raising young, or winter.
Be Considerate of Other Visitors
• Respect other visitors and protect
the quality of their experience.
TM
BLM/CO/GI-18/0015
BLM Colorado State Office
2850 Youngfield Street
Lakewood, CO 80215
(303) 239-3600
www.blm.gov/co
BLM Photo
For more information, please contact:
CAMPING ON BLM PUBLIC LANDS
IN COLORADO
DEVELOPED AND UNDEVELOPED
CAMPSITES
There are more than 8 million acres of public land
in Colorado, most of which is available for camping.
This brochure is published by the Bureau of Land
Management (BLM) to help you enjoy camping on public
lands, while preserving the quality of those lands for
future generations.
Building your camping adventure around your vehicle is
one popular way to enjoy your public lands. Developed
campgrounds have a variety of facilities available: a
toilet, picnic tables, a fire ring, potable water, tent pads,
and garbage cans. These sites may require a daily fee,
which helps fund the care and maintenance of the site.
You can also find developed campgrounds in nearby
communities or on lands managed by other agencies.
Developed site camping carries responsibilities for being
a good neighbor to your fellow campers, and leaving a
clean campsite for the next visitors.
Although the BLM builds and manages campgrounds
on the public lands in some areas, not all recreation
attractions have developed recreation sites nearby.
Undeveloped sites are normally recognized by a hardened
© Jerry Sintz
There are several options for staying overnight on public
lands managed by the BLM in Colorado. You can camp
within a vehicle, trailer, tent, or under the stars. You
can enjoy a developed campground or any number of
dispersed (undeveloped) sites, backpack or camp on
a remote trail. Depending on where you go, available
facilities and services vary widely. Please think about the
following considerations as you decide what best fits
your particular recreation outing.
surface with no vegetation where others have already
camped. Please use pre-existing campfire rings, and
make sure you know fire restrictions that may be in place
in your area. Camping at an undeveloped site brings the
additional responsibility of packing out what you pack in,
and properly disposing of human waste. Please observe
the Leave No Trace Skills and Ethics guidelines outlined
on the back of this brochure.
BLM Photo by Bob Wick
BLM Photo
CAMPING
Whether you take a short hike, an extended backpack
trip, or mountain bike into the backcountry, more remote
camping requires a greater level of preparation, additional
gear and equipment, and more knowledge about how
to care for yourself and the environment. Backcountry
camping also carries an obligation to leave areas looking
as you found them or even better for the next visitor
to enjoy.