Ouray Wildlife Refuge

This afternoon, we rode in the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. Here, we're looking down on the Green River wetlands. Although not visible in this photo, we could see a large flock of Canada geese on the water and shore.

In 1869, Wesley Powell explored the Green and Colorado Rivers, and described spending the night here on an island in the river, under the cottonwoods, with the howl of wolves serenading the group to sleep. Some cottonwoods remain, but the water level has been altered by Flaming Gorge Dam upstream, and the wolves, of course, are long gone from this area.
The square ponds are part of a fish hatchery that raises endangered species such as the humpback chub and the razorback sucker.

Unfortunately, although the program keeps the fish from complete extinction, the hatchery-raised specimens have not been successful in naturally propogating in the Green.

On the way back to the trailer, we photographed an antelope who enjoyed people-watching.

All in all, we had a sunny 10 mile ride, complete with a pleasant gallop.

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