McInnis Canyons and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Areas

The McInnis Canyons and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Areas received Gold Standard Site designation in November 2023.

The Bureau of Land Management McInnis Canyons and Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Areas are dedicated to promoting and teaching Leave No Trace outdoor ethics to all visitors. The spectacular red rock canyons of these two NCAs host unique and sensitive natural resources, which include the second-largest concentration of natural arches in North America, globally significant geological resources, numerous pictograph and petroglyph sites, internationally important fossils, and world-class recreation destinations. As the population of Colorado’s Western Slope continues to increase, it’s critical that all visitors know how to leave as little an impact as possible. A strong commitment to the principles of Leave No Trace emphasize the importance of protecting these resources.

“The National Conservation Areas embrace the principles of Leave No Trace, which allow for more sustainable recreation into the future,” said Gregory Wolfgang, Field Manager for the BLM Grand Junction Field Office. “Dominguez-Escalante and McInnis Canyons have been working with longtime partner Colorado Canyons Association to promote the message of Leave No Trace and educate visitors of the importance of protecting these special places.”