McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area
McInnis Canyons NCA
Red rock wilderness along the Colorado River, where Rattlesnake Canyon has dozens of natural sandstone arches and the Ruby and Horsethief canyon sections can be rafted.
McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area straddles the border between Colorado and Utah. Its core is the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness. The most famous feature is Rattlesnake Canyon, which has more than 30 natural sandstone arches, second only to Arches National Park in number. A round-trip hike of about 6 km reaches more than ten of them. Another option is to launch in Loma and paddle or raft the gentle Ruby and Horsethief canyon sections, taking 1 to 2 days to reach Westwater, Utah. The gravel road to Rattlesnake Canyon requires a high-clearance 4WD vehicle and is impassable after rain.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Kokopelli Loops (Mary's Loop)
- Highline Lake State Park
- Dinosaur Hill
- Dinosaur Journey Museum
- Colorado National Monument
- 18 Road Trails, Fruita
- Lunch Loop Trails (Tabeguache)
- Colorado Riverfront Trail