About Gunnison Gorge
The Gunnison Gorge NCA and wilderness is rich in wildlife including deer, elk, bighorn sheep, river otter, beaver, mink, mountain lions, coyotes, bobcats, ringtail cats, and several species of raptors, including wintering bald eagles and the peregrine falcon. Thousands of waterfowl visit the lower portion of the area during winter months. Nearly 3,000 acres of the wilderness is identified as crucial winter range for deer and elk. Four rare and imperiled native plant species are found in the area.
Threats to the Existence and Protection of Gunnison Gorge
The larger Gunnison Gorge NCA outside the wilderness already suffers from many impacts, especially from irresponsible motorized use. Hundreds of user-created routes - many in inappropriate and damaging places - crisscross sections of the NCA.
Gunnison Gorge Facts
- Location: Colorado - about seven miles northeast of Montrose in west central Colorado, just downstream from the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park
- Size: 57,725,000 acres
- Date: On October 21, 1999, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area Act of 1999 was signed into law
- Managing Agency: The Bureau of Land Management
