What a cool surprise to find along the highway near Slick Rock, just west of Disappointment Valley above the Dolores River.
**Belated mistake correction: I did just a quick search before I started processing the pix … and after I’d typed “Slick Rock Canyon” on all the below images, I did a better search and realized that this area, while very close to Slick Rock, making it a *canyon near Slick Rock*, it is NOT Slick Rock Canyon. Slick Rock Canyon actually is downriver from Big Gypsum Valley, which is farther downriver from Slick Rock (which used to host a post office and cafe; now consists of a bunk house and corrals). Rather than go back and re-edit all the pix, I’m gonna live with the mistake … just so you know!
It’s a good thing that Colorado Highway 141 is lightly traveled. By the time I got my phone turned on after spotting a small group of desert bighorn sheep, they had moved a bit higher into the rocks.
I found a place to pull off the asphalt. Sorry to the guy who slowed to pass me in the opposite direction as I had my vehicle’s flashers flashing, probably wondering what the heck I was looking at. … Not really that sorry. 🙂
Two big rams were with the few ewes. I think there were six bighorns total.
You start to see why bighorns are so adapted to rocky habitats.
Note “queen of the hill” at right. 🙂
Wow, I wish I’d had my big camera and lens. I rarely see bighorn sheep in this stretch; the last time I saw a group, they were across the river (which is horribly, terrifyingly low now). Some people are lucky to see the bighorns more often through this area; any time I see them, I count it as a lucky sighting!
Spring Creek Basin Mustangs 
These are great “on-the-fly” photos, TJ! We’ve seen Big Horn Sheep ourselves along this sretch of the highway and done the same thing – maneuvered along the road’s edge to get a better look! Getting a glimpse of these guys is always such a treat. (We call that Slick Rock Canyon too. 🙂)
Ah – good to know I’m not the only one! 🙂 I love to catch a glimpse of them; they’re amazing!
it is amazing how sure footed these guys and gals are! They are amazing!
That’s exactly what I thought as I tried to navigate the rocks just above the side of the road! Ha! 🙂
They’re wonderful! thank you!
Do you see many bighorns in SLV?
Not down here but between South Fork and Creede I’ve seen them.
Ah, that seems a good place to see them!
Super sighting indeed!!
Maybe especially because I see them only rarely, I get pretty giddy when I DO see them! 🙂