Colorado

The Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness now contains a total of 75,439 acres and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The Wilderness Area consists of 75,439 acres, of which 5,120 are in Utah. Vegetation is relatively sparse with scattered pinyon-juniper woodland.

The area's east-west Black Ridge is dissected by seven red rock canyons varying in length. These canyons feature geological characteristics such as spires, windows, giant alcoves and desert patina. Waterfalls can be found here during spring runoff and after summer thunderstorms. Deer, mountain lion, desert bighorn sheep, as well as golden and bald eagles make the area home.

Recreational use of the area focuses upon visiting the canyons in conjunction with calm water float trips through Ruby Canyon and hiking the canyons to view the arches in Rattlesnake and Mee canyons. Visitors can enjoy hiking, horseback riding, hunting, backpacking, and primitive camping, as well as rafting, canoeing and kayaking on the Colorado River. In 2000 the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness became part of the now over 109-million-acre National Wilderness Preservation System. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities and extraordinary opportunities for solitude.

Please follow the regulations in place for this area, and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting to ensure protection of its unique natural and experiential qualities.

Knowles Canyon in the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness of Colorado

Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management

When Open? Area Acres Operated By
Year-round; 24 hours a day 75,439 acres Bureau of Land Management:
Grand Junction Field Office
Dogs Allowed? Miles of Trail Max/Min Elev (ft)
Dogs allowed on leash 136 4,330ft - 7,040ft

Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Trail and Map Finder

Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Connector Trail 1
2 - D1 Trail
3 - D2 Trail
4 - D3 Devils Canyon Trail
5 - D4 Connector Trail
Area Hiking Trails:
1 - Connector Trail 1
2 - D1 Trail
3 - D2 Trail
4 - D3 Devils Canyon Trail
5 - D4 Connector Trail
6 - D4 Mid Trail
7 - D4 North Trail
8 - D4 South Trail
9 - D5 Trail
10 - D6 Spur Trail
11 - D6 Trail
12 - Dinosaur Hill Trail
13 - Flume Canyon Trail
14 - Fruita Paleontological Area Trail
15 - Gore Trail
16 - Hawkeye Trail
17 - Horse Thief Bench Trail
18 - Inner Flume Trail
19 - Jones Canyon Trail
20 - Jones Canyon Trail - PRIMITIVE
21 - Jouflas Loop Trail
22 - Jouflas North Trail
23 - Jouflas Trail
24 - K1 Trail
25 - K10 Trail
26 - K11 Trail
27 - K12 Trail
28 - K2 Trail
29 - K3 Trail
30 - K4 Trail
31 - K5 Trail
32 - K6 Connector Trail
33 - K6 Trail
34 - K7 Trail
35 - K8 Trail
36 - K9 Trail
37 - Knowles Canyon Trail
38 - Knowles-Gore Trail
39 - Kokopelli Trail
40 - Lions Trail
41 - Lower Moore Fun Trail
42 - Mack Ridge Trail
43 - Mack Ridge Troy Bilt Connector Trail
44 - Mary's Trail
45 - McDonald Creek Trail
46 - Mee Canyon Trail
47 - Moore Fun Trail
48 - Opal Hill Area Trails 1
49 - Opal Hill Area Trails 2
50 - Opal Hill Area Trails 3
51 - Opal Hill Area Trails 4
52 - Opal Hill Area Trails 5
53 - Pollock Bench Trail
54 - Pollock Flume Connector Trail
55 - Rabbit Valley Paleo Trail
56 - Rabbits Ear Trail
57 - Rattlesnake Arches Connector Trail
58 - Rattlesnake Arches Trail
59 - Rattlesnake Arches Upper Trail
60 - Rattlesnake Camp Trail
61 - Rustlers Loop Trail
62 - Sadie's Trail
63 - Sieber Canyon Trail
64 - Steve's Loop Cutoff Trail
65 - Steve's Loop Trail
66 - Steves Loop Outer Trail
67 - Trail #735C
68 - Trail #808A
69 - Trail Through Time Trail
70 - Troy Bilt Trail
71 - Upper Pollock Flume Connector Trail
72 - Wild Horse Mesa Trail
73 - Wrangler Alt Trail
74 - Wrangler Trail
75 - Wrangler's Cutoff Trail
76 - Wranglers Trail
Area Trailheads:
1 - Dinosaur Hill Trailhead
2 - Flume Canyon Trail
3 - Fruita Paleontological Area Trail
4 - Gore Trail
5 - Hawkeye Trailhead
Area Trailheads:
1 - Dinosaur Hill Trailhead
2 - Flume Canyon Trail
3 - Fruita Paleontological Area Trail
4 - Gore Trail
5 - Hawkeye Trailhead
6 - Jones Canyon Trail
7 - K8 Trail
8 - Knowles-Gore Trail
9 - Kokopelli Trail
10 - Mary's Trail
11 - McDonald Creek Trail
12 - Mee Canyon Trail
13 - Moore Fun Trail
14 - Opal Hill North Trailhead
15 - Opal Hill Trailhead
16 - Pollock Bench Trailhead
17 - Rabbit Ear Trail
18 - Rabbit Valley Paleo Trail
19 - Rattlesnake Arches Upper Trail
20 - Rustlers Loop Trailhead
21 - Sadies Trailhead
22 - Trail Through Time Trail
23 - Trailhead
24 - Troy Bilt Trail
Area Campgrounds:
1 - Jouflas Campground
2 - Knowles Overlook Campground
3 - Knowles Overlook Campground Toilet