BLM · Colorado, Utah

Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness

Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness, on the northwest flank of the Uncompahgre Plateau, is characterized by the high, east-west trending Black Ridge which is dissected by seven major red rock canyon systems...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byBureau of Land Management
StatesColorado, Utah
Size75,479 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated2000, by Congress
Center point39.1053, -108.9302
Night skyVery dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 27)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Weather by month

NOAA climate normals →
Weather by month near Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness20°30°40°50°60°70°80°January: 0.83 inches of precipitation, 6.2 inches of snowFebruary: 0.64 inches of precipitation, 3.9 inches of snowMarch: 0.94 inches of precipitation, 2.1 inches of snowApril: 1.11 inches of precipitation, 0.7 inches of snowMay: 1.17 inches of precipitation, 0.1 inches of snowJune: 0.65 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowJuly: 0.79 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowAugust: 1.01 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowSeptember: 1.29 inches of precipitation, 0.0 inches of snowOctober: 1.26 inches of precipitation, 0.6 inches of snowNovember: 0.80 inches of precipitation, 2.8 inches of snowDecember: 0.75 inches of precipitation, 5.4 inches of snowJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecJanuary: 29.7°F averageFebruary: 34.9°F averageMarch: 44.6°F averageApril: 51.0°F averageMay: 61.1°F averageJune: 72.6°F averageJuly: 78.7°F averageAugust: 75.7°F averageSeptember: 66.9°F averageOctober: 53.4°F averageNovember: 40.7°F averageDecember: 30.4°F average0 in2 in4 in6 in8 inTemp °FInches
The line is the average temperature and the bars are average precipitation at Colorado NM, 11 miles from the center point at 5,781 feet, station USC00051772 in the NOAA monthly climate normals for 1991 to 2020. Precipitation totals about 11 inches a year. The dotted line is average snowfall, about 22 inches a year on the same inches scale.

Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 5 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Park System units within 30 miles · Park Atlas
National Register listings within 15 miles · 18 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

75,479 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

The Bureau of Land Management.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness in?

The boundary crosses Colorado and Utah.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 2000.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Saddlehorn Campground, 1.3 miles out. 5 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

How do I get to Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 39.105, -108.930. Colorado National Monument is 3 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

How dark is the night sky at Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 27 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Which national parks are near Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

Colorado National Monument (3 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.

Source: Nearby on the other atlases

Are there historic places near Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness?

18 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Saddlehorn Utility Area Historic District and Saddlehorn Comfort Station.

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.