Narraguinnep Natural Area
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Narraguinnep Natural Area | |
|---|---|
  Location within Colorado  Location within United States | |
| Location | Dolores County, Colorado |
| Nearest city | Cortez, Colorado |
| Coordinates | 37°41′24″N 108°39′49″W / 37.69000°N 108.66361°W |
| Area | 2,922 acres (11.82 km2) |
| Established | 1962 |
| Governing body | United States Forest Service |
Narraguinnep Natural Area is a 2,922 acre natural area in Dolores County, Colorado that is owned by the United States Forest Service. It was designated a natural area in 1980. The Colorado Natural Area includes Narraguinnep Canyon,[2] which is located within Dolores Ranger District of the San Juan National Forest[3][4] and extends southwest into Montezuma County, Colorado.[5] It is near the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.[6]
Oakbrush, juniper, and pinon and ponderosa pine trees grow in the natural area.[4] In 2009, a wildfire burned most of the natural area. Since then, Gambel oak thickets have returned in the main area. The old-growth pine, located in the northwest corner of the natural area, was not damaged during the fire.[2]
The Domínguez–Escalante expedition (1776) passed through the Dolores area and then east of present-day Cahone and Dove Creek during their expedition. While in the area, they took a siesta in an arroyo, which may have been in Narraguinnep Canyon.[7]