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<br />Ouu210 <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />seas; crossbedded .rock strata show that windblown sands of hot, dry <br />deserts once drifted across the area. Huge, isolated monoliths rise <br />from the canyon floors, the products of eons of erosion. <br /> <br />.. <br /> <br />> <br /> <br />Deer, bobcat, fox. porcupine, and various desert rodents populate <br />the area. In 1926, a small herd of bison was introduced into the <br />monument. The present herd is lim.ited to about 10 because of the <br />scant grazing possible on the monument floor. There are a variety of <br />lizards, several kinds of harmless snakes, and one poisonous <br />snake - the faded rattler. <br /> <br />.., <br /> <br />'n <br /> <br />j <br />.J: <br /> <br />The mesa tops and the canyon floors are dotted with small pinyons <br />and junipers. In the early spring, when moisture is at its peak, wild <br />flowers bloom in profusion. <br /> <br />T <br />I <br />.i.J <br /> <br />T <br /> <br />From approximately the midpoint on the Rim Rock Drive, a <br />primitive motor nature trail extends eastward across Monument Mesa <br />to the vicinity of Liberty Cap on the rim of Grand Valley. It is <br />proposed to extend this trail along the north side of Ute Canyon, <br />forming a motor (lature loop trail. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Preliminary Wilderness Proposal <br />It is proposed that an area of 7700 acres within the Colorado <br />National Monumen t be designated as wi Iderness. <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />This proposed wilderness comprises the bulk of the road less area <br />studied. It includes an unusual and extremely interesting series of <br />box canyons which erosion has carved out of the Uncompahgre <br />Highland. The highland forms one rim of the Grand Valley of the <br />Colorado River. Scattered minor archeological sites where primitive <br />man visited and hunted are evident. <br /> <br />n <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />Visitors to this deep canyon area experience solitude and isolation <br />from man's activities. Hikers and horseback riders reach the area on <br />existing primitive trails. Here, they can enjoy climbing, nature study, <br />wildlife observation, and taking photographs. <br /> <br />Trails are the only developments existing in the proposed wilderness <br />area; some extension of this system on the mesa tops is the only <br />construction planned. <br /> <br />l' <br />1 <br /> <br />1] <br /> <br />f' <br />i. <br />L <br /> <br />The 1/8-mile administrative <br />considered the minimum <br />management needs. <br /> <br />zone along the northeast boundary is <br />essential for present and future <br /> <br />"-r <br />L <br /> <br />The proposed wilderness includes the mesa between Red Canyon and <br />Ute Canyon, but excludes that portion of Monument Mesa which <br />contains the Liberty Cap Motor Nature Trail and proposed loop <br />addition. <br /> <br />I ~ <br />L <br /> <br />I, <br />I <br />, <br />" <br /> <br />I <br />L <br />