Sheep Creek Canyon and Switchbacks in Colorado

[roverrocks]

We had a club 4x4 run on Saturday May 18 north of tiny Gateway, Colorado wheeling up and then wheeling back down the beautiful Sheep Creek Canyon Trail which leads into the southern end of the remote Dolores Triangle. Such a beautiful area with great views into extreme western Colorado and extreme eastern Utah. The Dolores River flows through Gateway itself and then cuts deeply as it flows northwestward across the CO/UT state lines to it's confluence with the Colorado River near Dewey, Utah. Canyons, mesas, plateaus, the Dolores River Valley, and the snow topped La Sal Mountains in the distance to the west. Here are some pictures.

 

[roverrocks]

Sheep Creek Canyon cont.

More photos of the 4x4 ascent up Sheep Creek Canyon, tight switchbacks, and an old line cabin and spring just below the plateau top.

 

[roverrocks]

Sheep Creek Canyon cont.

Photos of our descent down scenic Sheep Creek Canyon and it's tight switchbacks back to our 4x4 trailhead which was six miles north of Gateway, Colorado along the 4.2 Road.

 

[roverrocks]

Sheep Creek Canyon cont.

A few pictures of the Dolores River Valley from the plateau top.

 

[Rambo1]

very nice!

 

[mkitchen]

Pretty country

I sure enjoy seeing all the different aspects of Colorado. I am ashamed to say that I have yet to travel your fine state but I soon hope to remedy that gap.
Mikey

 

[roverrocks]

I sure enjoy seeing all the different aspects of Colorado. I am ashamed to say that I have yet to travel your fine state but I soon hope to remedy that gap.
Mikey

I haven't been to all that many places in your beautiful state of Arizona and would love to spend more time down there especially in the spring bloom. The whole Four Corners is a wonderland.

 

[OTG_1]

Word on the street is that Sheep Creek Canyon is no longer drivable, not even by an ATV based on what I've heard. Such a shame as this looked like a beautiful and rugged trail that a I had hoped to explore one day soon! Guess that will go into BLM's plan to close roads/trails in the Moab area :/