Picture Canyon
Like most of the southeast’s remote canyons, Picture Canyon has abundant pinyon-juniper woodland and rimrock/cliff habitat. In addition to those, there are some excellent permanent springs, with some associated riparian growth, and some high-quality yucca grassland. A nice system of trails allows access to all these habitats, and a wide array of great scenery. Look for Rufous-crowned and Cassin’s Sparrows, Eastern Phoebe, and Long-billed Curlew (on the drive in) and wild turkeys; the rimrock has a few owl nests in the rock and harbors rattlesnakes, and some of the semi-permanent pools along the intermittent streams are home to the striking black-and-yellow tiger salamander.
Restrictions: Beware of rattlesnakes
County: Baca
Attractions: Some spectacular pictographs and great scenery
Directions: Go south on US 287/385 to CR M (18 miles south of Springfield) and go west on CR M. Go eight miles to GR 18 and turn left (south). About eight miles south of CR M, where the road begins to curve left, turn right onto the entrance road to Picture Canyon (signed).
Habitat: Cliff Face, Cholla, Yucca, Lowland Riparian, Grassland/Prairie, Pinyon-Juniper Forest
Dates of Access: Open all year
Hours:
Ownership: USFS
Admission or Fees: Free
Parking: Gravel parking area
Lodging: Tent camping in the parking area only
Disabled: No
Disabled Access: Easy walking trail
Delorme: 101 D6-D7
ROC: 158 A3-A4
Latitude: 37.012317
Longitude: -102.744623
Contact Information
Contact the Forest Service Office in Springfield for more information:
Comanche National Grassland
Carrizo Unit
P.O. Box 127, 27204 Highway 287
Springfield, CO 81073
(719) 523-6591
Visit the Website for Picture Canyon »
Additional Resources
Learn more about birds reported at this location at eBird:
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L2262841