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002188 trip. The scenery in this section is also an attraction as the river is located in a red rock canyon with the ve~etative community dominated by ponderosa pine and pinyon-juniper. It has been described as being one of the most scenic floating reaches in the United States. In the past. the most frequently used watercraft on this reach have been mediunHo-larger sized (12-16 feet) inflatable rafts. However, smaller watercraft such as kayaks and inflatable canoes are used especially during ~riods of lower flows. These smaller craft are often combined with fishin~ trips by botb private and commercial boater.;. The lower reach contains a riverbed made up of fewer rocks and II gentler gradient. Tne scenic values of this stretch Bre also a major attraction, with the canyon being even deeper than in the upper reach. Rafts are used on this stretch. but open canoes have also been very popular. TIus experience is IInractive to those users not possessing or not wishing to exercise advanced p/lddling skills. but desiring a more relaxing trip. Float trips along this stretch are generally not combined with fishing trips due to the scarcity _ of ~amefish in this reach. The BLM manages the river corridor dov.'OStream from Bradfield Bridge, and bas the responsibility for issuing permits for river trips and maintaining use records for the river. Beiow is a summary of the 1992 to 1994 boating s~ons. Boating season is considered to be consecutive dllYs of reieases of 800 cfs or greater. User Days 5,042 S,i79 6.4i6 ;3,i69 Other Recreational Activities The Lone Dome R~reation .A..rea extends /llong the river from McPhee Dam to the BLM campground below Bradfield Briage. It was established as mitigation for construction of the aam. Lane ov:nership in the Recreation Area is a mixture of private. CDO"", USFS. BLM and Reclamation. Tilere are fOllr recreation sites within the RecreatlO(l Area: Metaska. Ferris Canyon. Cabin Canyon ami Bradfield Bridge (see Figure 2'}. The fm;, three are aaministered b:' a concessionaire under the direction of the USFS. Bradfield Bridge Recreation Site is administered ny the ELM, along with tbe associated rafting access point. All but Metaska feature campgrouods. Hiking occurs on the upper reach in conjunction with fishing. Tne areas near the campgrounds are also used heavily by hikers. \Vhile some bicycling occurs at present. this activity may increase in the future. 1'<0 special provisions, such as trails. have been made to accommodate cyclists using this section of the river. Dov.'I1Stream, the Snaggletooth Mountain Bike Trail spans 26 miles from the Dove Creek Pump Plant to Slick Rock, Colorado, This trail is considered one of the outstanding intermediate trails in SOllthwest Colorado Rnd is the focus of an annual mountain bike event. The reach from Bradfield Bridge to about five miles dov.'T1Stream is becoming more heavily used by hikers and horseback riders. Tnese activities are most often connected with fishing anc increasingly are conducted by guides. Tnese activities do not occur with frequency in the lower reach because of the difficulty of access. Toe lower reach i~ remote and vehicle access points are few. Photography is related to genemi enjoyment of the natural surroundings aro is genera!!y a comoonem of most carnpi.l'lf. and floll! trips and the primlll')' IIttraction fo:- recreation visitors. As indicated earlier. the settin; an~ scener:.' of the D.:>lores CRnyon Rre AestheticRIl:' rewarding and mRY offer one of the r:1ost seemc flOlltlng opporrunJlies in the nRllor..