Trips near Colorado

[Dagon]

I'm fairly new and recently got into tripping after taking poling classes and doing a few trips and classes in Northern Maine. However, I live in Colorado. My goal it to do a self guided trip on the Yukon in the next few years, but i need places to build skills first. I know places are limited out here, but I'm looking to collect a database of spots within 10 hours of Denver (the closer the better). I'd love to hear what you guys have. Please include any lake or rivers withing a couple hours of Denver for day trips as well. I have a Mad River 17' Revelation for what its worth

Thanks

Dagon

 

[Mason]

What skills are you looking for? Paddling or camping, or the combination? A wonderful trip not far from Denver is the Green River in Utah. Put in at Green River, and get a boat shuttle out at the confluence to Moab. You can also do shorter trips with other landing sites. We spent a very leisurely 11 days on the river--non-technical float with lots of hiking. Central Oregon has some fun stuff--I've only done the Grand Ronde, which is short (3-4 days) but fun and scenic. Montana has the Smith River and the Missouri (e.g. Missouri River Breaks). Others here will have additional recommendations.

 

[Dagon]

What skills are you looking for? Paddling or camping, or the combination? A wonderful trip not far from Denver is the Green River in Utah. Put in at Green River, and get a boat shuttle out at the confluence to Moab. You can also do shorter trips with other landing sites. We spent a very leisurely 11 days on the river--non-technical float with lots of hiking. Central Oregon has some fun stuff--I've only done the Grand Ronde, which is short (3-4 days) but fun and scenic. Montana has the Smith River and the Missouri (e.g. Missouri River Breaks). Others here will have additional recommendations.

A combination but also looking to improve my paddling skills the most. I'm not looking for super technical whitewater.

I've heard about the Green River and its high on my list. I'm thinking about tackling it next year as my first "big' solo self guided trip. Do you have any resources on where I can research this trip (planning, water conditions, logistics, etc). From what I understand, its a pretty calm float, correct( not many technical sections)?

 

[Mason]

A combination but also looking to improve my paddling skills the most. I'm not looking for super technical whitewater.

I've heard about the Green River and its high on my list. I'm thinking about tackling it next year as my first "big' solo self guided trip. Do you have any resources on where I can research this trip (planning, water conditions, logistics, etc). From what I understand, its a pretty calm float, correct( not many technical sections)?

I paddled it in August 26 years ago (w/ my 9yo daughter, her mother and a friend solo). The paddling was trivial then, needing to look out for sandbars occasionally. I don't know what higher levels are like, but I suspect just faster flat water and fewer sandbars. There's lots of info out there, as it's pretty popular. We had a xeroxed guidebook which had lots of historical info, and info on hikes. I'm sure there are other guidebooks too. No references other than Internet searches.

 

[Dagon]

Those who have recently done the green river, is it crowded? I like to see as few people as possible. If it anything like trying to hike the ATC, its not the trip for me.

 

[Halpc]

I have done the trip from Green River park to Mineral Bottom 5 or 6 times and the whole trip to the Confluence with the Colorado once. The latter requires a jet boat pick up to shuttle you up the Colorado to Moab, unless you are up for a 70 mile upstream paddle. The shuttle is currently $185 per person plus $100 per canoe. The river has never been crowded when I have been there, however campsites are pretty sparse, due to Tamarisk tree invasion. I am retired and, depending on your timing, may be interested in doing the Green River to Mineral Bottom section with you and self shuttling. I am part owner of a second home in Moab, which helps with logistics. The Gunnison River above Grand Junction, CO, has a nice 2-3 day trip on it, depending on release rates. The Colorado from Grand Junction to the Westwater put in is also a popular 2 day trip. The San Juan River near the AZ border isn'ta great trip but requires a permit, and they are pretty hard to get. It is Class 1-2 in normal times.

 

[Dagon]

I have done the trip from Green River park to Mineral Bottom 5 or 6 times and the whole trip to the Confluence with the Colorado once. The latter requires a jet boat pick up to shuttle you up the Colorado to Moab, unless you are up for a 70 mile upstream paddle. The shuttle is currently $185 per person plus $100 per canoe. The river has never been crowded when I have been there, however campsites are pretty sparse, due to Tamarisk tree invasion. I am retired and, depending on your timing, may be interested in doing the Green River to Mineral Bottom section with you and self shuttling. I am part owner of a second home in Moab, which helps with logistics. The Gunnison River above Grand Junction, CO, has a nice 2-3 day trip on it, depending on release rates. The Colorado from Grand Junction to the Westwater put in is also a popular 2 day trip. The San Juan River near the AZ border isn'ta great trip but requires a permit, and they are pretty hard to get. It is Class 1-2 in normal times.

I’m definitely down for a trip. I’m lucky enough to be semi-retired, so I have plenty of flexibility to work around your schedule. For this year, I just have two windows I need to avoid: June 17th–27th and July 14th–17th. Everything else is pretty open. Next year is even better.

Thanks for the heads-up on those Grand Junction spots, too. I wasn't aware of them, but I’m going to try to run both if the water allows.

Shoot me a message if you want to plan a Green River trip!