{{Short description|Wildlife study area in Colorado, United States}} {{Infobox protected area |name = Adobe Badlands |alt_name = |iucn_category = |iucn_ref = |logo = |logo_alt = |logo_upright = |logo_caption = One section of the badlands in 2025 |image = Adobe Badlands Wildlife Study Area.JPG |image_size = 250px |image_alt = |image_caption = |map = Colorado |map_width = |map_alt = |map_caption = The area's location in Colorado |AlternativeMap = |relief = 1 |label = Adobe Badlands |label_position = right |mark = |marker_size = | mapframe = <!-- "yes" to show an interactive map --> |location = Delta County, Colorado |nearest_city = Delta, Colorado |coordinates = {{Coord|38|48|23|N|108|4|16|W|display=inline,title}} |coords_ref = |length = |length_mi = |length_km = |width = |width_mi = |width_km = |area = |area_ha = |area_acre = 10320 |area_km2 = |area_sqmi = |area_ref = <ref name=book /> |elevation = {{convert|5755|ft|sp=us|abbr=off}} (Devils Thumb)<ref name=thumb /> |elevation_avg = |elevation_min = |elevation_max = |dimensions = |visitation_num = |visitation_year = |visitation_ref = |governing_body = Bureau of Land Management |website = {{URL| https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado/adobe-badlands-wsa |blm.gov}} }} The '''Adobe Badlands''' are a barren area with a moonlike landscape located between Delta, Colorado, U.S., and Grand Mesa. Part of the badlands lie within the Adobe Badlands Wildlife Study Area (WSA), owned and managed by the Bureau of Land Management.<ref name=BLM /> The wildlife study area overlaps with the larger Adobe Badlands Area of Critical Environmental Concern (ACEC).<ref name=book>{{cite book |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2025 |title=2025 briefing book: Colorado |url=https://www.blm.gov/sites/default/files/docs/2025-01/2025_Colorado_Briefing_Book.pdf |location= |publisher=Bureau of Land Management |page=37 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref><ref name=BLM>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=n.d. |title=Adobe Badlands |url= https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado/adobe-badlands-wsa |website= |location= |publisher=United States Bureau of Land Management |access-date=May 4, 2024}}</ref>
==Geographical features== Two documented geographical features occur within the wildlife study area, and one is found outside of it but within the area of critical environmental concern. '''Devils Thumb''', a rock pilar, elevation {{convert|5755|ft|sp=us|abbr=off}},<ref name=thumb>{{cite gnis |id=185383 |name=Devils Thumb |date=December 31, 1981 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> and '''Petrie Mesa''', elevation {{convert|6444|ft|sp=us|abbr=off}},<ref>{{cite gnis |id=185381 |name=Petrie Mesa |date=December 31, 1981 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> are within the WSA. The '''Adobe Buttes''', elevation {{convert|5640|ft|sp=us|abbr=off}},<ref>{{cite gnis |id=185389 |name=Adobe Buttes |date=December 31, 1981 |access-date=May 4, 2025}}</ref> lie to the east of the WSA and are within the ACEC.
There are no formal trails within the Adobe Badlands, but one can hike anywhere in them, for there is practically no vegetation to get in the way. However, the clay-like nature of the shale makes hiking difficult when the ground is wet.<ref name=BLM />
==Geology== The badlands are made up of Mancos Shale.<ref name=BLM /> ==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website| https://www.blm.gov/programs/national-conservation-lands/colorado/adobe-badlands-wsa}} * {{Commons category-inline}}
Category: Bureau of Land Management areas in Colorado Category:Geography of Delta County, Colorado