Dolores River Wilderness Area

Dolores River Wilderness Area


	Courtesy of EatStayPlay.com

The 105-mile stretch of the Dolores River Wilderness Area, snaking through Colorado and Utah, and its surrounding 26,000-acre wilderness study area is an excellent setting for hiking, paddling, mountain biking, swimming and wildlife viewing.

Paddlers wend through forests of ponderosa pine and pinon-juniper and echoing red-walled canyons. The river features challenging white water in its upper reaches and meandering flatwater in lower canyon segments.

North of Cortez and downstream from the McPhee Reservoir are outstanding trout fisheries.

The 26-mile Snaggletooth mountain bike trail that parallels the river is rated intermediate and features desert scenery and some river crossings, which can be unsafe and not crossable when water levels are high.

About 10 miles of the Snaggletooth trail is shared with four-by-four vehicles. Horse riders also use the trail.

The Grand Junction Field Office manages just a small section of the Dolores River, from Gateway to State Line Rapid. The State Line Rapid-Dewey Bridge is managed by the Moab BLM office and a permit is required to float this section of the river.

Facilities: Dolores River Wilderness Area does not provide any facilities.

Reservations: Reservations are not needed or accepted at Dolores River Wilderness Area.

Best Time To Visit: Dolores River Wilderness Area is typically accessible April through October.

Fees: There are no fees charged to gain entrance to Dolores River Wilderness Area.

Accessibility: Dolores River Wilderness Area has limited handicap accessibility.

Rules: There are a variety of rules to consider when visiting Dolores River Wilderness Area, such as hunting regulations, fishing regulations, etc. Please contact the Bureau of Land Management for further information.

Directions: To get to Dolores River Wilderness Area from Cortez, travel straight north on Highway 145 to Dolores.

Address

Bureau of Land Management

2505 South Townsend

Montrose, Colorado 81401

Phone
General: (970) 240-5300

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