Please see the updated information on a trip Joan and I did in October 2021. In short a lot more signage, some more regulations concerning wag bags, and we found a non-technical descent into Little Dominguez Canyon.

UPDATE APRIL 2022 – This past weekend, I hiked the upper reaches up Little Dominguez, and I found the NatGeo map reasonably accurate of the track’s location in the past. The desiccated cow patties formed cairns that made finding the old stock trail reasonably easy with minimal bushwhacking to where the “Black Point” trail leaves the canyon on an obvious old pack road. Joan and I often follow old stock paths, often not on current maps, and the trick is to think where a horse and cattle would comfortably travel.

Connected the Big and Little Canyons over the past three days. Parked at the Dominguez campground and hiked down the Big canyon into the little one. Then out via the Bar X Trail. Pretty Easy navigation with a good topo map. Just be prepared to hike vertical on your last day up the Bar X and out. Beautiful 3-4 day trip

Without knowing your technical and navigation skills, hard for me to suggest a specific route. Have to make a judgement in the field based on your on personal safety, skill and comfort levels. Enjoy the loop!

Got it. Thanks!

Are there any routes you recommend to get up from Little D to the Wagon Park plateau? It looks like coming around No Mans Mesa might work, but it’s tough to tell from the topos and it’d be nice to stay on the floor canyon longer if possible.

Thanks for the kinds words!

Looking back on it, I should have indeed gone UP Little D as the navigation is indeed a little harder. (Though the newer TI map has the roads laid out quite nicely).

Big D is more used and was easier to follow. Six of one; half dozen of the other 😉

As for my route, I did some off trail scramblicious fun (at the cusp of my ability..don’t tell my wife! :D) from the Wagon Park area and into the canyon. A safer alternative would be Wagon Park to Winter Camp Trail and around to Black Point (possibly cross country) and into the canyon.

Hope that helps.

When navigating between Big D and Little D, did you cut across on the Dominguez Trail or did you loop all the way around by Carson Hole where Big D narrows off? I’m trying to get a sense of distance and where to cut across and start navigating by compass and not just following the canyon walls.

Also, would it be more straight-forward to navigate this loop from Big D to Little D (counter-clockwise) or Little D to Big D (clockwise)? I’d like to keep things simple and if there are clear trails coming out of Little D as it seems on the topo, I’d probably start in Little D and go clockwise.

Thanks!