Unaweep Canyon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Unaweep Canyon is a geologically distinct canyon that cuts across the Uncompahgre Plateau in western Colorado.

view of Unaweep Canyon west of the central divide

One interpretation holds that in ancient times, the Dolores River flowed through Unaweep Canyon and flowed into the Gunnison River south of present day Grand Junction, Colorado. A second interpretation is that the Gunnison River itself once flowed through the canyon (Kaplan 2005). In either case as the uplift of the Uncompahgre Plateau between 5 and 15 million years ago resulted in the course change of the river involved and left the canyon without a river. A third, controversial hypothesis holds that the steep sides of the canyon in places indicates the valley was glaciated during the Late Paleozoic (Soreghan, G.S. 2004) or Pleistocene. However, seismic studies indicate that the flat valley floor is a V-shaped valley that was filled by tallus and alluvial fill (Oesleby 2005).

Today two creeks flow out of the caynon, East Canyon Creek and West Canyon Creek, separated by Unaweep Divide nearer the east end of the canyon.

Besides the geology, Unaweep Canyon is home to a small, but growing number of residents. Gateway, CO and the new Gateway Canyons Resort employees a significant number of the local residents. Property and homes are on large parcels and with the resort planning on opening a golf course, designed by Jim Engh, it is anticipated that the population in Unaweep Canyon and Gateway will increase. (Reece)

References:

Kaplan, S.A. 2005. The history of the ancestral Gunnison River through western Unaweep Canyon and Gateway (Colorado). Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 37, No. 6, p. 34
Oesleby, T.W. 2005. Thick sediment fill in Unaweep Canyon: implications for the history of the Uncompahgre Uplift, Western Colorado. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 37, No. 6, p. 16.

Soreghan, G.S. 2004. Climatic and tectonic implications of Late Paleozoic tropical glaciation in the ancestral Rocky Mountains, Colorado. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, Vol. 36, No. 4, p. 26 Reece, Lucas. 2007

State Highway 141 follows Unaweep Canyon between Whitewater and Gateway and is part of the Unaweep/Tabeguache Scenic Byway.