Potter Canyon

The canyon walls rise about 500-800 feet above the canyon floor. Geologically, the lower layer is the Morrison Formation and the top layer is the Burro Canyon formation. On a previous Mike’s Hike up a neighboring canyon, Geologists, Dr. Noe, mentioned that both of these rock geological layers were very promising for finding dinosaur tracks. The Morrison formation, especially on the front range of the Rockies, is known for its extensive dinosaur tracks discoveries. Hopefully, we will find some evidence of historical artifacts as we travel up this canyon!

Potter Canyon is located in Camel Back Wilderness Study Area (WSA), a remote spot that provides nothing but solitude. This WSA was inventoried by the BLM in 1980 because of its Wilderness characteristics, but it has not been officially designated as Wilderness by Congress.

This WSA is characterized by a series of deep canyons and extensive mesa, sculptured by streams that cut canyons with massive cliffs, talus slopes, and isolated mesas and buttes. Vegetation consists of cactus, cottonwoods, and pinyon-junipers.