33,351 acres
Description
Dolores River Canyon offers one of the most beautiful and thrilling river experiences in the west, offering a multi-day adventure through over 30 miles of colorful and spectacular sandstone walls and entertaining whitewater rapids. Twelve geological formations spanning 160 million years of geologic history are exposed by the river in the gorge; the predominant formation is red Wingate Sandstone. The cliffs rise to benches of bedrock 700 feet above the river, with the canyon rim 1,100 feet high. Tributary canyons include La Sal Creek, Coyote Wash, Spring Canyon, Bull Canyon, and Wild Steer Canyon, delightful canyons with sculpted slickrock and plunge pools and popular day-hiking destinations. Petroglyphs are found in some of the tributary canyons and the main gorge.
