BLM releases final supplementary rule for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument

CORTEZ, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has finalized a supplementary rule that will guide the visitor experience in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument. The final rule focuses on protecting public health and safety and preventing resource damage and addresses recreational sporting activities, camping, travel management, and collecting of geological and biological materials on nearly 175,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands in Dolores and Montezuma counties.

“Last year, more than 98,000 people from all over discovered the public lands and world-class resources of Canyons of the Ancients, including popular sites such as Lowry Pueblo and Sand Canyon,” said Monument Manager Ray O’Neil. “In most cases, the final rule applies only to public lands that receive the highest levels of visitor use or where sensitive archaeological resources are present.”

The rule will facilitate the implementation of management decisions approved in 2010 as part of the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument Resource Management Plan (RMP).

The rule implements the RMP decision to authorize transportation on designated routes in the Monument to provide reasonable access while protecting CANM’s resources. In addition, the rule prohibits recreational target shooting (although hunting is still allowed), camping in archaeological sites, and the collection of materials without a permit or appropriate written authorization and limits campfires to fire pans and formal fire rings. 

The Final Supplementary Rule for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument in Dolores and Montezuma Counties, CO will publish in the Federal Register on November 14, 2024. For further information, contact Supervisory Staff Law Enforcement Ranger Tyler Fouss at (970) 882-1120.