Canyon Pintado National Historic District
Colorado
Canyon Pintado National Historic District stretches across 16,000 acres along 15 miles of State Highway 139 in western Colorado, managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This “Painted Canyon” earned its name from Spanish explorers Dominguez and Escalante, who documented the extensive Native American rock art here in 1776. Today, visitors can view ancient petroglyphs and pictographs at multiple pullouts along the highway, with interpretive trails providing closer access to these cultural sites.
The district offers hiking trails that wind through the Douglas Creek Valley, where high desert terrain meets dramatic canyon walls. Picnic areas allow for day-use stops between rock art sites. As BLM land, dispersed camping is permitted in designated areas outside the protected archaeological zones—check with the White River Field Office for current regulations and specific locations.
Access is straightforward via paved Highway 139, making this a convenient stop for travelers between Rangely and Loma. Spring and fall offer the most comfortable temperatures for hiking and exploring. Summer visits require early morning starts to avoid midday heat in this arid canyon country.
Explore Nearby
- Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway — Scenic Byway in Colorado
- Utah Field House of Natural History State Park Museum — State Park in Utah
- Pelican Lake Recreation Area — State Park in South Dakota
- Steinaker State Park Dark Sky Park — Dark Sky Site in Utah
- Dinosaur Diamond Scenic and Historic Byway — Scenic Byway in Colorado
