23,237 acres
Description
The renowned Ponderosa Gorge of the Dolores River provides one of the West’s most exquisite wilderness adventures — a quick-paced float on an icy cold mountain river past cathedral stands of ancient, yellow-barked ponderosa pines. Spectacular campsites present themselves mile and after mile, grassy parks amidst towering ponderosa giants. Soaring cliffs of brilliant red Wingate sandstone provide a fitting background to this incredible wilderness setting. The Ponderosa Gorger covers 20 river miles from the popular Bradfield Bridge raft launch downstream to the Dove Creek Pump Station. The wilderness unit is separated into north and south units by the Tri-State transmission line that spans the canyon rim mid-way through the gorge.
