LOCATION

Withers Canyon is the only allowable access to the canyonlands for the general public. Hiking, non-motorized bicycles and horseback riding are permitted.

Driving from La Junta, Colorado head south on Highway 109 for 13 miles. Turn right on County Road 802 and continue for 8 miles. Turn left (south) on County Road 25 and continue for 6 miles. Turn left (east) at Forest Services Road 500.A for 3/4 of a mile and go through the wire gate. (F.S. Road 500.A is not maintained and we recommend high clearance 4WD vehicles.) Continue following this dirt road for 2 miles until the road forks. Take the left fork to the parking sign and park your vehicle. If you are unable to access this road you may park your vehicle at the start of F.S. Road 500.A, at the bulletin board and start your hike there.

Starting your hike at the locked pipe gate you will be dropping down in elevation about 500 feet into the canyon. Continue following the dirt road the rest of the way through the canyon heading south/southwest. The road is not marked except to the dinosaur tracksite.

Ranching is a primary means of livelihood in this area. Please close gates and do not disturb livestock.

Approximate Mileages:

Distances: One Way & Round Trip
Bulletin Board to Pipe Gate - 3.0 miles - 6.0 miles
Pipe Gate to Purgatoire River - 1.0 miles - 2.0 miles
Pipe Gate to Cemetery - 3.7 miles - 7.4 miles
Pipe Gate to Dinosaur Tracks - 5.3 miles - 10.6 miles
Pipe Gate to Rourke Ranch - 8.7 miles - 17.4 miles

We encourage you to stop by or call the Comanche National Grassland Office in La Junta, Colorado for current weather and road information on Picket Wire Canyonlands. We are located at 1420 E. 3rd Street, just east of Vanhooks Fruit Market off of Highway 50 in east La Junta, (719) 384-2181. Office hours are from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

NO CAMPING OR UNAUTHORIZED MOTORIZED VEHICLES
ARE ALLOWED IN PICKET WIRE CANYONLANDS.

The largest documented "Dinosaur Tracksite" in North America, extends 1/4 of a mile, and contains over 1300 visible tracks, that comprise about 100 different trackways. 150 million years ago two types of dinosaurs, Allosaurus (or related theropods) and Brontosaurs, left their foot prints along the muddy shoreline of a large shallow lake.

Forty percent of the tracks were left by the Brontosaurs, a massive four footed plant eater. Parallel trackways indicate that several younger Brontosaurs were traveling as a group heading west along the shoreline. This evidence of social behavior among younger brontosaurs is the first of its kind from the Morrison Formation.

Sixty percent of the tracks were left by the Allosaurus, a two footed, ferocious, meat eating scavenger, who possibly hunted in packs and left three toed footprints behind.

[ Headstone 1 ]  [ Headstone 2 ]  [ Headstone 3 ]
( A few original headstones at the Delores Mission)

FACILITIES:

3 portable toilets (pipe gate, tracksite and Rourke Ranch)
Drinking water is not available.

USE:

Heavy - spring and fail
Moderate - summer
Light - winter

SAFETY TIPS

1. GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION is essential to the enjoyment of your hike as well as to your personal safety. Know your limits and the limits of the weakest member of your group. You are only allowed in the canyonlands area from dawn to dusk, so plan your hike carefully. Overnight camping is not allowed in Picket Wire Canyonlands.

2. SOLO HIKING CAN BE EXTREMELY RISKY and requires careful attention to planning and to potential safety hazards. Always notify someone of your expected route, departure and return times. In case of emergency, call the Otero County Sheriff Office, (719) 384-5941 or 911.

3. THERE IS NO DRINKABLE WATER in Picket Wire Canyonlands. Carry at least 1 gallon of water per person. Thirst will not occur until you are already dehydrated, so drink before you are thirsty.

4. BE PREPARED FOR THE HEAT, temperatures in the summer range from 90 F to 105 F. You will be walking in direct sunlight for the entire trip. Prepare for sudden weather changes. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.

5. SUNSCREEN, SUNGLASSES, A HAT AND INSECT REPELLANT are highly recommended.

6. During summer, cloths should be loose fitting and provide enough cover to protect your body from the sun. Wear a hat. During spring and fall wear several layers of clothes so you can adjust to temperature changes. A rain parka is also suggested as sudden storms can occur in the afternoon. We recommend high-top hiking boots that are well broken in before your hike or you could be disabled with painful blisters. Carry moleskin or molefoam an use it as soon as you feel a "hot spot", do not wait until the blister has formed. "Tennis" shoes are not recommended because they offer little protection from prickly pear and cholla cactus that are abundant through out the canyon. Socks are also important. Two pairs can help lessen friction and heat as long as they do not unduly constrict your feet within the boot.

7. FLASH FLOODS CAN OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING at any time of the year. If you find yourself in a flood situation, climb to the highest possible point immediately.

8. A FIRST AID KIT is strongly recommended. 9. Prairie rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, and badgers are common. Avoid tall grass, and watch where you place your hands and feet. Generally, these animals are as afraid of you as you are of them.

10. PETS SHOULD BE RESTRAINED, Do not let them harass wildlife.

11. Carry out all trash, including cigarette butts.

DEVELOPMENT

Picket Wire Canyonlands became part of the Comanche National Grassland, December 3, 1991. 16,000 + acres of land was transferred from the U.S. Army through congressional legislation to the U.S. Forrest Service (Public Law 101-150). The U.S. Forest Service is mandated by law to protect and conserve the cultural, pale ontological, wildlife, vegetative, aquatic and other natural resources in Picket Wire Canyonlands.

A Management Plan for the area was scheduled to be completed in 1994.

In order to meet the requirements of the legislation, interim guidelines have been developed to conserve and protect precious, non-renewable resources in the canyon and still provide appropriate public access. Therefore the following closure orders are in effect until the Management Plan is completed:

1. No unauthorized motorized vehicles are allowed in the Picket Wire Canyonlands (Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands, Pike and San Isabel National Forests Closure Order number 91-10).

2. A dusk to dawn closure is in effect, Comanche and Cimarron National Grasslands, Pike and San Isabel National Forests Closure Order number 91-10).

These lands are intriguing to all of us. A vast sense of history and prehistory dates from 150 million years old dinosaur tracks to late 1800 homesteads. Archeological and historical sites hold clues to America's past. We need your help to preserve and protect these valuable resources. Once the physical evidence is removed or defaced, the potential information it had to yield can never be replaced or repaired. Removing, damaging, or even moving evidence destroys a site's scientific, and often aesthetic value for future visitors. Rock art is particularly sensitive. Please photograph but do not touch or apply any photographic enhancing or replication materials. These sites on public lands are protected under federal law. Please report any acts of vandalism, defacement, or theft to the U.S. Forest Service Office in La Junta, (719) 384-2181 or Springfield (719) 523-6591.