Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands are the great undiscovered areas of outdoor recreation. You'll find three worthy areas near the White River National Forest.
Upper Colorado River
The Upper Colorado River offers rafting, kayaking, canoeing and drift boating opportunities with whitewater that is easy to moderately difficult for the beginner to intermediate boater. The character of the river corridor landscape varies from natural to rural, and the scenery includes a variety of features of geological, ecological and historic interest. A variety of trips are possible due to the many river access sites available.The following summarizes the segments between river access sites availablefor public use.
Although floating through private land is legal, private lands are not open for public use so please do not walk, camp or otherwise cross private land without the owner's permission. State Bridge is a river access site on private land and fees are required by the owner/operators for camping, parking and boat launching/takeout.
A river booklet "The Upper Colorado River Recreation Area"is available from the BLM office. It includes color river maps showing public lands, river access sites, camping areas, selected rapids and navigation hazards, and highlights some of the natural and historic points of interest along the river.
Eagle River
The lower Eagle River provides a variety of scenic, outdoor recreation opportunities for all visitors to enjoy. For river enthusiasts, fishing, rafting, kayaking and canoeing are plentiful on the Eagle River. Floating season generally occurs during late May through July. Visitors who want to enjoy camping, picnicking, sightseeing, and wildlife viewing can access the river from several public access points along the highway.
The scenery along the Eagle River includes 30 miles of colorful and rugged sandstone cliffs and canyons from Edwards to Dotsero.Spruce trees, cottonwoods, alder, dogwoods and a variety of other riparianvegetation borders the river. Spruce-fir and aspen forests are seen inthe background mountains, and Serviceberry, scrub oak, pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush and grasses in the lower foothills. The valley is mainly agricultural and livestock ranches.
Deep Creek
The trail follows Deep Creek along the bottom of a 2,500 feet narrow, steep sided cliff bordered canyon. The scenery contains outstanding and diverse features and wildlife watching, fishing, and primitive camping opportunities are good.
Site includes steep walled canyon with limestone, dolomiteand sandstone cliffs. The canyon is carved 2000 feet deep into the WhiteRiver Plateau. Vegetation bordering the creek in this diverse riparianzone is dominated by spruce, cottonwood and shrubs. Recreation in the areaconsists of hiking, camping, fishing and hunting.
Access: From I-70 at Dotsero go north on the Colorado River Road(Eagle County 301) approximately 2 miles to trail head. Use is limitedto hiking; motorized vehicles are prohibited . The trail isa well defined track for the first 4 miles, it becomes diffuse in placesdue to narrowing of the canyon and travel on the creek bed necessary ina few places beyond 5 miles up the canyon.
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