Big Dominguez Canyon Trail Guide

February 5, 2021 The Virtual Sherpa Comments 0 Comment

Big Dominguez Canyon is a unique area of the Uncompahgre Plateau in Western Colorado. The area is comprised of Red Rock canyons and sandstone bluffs with endless opportunities to explore. The canyon has a variety of petroglyphs and ancient shelters which will take you back in time when the Ute people ruled the area.

Big Dominguez Canyon Quick Facts

Virtual Trail Guide: Big Dominguez Canyon

Big Dominguez Canyon Rating: ★★★★ (4/5 Stars)

Distance: Up to 22 Miles – View Map of the Area Here

Elevation Start: 4,728ft

Highest Point: 6,200ft

Total Elevation Gain: Various – Most hikes will be under 1,000ft

Estimated Time to Complete: Various – 2-6+ Hours

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate Difficulty System Explained

Class: Class 1 What does this mean?

Season: Year Round – Late August – Late May is best time to visit due to cooler temps with waterfalls drying up in late July.

Weather: Check the Weather Forecast

Directions to Big Dominguez Canyon

Trailhead: Bridgeport Trailhead

Getting Here: From Grand Junction, take US 50 south for about 16 miles until you reach Bridgeport Road on your right. Continue for about 3 miles until the road ends. There is a lower parking lot closer to the river or an upper one about .2 miles away.

Fees: There is no fee to hike Big Dominguez Canyon.

Parking: There are two main parking areas for this hike. When you enter Dominguez Canyon trailhead into your GPS it will take you down to the boat drop area. If you want to hike the true trail, hike about .1 miles from the river at the upper TH, restrooms are at this TH.

Summary

Camping: Big Dominguez Canyon is a popular spot to backpack. There are about 10 camping spots along the river marked with blue blazes or you can backcountry camp in the canyon itself. You can read more about backcountry camping regulations here.

Dogs: This hike is dog friendly but I would recommend bringing lots of water for your pup at all times of year. During July and August, I would avoid this hike altogether with dogs. Big Dominguez Canyon is in a wilderness area where dogs should be leashed.

Make it a Loop: This is an out and back hike with the ability to explore Little Dominguez Canyon as well.

Trail X Factors: Heat & Time of Year

Without a doubt, the biggest x factor on your trip is going to be the weather. If you have a nice fall day in the 80s, you can spend hours of hiking and exploring the canyon. If you visit in the heart of the summer you are probably going to have a very bad time and want to keep your hikes short. Bring LOTS of water regardless of when you visit because there really are almost none along the way to refill. Speaking of water, if you want your best chance to see waterfalls, make sure to visit the canyon in the spring or summer before the creeks dry up.

Hike Tip(s): When hiking through the Big Dominguez Canyon, take some time to explore off the beaten path. If you hear the rush of water, check it out! See a petroglyph? Explore the area further. There are so many hidden gems on this hike, it would be a shame to stick to the main trail the entire time. When hiking through the canyon, be sure to always practice leave no trace and follow best practices for backcountry hiking.

Best Views: Personally, my favorite views on this hike were right at the start near the Gunnison River. It was really cool to see various petroglyphs along the hike as well.

Big Dominguez Canyon Trail Route

Gear Needed

Hiking Boots or Trail Runners
Backpack
Protection from Sun – almost entire hike is without shade
LOTS of water – At least 2+ liters
Optional: Map of area or GPS – I use the Garmin inReach
Optional: Hiking Poles
Optional: Headlamp
Optional: Camera
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My Trip to Big Dominguez Canyon: October 2020

I love exploring new parts of Colorado and for me, my time spent in Western Colorado is fairly low. Jackie, Juno and I spent a long weekend out west and decided to hike Big Dominguez Canyon along the way. We started on a windy, cool day and hiked about 6 miles into the canyon before turning around. Even though it was a weekend, crowds were fairly low and we enjoyed the unique features of the canyon. If we were to revisit this area, I would want to come back in the spring when some of the creeks were still running.