Located approximately 80 miles northeast of the Four Corners, the study area consists of the eastern part of San Miguel County and the southwestern part of Ouray County in southwestern Colorado. The rough boundaries of the study area are formed by the escarpment or ridgelines east of the Uncompahgre Valley, north of Pleasant Valley and Leopard Creek Canyon and west of the San Miguel river encompassing the Sneffels Range of the San Juan mountains. Access can be gained from the south 75 miles over the mountains from Durango on U.S. highway 550, or 75 miles from Cortez on U.S. highway 145; from the north 30 miles from Montrose and 90 miles from Grand Junction via U.S. highway 550; and from the west from Utah via U.S. highway 145. This area is also served by airports in Montrose and Telluride, by train in Grand Junction and by bus at the Montrose terminal with highway stops in Ouray and Ridgway.

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