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Three Great River Adventures

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3 BEST Rafting Trips in Utah/Colorado Northern Border

Northeastern Utah and the Colorado border are full of wonders to explore. As John Wesley Powell says, “We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channel, we know not; what walls ride over the river, we know not. Ah, well! we may conjecture many things.” 

  1. Gates of Lodore (Green River Section)

Time Commitment is typically 3-4 days

As you enter the narrow and dark maroon walls at the Gates; 4 days of changing scenery and geology are about to blow your mind. You are submitting yourself into the canyon that John Wesley Powell and his crew ventured into without knowing what was ahead.  As you traverse the thrilling rapids with a skilled guide you will get to experience whitewater that is full of splashing water and a unique epic experience.  

Between all the fun whitewater and chilling on the raft observing big horn sheep and other animals in nature. You can pull over and tie off the boat.  Rippling Brook hike takes you to a small waterfall and then on the way back you can venture to the edge of a cliff where you can view the river looking upstream and downstream.  The view is spectacular and will be something you won’t forget. This isn’t the only opportunity for side excursions. Your guides will help you explore the many intricate beauties of Lodore Canyon and all she has to offer.   

  1. Yampa River (Designated Wild and Scenic)

Time Commitment is typically 4-5 days

As you leave the meanders of Deerlodge Park, the put-in for the Yampa River and enter the vast canyon of the wild and scenic chocolate river, you will find the magic and wonder of the place many guides call their summer office. The canyon walls will quickly bombard your mind with amazement. While every essence of your being is siphoned into the flow of the river moving forward in a constant swirling progression. The river will suck your soul in and the journey of how you fall in love with this sacred place has been set in motion. The desert daytime sun will be countered with coolish nights soaking in the cool breeze coming off the fresh runoff water from the Rocky Mountains. After day one you feel like maybe you know what to expect until you hit the long stretch of calm water and the Grand Overhang. Now it’s game on, where does all this slow moving water lead us…in no hurry at all? 

The water all funnels into this narrow opening at the top of a rapid and not just any rapid. But THE rapid, that was formed by a landslide in ’65 and changed this canyon forever, Warm Springs! The rush of water gushing and gurgling as it bellows over the rock we call Maytag makes our experienced stomachs start to churn. The excitement and adrenaline pulse through our bodies and we wave to those left at the rivers’ edge waiting their turn. Double checking all the gear and reminding all to hang on, we slowly enter the tongue and then we are off and before we know it, we are screaming, cheering and maybe even cursing but we are making our way digging our oars in with every ounce of strength we can muster.  Phew we made it and we throw our hands in the air and let out an elated, HELL YEAH!  

And that’s not all. Don’t leave out all the cool stops to the Ancient Indigenous Artwork and granaries from the Fremont Culture. Taking this exhilarating ride will provide you with great food, entertainment, culture and all the natural wonder you could want in a 4-5 day trip. 

The Gates of Lodore and the Yampa River are two escapes from the fast paced world that start and end near Vernal, UT and actually takes you through the heart of Dinosaur National Monument.  Now that’s a place many don’t get to see!  

  1. Green River A,B,C Section (Below Flaming Gorge Dam)

Time commitment is typically 1-3 days (or more if your heart desires)

These pieced out sections can be several one day trips or turned into a 2 night, 3 day excursion. This is hands down one of the most beautiful one day stretches around. Located below the Flaming Gorge dam, you put-in and can go. This is a great place to tackle some world class trout fishing and have some fun on a mellow low-key whitewater river. This scenic float along the Green River has some fun class 2 rapids perfect for an introduction to river rafting. Almost all ages can come and enjoy a day on the water. A picnic included can provide a chance to explore some of the small beaches and play in the cold water on a hot summer day. 

The world class fishing alone brings thousands of people to visit and explore this section of the Green River every summer. A Utah one day river rafting trip is a great way to get out and adventure with the family if you aren’t quite committed to the high adventure of a longer 4 or 5 day trip. There are takeout’s between each section making it easy to lengthen or shorten your trip based on your needs.

I encourage those seeking a great thrill to consider these three options. It could be a time to escape the chaos of the world noise and enter the magic of nature through the veins and arteries that give the earth life and may be a renewal to yours. 

-Kassie Robbins

The Weekend Warrior

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Fighting the Good Fight: The Weekend Warrior

So, you like to get outside and stay active, but it isn’t always easy to make time?  You may live and work in a city, meanwhile your mind drifts towards the freedom of the hills or the grand solitude of the desert.  If you are a 9 to 5 work a day type like so many others, then how will you maximize your precious time off? You are in the company of weekend warriors and you will better enjoy your time of battle with a little preparation and planning. Whether you are heading off for a quick weekend of fly fishing on Utah’s world famous Green River or a mountain biking adventure on Vernal Utah’s amazing single track being prepared is a key component of a great vacation.

To me the first and most important piece of preparation that you can do for yourself is to know yourself.  Be realistic with your goals and be honest with yourself about your limitations. Ask yourself what you hope to get out of your adventure time, knowing that you will have to be  and want to be a functioning human being after the outing is over. Now that you have an understanding with yourself, you can plan a fitting venture and maximize your fun.  

Think about the physical requirements of your desired activities.  This goes back to knowing yourself but can also fit into extended or ongoing preparations.  If you are planning a cross country bike tour, then you should be putting in some miles in the saddle during the weeks before your big ride.  If you are going on a river trip or drive where there will be opportunities to do hikes, long or short, then you should be doing some walking or, better yet, hiking to get into shape.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Pace yourself, walk consciously. You can’t summit the mountain until you have walked through the foothills.  

You’re feeling good and have a rough idea of what you are ready to tackle, now it’s time to fill in the gaps and make your travel itinerary.  No matter what your activity, there are numerous resources out there to help you plan. Guidebooks and maps are still my favorite but there are great smartphone apps, blogs, discussion groups and websites that provide great planning ideas.  In many places and with many activities you can hire a guide service, which takes a lot of pressure off you to know everything. It is still a good idea to know something, so you know what you are in for. Sometime’s it is best to leave your ego intact and hire that local guide service they have the knowledge, skills and equipment to assure your trip is a success. 

Time to dig into your gear closet or garage.  If you are like me this part gets you excited, like walking into a room filled with old friends.  Don’t save this until the last minute unless you are sure your equipment is accounted for and in good working order.  Leave yourself enough time to make that unplanned run to the sporting goods stores or hardware store to repair the broken bits.  One of our favorite gear shops is Moab Gear Trader’s the owner and staff love outdoor adventure and recreation. There are few things worse than getting out to the field and realizing that something important is missing. You can mitigate that problem by writing lists.  Write out your lists of gear and meals and check the items off as you pack. You will be less likely to forget something and there is a certain sense of accomplishment that comes from checking things off. For most outdoor activities you should be able to find someone else’s checklist online to give you a starting point for organizing your gear.  

While in the thick of your adventure, pace yourself.  Don’t be so goal oriented that you risk causing injury to yourself or your travel companions.  Physical fatigue is a good way to take a bad step or make some bad judgement call that could ruin your holiday or have worse consequences.  Listen to your body and rest when you need to. Drink plenty of water and eat when you need energy. These things seem basic, but it is so easy to forget to stop and take care of yourself.  If you don’t do it, who will? These maintenance breaks are good for the mind and soul as well as the body. Pause to enjoy the place you are standing and to feel the calming rhythm of nature.  

When all is done and you’ve returned home satisfied and safe, do a couple of things to close the adventure and prepare for the next.  Take some notes or write in an adventure journal about what you’ve accomplished. What worked? what didn’t? what would you do different or the same next time?  Did you see another nearby canyon that you’d like to explore next time? Did you get some advice from fellow travelers? These notes, like the lists from before, can be very useful tools and enjoyable to reflect on later.  

With your memories stored and organized, take the time to clean and organize your gear.  It is satisfying to wash off the dirt that marks a good trip into the wilds. It is gratifying to see your well used equipment clean and in good working order.  It will make your life so much easier to pack for the next rally if everything is organized and ready to go.  

The adventurous life of a weekend warrior may not be measured by vast quantities but with a little work it will be by high quality.  May you fight the good fight and find the balance in life that you desire.

5 Great Restaurants After Your Utah Rafting Trip

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So you just came off an excursion down one of Utah’s gorgeous rivers. You’ve had camp meals for the past several days. Or maybe just a deli lunch on a day float. Maybe even just a granola bar and some trail mix. Yes, you may have been exposed to sun, wind, possibly even rain I could imagine. You’ve packed and unpacked a boat numerous times, even if it was just this morning and just this evening. Anyway you cut it, you’ve likely worked up an appetite – and not an appetite to do more work. You’re returning to civilization, and while that may be hard it certainly comes with some perks. Perks like near limitless meal options, and someone else preparing the food for you to boot. The only hard part of this equation is where to eat?

 

Dinosaur Brewhaus

If you’re coming out of Dinosaur National Monument after a 4 or 5 day trip on the Green River Gates of Lodore or Yampa River, Vernal Utah boasts several great spots to sate your hunger. One simply shouldn’t leave Vernal without trying out the Dinosaur Brewhaus. It’s simple pub fair, but has a down-home and delicious taste, with complimentary peanuts while you wait, and a variety of Utah beers on hand. They’re used to their fare share of river runners, so come in whatever condition you leave the boat ramp in! 

 

Sabaku Sushi

Say you’re enjoying the day float in Moab, or coming off the monstrous waves of Cataract canyon, Moab is well equipped to meet your gastronomic desires. The unbeatable Sabaku Sushi serves up incredible options from our river running friend and amazing chef Alex Borichevsky. Not only does he know great river running he serves up delectable fresh sushi offerings. This is a Moab favorite.

 

Vernal Brewing Company

Maybe you just finished up a classic Utah 1 day Flaming Gorge Green River trip and are looking for a little more flare to your evening meal. For more variety and atmosphere, the Vernal Brewing Company is top notch. They boast a wide selection of entrees and of course have their locally brewed beer on tap. Try the Little Hole Lager or the local favorite the 50 Caliber IPA, and other craft and domestic beers as well. The brewing operation is a sight to behold, but if you’re hoping for a tour I’d recommend cleaning up a tad before asking about a table.

 

Ray’s Tavern

Coming off of a Desolation Canyon/Grays river trip, you end up in the small town of Green River Utah. Good bang for your buck is Ray’s Tavern, a quaint little eatery that’s got its roots in the river running community. Enjoy burgers and sandwiches all the while marveling at some amazing shots of whitewater from the sports’ long and storied history.

 

Taggart’s Grill

Paddling out of Park City will likely put you on the Weber River, a calm stretch of water that runs along train tracks and highway 84. Raft, kayak, or tube this river (pick up your trash!) and enjoy the Taggart’s Grill at the take out. Taggart’s Grill offers exquisitely crafted sandwiches, soups, and pizzas. They’re in house desserts – like their carrot cake – are out of this world, and their beer selection isn’t too bad to boot. Just remember, no shirt, no shoes, no service.

 

 

Protect your Skin: Shining Light on River Guide Wisdom

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Nothing can ruin your dream vacation like a bad sunburn.  Not to mention the long-term effects associated with that kind of skin damage.  If you are going on a river trip, then you will be exposed to the elements for anywhere from a day to a couple of weeks so you should plan accordingly.  Your river guides spend all summer being bombarded by solar radiation, so if you should need advice or an example of how to deal with the elements look no further. Having guided the rivers here in Dinosaur National Monument and the local Vernal, Utah area for many years I have gained some valuable insight into sun protection when out in the elements adventuring on these amazing white water rivers.

The iconic image of a river guide may be a bronzed scantily clad emissary of the sun, and it is true that with so much exposure to the sun you will inevitably brown and get some nice tan lines, but I for one am vigilant with applying and reapplying sunscreen.  I use stronger stuff, usually SPF 30 at least.  Look for the multi spectrum coverage, preferably non-greasy and water resistant.  Since its going on my precious skin I also try to go for natural ingredients and therefor end up spending a little more for what I want, but I’m worth it. Goodhouse Keeping put together a great list of the 11 best natural sunscreens for 2019 take a look at their top choices. Besides nice sunscreen I like to use lip balm with an SPF rating as well.  I keep it close and use it a lot. 

Your vestments are your most reliable protection from the sun.  This is your armor.  I like to wear long sleeves, with a collar I can pop up to keep the sun off my neck, and to look good.  This is a business casual ensemble however, with swim shorts and sandals being the lower half.  Just remember to lotion up the bare legs and feet.  Pants made from quick drying fabrics provide a nice break from the sun, when it’s not too hot.  I have also been known to wear leggings for the same purpose.  Fashion and function.  A sarong is another great clothing option for covering the legs and it can double as a beach blanket, light sheet or a warming layer when it cools down a little bit. Our friends at North West River supply have a great collection of river guide approved clothing for sun protection. 

For the love of your face, don’t forget to take a hat.  Maybe take two or three.  You don’t want to be without a hat, and it is a real bummer to lose your only one to the river.  I like to wear a big straw hat most of the time.  Its full wide brim protects more angles covering my face and neck. Tula Hats make some great wide brimmed sun hats in many styles, they are also tough I have worn my almost daily for several summer now. Besides my Huck Finn topper I also take a baseball cap or two.  You must remember that the sun is also hitting you from below as it reflects off the water, so I might also wear a buff or bandana around my neck pulled over my ears.  Another great tool to have in your box is to have a sun hoodie.  They provide great coverage, work well with ball caps, and they look and feel good. 

Now that our skin is covered let’s not forget to shade the all-important windows.  Sunglasses are crucial to your protected persona.  The list of benefits is long.  They make you look good, they cut down on glare making it easier to see the beautiful landscape that you find yourself in, they reduce eye fatigue and the chance of headaches and they decrease your risk for future vision and eye health issues.  Did I mention they make you look good?  The best part is that you don’t necessarily have to break the bank on nice shades as you can find good polarized lenses almost anywhere.  This is also good because sunglasses are another item that you may want to plan for redundancies, lest you lose or break your first pair. 

Now if you have taken this advice you should be doing well, but there are a couple of other tricks to give you an edge in minimizing your solar exposure.  Seek shade when possible.  Lounge under a tree or prepare lunch beneath an overhung cliff.  If space allows then bring a beach umbrella or a shade canopy.  You could always hide in your tent at a layover camp but in the summer, this could be a place of stifling heat.  Instead, carry in your kit a small sheet or piece of cloth that you can cover up with and wet when it is hot this is where that sarong comes in handy.   

Your skin is precious.  It does well to protect you from threats to your health and comfort, but it needs your help.  You must do your part to take care of it and it will continue to take care of you.  You’ll be able to enjoy your dream vacation down the river without the discomfort of a sun burn and you’ll be able to enjoy the peace of mind that your long-term health will see you through many more adventures down the river and around the sun.

We look forward to seeing you on the river.  

Disconnecting

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Have you ever had that moment of panic when you can’t feel your phone in your pocket, or can’t find it in your purse? Our devices have become ubiquitous. Odds are you’re reading this on some device or other. We can check our bank statements. We can reach our loved ones from almost anywhere, not only hear their voices but see their faces; our kids off at college, or our parents living in the next state over. These things have made our lives much easier and our world much smaller. There is the ever constant news stream, which has become increasingly more difficult to parse through. There are the photos and videos from friends and influence’s. There are the work emails that can now be received from almost anywhere.

Yes, good or ill, our devices are here to stay. But, if you’re reading this, (and you have made it this far), you’ve probably found they can be a distraction, detrimental even. In fact, we’re beginning to find that as we increasingly interface with our world through a screen, we’re not practicing some crucial skills. We’re less empathetic, and less willing to try and understand things from viewpoints that differ from our own. It seems a little gloomy. How do we get back to real human interaction? How do we escape work emails, the stream of social media, and the constant news feed? We can get outside.

Though our devices may be ubiquitous, WiFi and cell phone service are not. Get far enough off the beaten path, and your place of work can’t find you to ask if you’ve finished those reports or met with the accounting department. In the backcountry the space you move through is now larger than life, even though it’s such a small slice of the world. It’s now infinitely bigger than it could have been on your favorite social media site.

The benefits of getting away from our devices and getting outside become even more apparent when we do it with our friends and family. When going into the wilderness on a backcountry river rafting trip preparedness is key. Good preparation is incumbent on good communication. Therein is where real human interaction takes place. When making a plan with one another we are practicing those crucial social skills that make us more empathetic and better able to view the world from multiple viewpoints. It seems mundane in practice, but it’s importance and benefits are widespread. Especially for the developing minds of our children. How does it work? Pretty simple actually. When we discuss a plan, whether it be as simple as a day hike or as complex as a Utah or Colorado multi day river rafting adventure, we each approach what we expect to do differently. Only once there is agreement on a plan do we enact it. And until that point is reached, the discussion of options forces us to look at the plan from the perspective of our companions. We’re practicing our social skills, failing and succeeding together in real time.

Obviously you don’t have to get into the backcountry to do these things. But getting outside happens to be a great place to facilitate these things, as it presents unique challenges, has spotty service and no wifi. So grab your friends and family, ditch those electronic devices and have that human experience in a beautiful place. A multi day river rafting adventure on the Yampa River or Green River Gates of Lodore through Dinosaur National Monument is a perfect place to disconnect from that electronic world and reconnect with your family and friends.

Almost everything you need to Know about the Yampa River

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Almost everything you need to Know about the Yampa River

To attempt to explain everything you need to know about the Yampa River through Dinosaur National Monument in one short blog is all but impossible but here are a few of the basics. The Yampa meanders from its headwaters near Steamboat, Colorado through town where teenagers float on tubes, into a narrow canyon with class V rapids where gripped kayakers test their skills, through flat desert until it reaches Deerlodge campground. This is the beginning of the Yampa Canyon and the start of 71 miles of some of the best white water rafting in the Western US. There are entire books written on the importance of the Yampa river to the environmental movement, natural history, and rafting community.

In the early 1900’s the dam craze took off across the United States. There was a belief vibrating through humanity that man could conquer nature, that enough technology had been developed power could be harnessed and controlled for the utility of human kind and there were very few movements to stop the development of public lands. It was in this mindset that the Echo Park Dam was proposed. If this dam would have been built it would have flooded the entire Yampa canyon we raft down today. The story is long, and best told through the misty eyes of a crusty river guide who sees their home flooding with the creation of the dam, but in short: an LA family came rafting down the Yampa and fell in love. They brought the story of the proposed Echo Park dam back to LA where David Brower and the Sierra Club learned of it. Through massive efforts people from a multitude of groups fought to save the Yampa. This became the first nationwide grass roots environmental movement. This makes the Yampa the last major undammed tributary of the Colorado river system. Today almost every soul who passes down the Yampa canyon expresses their gratitude for the Sierra Club helping to preserve the waterway.

Not only is the lack of dam on the Yampa historically significant, it creates an untampered environment for the creatures that call the eastern Utah desert home. Scientist study the animals, bugs, fish and plants in an attempt to see the effects that dams have on river ecosystems. In the 70’s scientist found that the Yampa Canyon was nesting some of north America’s last Paragon Falcons. They tagged and tracked the birds and helped ensure the young would hatch to help repopulate the endangered animals.  Today falcons can be seen throughout the river canyon in the summer months.

Beyond environmental history, astronomers study the night sky from Dinosaur National Monument as it is the darkest national monument in the country.  Its remote location protects it from the light and air pollution of human existence.

And Even before the River Rats and scientists called this place, home there are 500 years’ worth of Native Americans history, who thrived in the canyons, leaving us to marvel at what they left behind.

The Yampa River is one of the river most dynamic rivers in the country, changing with the natural flood stages of the Colorado snowpack eventually dwindling down to a mild stream as the snowpack disappears. This makes the river exciting to raft and different every time you launch rafts and boats from the put in.

Thank You

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Thank you seems to small.

Only eight letters to express the rivers of gratitude to each of you. It’s laughable that eight would be enough, for without you our lives as river guides would be undeniably different.  Let me explain.

Each of you that travels down the river, allows us to live and breathe in this amazing national monument. To feel the tug of flowing water on oars every day, to smell like sunscreen and sweat for months on end, and gasp at desert vistas in every moment. By coming on a river trip you allow us to live the way we wish to live.  But more importantly you allow us to feel that we are bigger than ourselves, a part of a history in Dinosaur National Monument while guiding on the Green River and Yampa River.

Each of us become a river guide for a shallow reason, something like: we went on fun vacations with our family as kids, whitewater is a thrill, or even just the novelty of being a river guide.  Every guide will admit it, but the reason we stay river guides is because of you.  As guides grow more sun crusted we learn more about the river and its surroundings; where different petroglyphs are, who the first person to raft the river solo was, where a dam was almost built and how it was stopped, and the story of the Powell expeditions first trip.

Without knowing it, each time we repeat these stories and facts to you, they become part of our personal history.  None of us were on the Powell expedition boating down the Green River Gates of Lodore, but somehow that expedition is as much a part of my history as riding bikes with my brother as a child. Each time we share the river rafting experience of Dinosaur National Monument with you, it becomes our home and its characters our family.

As time goes on, we make our own history:  a upside down boat used as a slip ’n slide at Wild Mountain campsite, a guest that cried because they were so grateful to have their family together, a kid dance party on the boat on the windiest day of the summer. And as John Wesley Powell did, you become part of who we are, a character of the river and part of our family. For you, this river trip may be once in a lifetime, but for us, this trip is life, and you are the reason for it.

Thank you for allowing us to create a home and a family here.  Thank you for allowing us to love our fellow guides and bosses like we do our own parents and families.  Thanks to our families for supporting our unconventional career choices and understanding that the reason we are here, is to connect with a deeper part of ourselves, to become droplets in a massive river system.  Thank you for allowing us to feel simultaneously insignificant and vitality important to the universe.

Thank you for letting us share our home and family with you.

In return for completely changing our lives and the way we view ourselves, we give you eight letters.  Not nearly enough, but perhaps you will feel that the eight letters we give you, are bigger and so much more important than just letters.

 

Thank you.

The Dinosaur River Expedition Guides

 

When you do

Things from

Your soul.

You feel a

River moving

In you, a joy.

 

-Rumi

7 Must Do Outdoor Activities in Utah

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 Whitewater Rafting the Gates of Lodore on the Green River

The Green River meanders through the Utah/Colorado border but is so spectacular we had to keep it number 1 on our list. Entering through the Gates of Lodore sends you on a 44-mile expedition through technical whitewater rapids like Hell’s Half Miles, lets you sleep on peaceful beaches, watch the stars swirl around the canyon at night, explore vista hikes that will drop your jaw hundreds of feet back to the river, and let you live among the mule deer and bighorn sheep for a few days. Luckily the river is permitted, so although over 9,000 people apply to go down the river every year, it will never be overcrowded and you’ll sure to have an unforgettable wilderness experience. Once you have experienced a Green River Gates of Lodore trip you will have to come back and see the Yampa River another western river gem located in the heart of Dinosaur National Monument.

 Hiking in the Uinta Mountains

This is one of the more underrated mountain ranges in Utah.  Just a few hours outside of Park City, the Uinta’s are home to Utah’s tallest peak, Kings peak at 13,534 feet.  The wooded area is home to beautiful mountain lakes, wild flowers, and crisp mountain air and due to its high elevation, it stays cooler in the heat of the Utah summers.  With plenty of trails for day hikes or backpacking, it’s on the list for a Utah must-see.

Canyoneering in Canyonlands

 The slot canyons in Southern Utah are worth getting yourself into.  Spend a day hiking through one of the wider canyons, like the Narrows, or hire a guide to take you and your friends repelling down a longer more technical canyon.  Be sure not to attempt to do this on your own unless you know what you are doing. The canyons and change quickly with weather and you don’t want to be a search and rescue story. You will more than likely spend some time in Moab while you are there stop in to the local owned outdoor recreation and gear experts Moab Gear Traders.

 Backpack the Grand Gulch in Bears Ears

This stunning 52-mile backpacking trip will take you into the heart of Bears Ears. The steep canyon takes you out of this world as you walk past ancient pueblo ruins: everything from granaries and kivas to petroglyphs and pottery shards. It’s believed that Bears Ears was a hub for pre-colonized North America, like and ancient city. Ruins from many tribes can be found throughout the hike, but don’t forget to visit Newspaper Rock on your way out, with hundreds of petroglyphs from centuries of Native Americans.

Fly Fishing on the Green River

The A-Section of the Green River attracts Anglers from around the world. With over 1000 trout per-mile and cold crystal-clear waters, just below Flaming Gorge Dam, you’d be hard pressed to find a better fly-fishing zone in Utah.  Float the 7 miles section in a drift boat or walk along the banks of the river along a trail that runs the length of the first section.  While the A-section is the most popular, the B and C sections also offer amazing fishing with a few less people.  Make a weekend of it and float the A, B, and C sections, reserving a campsite on the riverbanks. Want to learn more about fishing or just need some help with your casting? Not to worry, there is a whole city of fishing guides in Dutch John, Utah happy to take you. Fishing is not your thing but you would still love to see the river, we offer a fantastic scenic river rafting day trip give us a call or book online for Utah one day on the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam.

 Mountain Biking in Vernal, Utah

 Vernal is giving Moab a ride for its money.  It has something for everyone; easy beginner trails to learn or ride with kids, self-inflicted suffer fest, flowy downhills with a few drops if you are daring, and everything in between. The city sits on the edge of the North-Eastern Utah desert and the Uinta Mountains giving it a uniquely diverse landscape. Within 20- minutes of Vernal in either direction you can ride on Moab Style slick rock or Montana-esque packed dirt in the woods. There are dozens of well-made trails and not as crowded as Fruita or Moab.  Head into the local bike shop, Altitude Cycle, for tips on which trails to ride.

Delicate Arch in Arches National Park

This Utah view is iconic for a reason. The three-mile hike takes you along sandstone slick rock, winding through desert half pipes and bowls. It’s a moderately-difficult hike and worth the trek to see the arch in person.

White water river rafting in Utah and Colorado 5 amazing canyons

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5 Best Canyons to White Water River Raft in Utah and Colorado:

  • The Yampa

The Yampa River Canyon, sometimes referred to by as a “little Grand Canyon” is potentially the most beautiful place in the state of Colorado. Located just a short distance outside of Vernal, Utah, the Yampa River is an amazing combination of peaceful flat water and big rapids. The bigger rapids are sure be a thrill at any level sending water over your head throughout the trip.  The biggest rapid, Warm Springs is one boaters talk about all over the country. The flat water gives you time to explore the waters on paddling your a paddle board or inflatable kayak. Paddling solo truly gives you a feeling of the wilderness and  isolation of the canyon. At night, the campsites are typically big beaches perfect for a game of beach volleyball, kids to play, or just enjoying the firelight with the company of your family and friends.

The 700 foot tall white sandstone walls act as a time machine, sending you back a 1,000 years when the Fremont native Americans called the canyon home. Unlike most western rivers the Yampa is free flowing, meaning it looks almost exactly as it did 1,400 years ago. The trip has many stops where you will be able to see 800 year old petroglyphs, ancient storage granaries and maybe a little wildlife like mule deer or bighorn sheep. Beyond the native history, the canyon is a cornerstone for environmental history, at the center of the first ever grassroots environmental movement. This also makes it one of the most competitive private river permits to get in the US.

This canyon truly has it all, epic whitewater, peaceful flatwater, stunning geological landscapes, and history dating back thousands of years.  It’s hard to travel through this canyon and not be simply overwhelmed by it beauty.

  • The Gates of Lodore

Confluence in Echo Park
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The Yampa River may be tops on this list but the Green River Gates of Lodore takes a tight number two spot. Both trips are unbelievable and either one is spectacular depending on the time of year you can go rafting. The Powell expedition was one of the first to stare awestruck at the Gates of Lodore on the Green River with a mix of fear and enthusiasm. Today, the reaction to the dark red sandstone at the beginning of the canyon is the same no matter who rafts through the gates of lodore. The aw only escalates upon learning that it is the oldest rock in Utah and Colorado, dating back almost a billion years, predating life itself. The stunning views are matched with amazing white water. At high water (5-9,000 CFS), you are signing up for a “hold on tight” sure to find a thrill adventure and at lower water a family friendly continuous splashy 42 miles.

  • Cataract Canyon

This is the place to go if you are looking for massive rapids. Just outside of Moab, Cataract Canyon is home to the biggest whitewater in Utah and at high water, the biggest rapids on the Colorado river.  At anything above 20,000 CFS (Cubic Feet per Second) three biggest rapids turn into one long whitewater ride, so don’t worry about the desert heat, you are sure to get wet.

  • Split Mountain

A beautiful stretch of canyon if you are just looking for a day of rafting. This section of river is the last 9 miles of a Green River Gates of Lodore or Yampa River trip through Dinosaur National Monument. The mouth of the canyon gives it the name, as it appears the river is cutting the mountain it half. Multiple layers of rock bend and twist here giving it an other worldly look. The rock formations drip and twist the whole way down the canyon allowing for a common game of “what shapes can you see in the rocks,” in between the fun class 2 and 3 rapids. Remember to ask your guide about the Pirate watching over you in the second half of the river!

Split Mountain on the Green River

 

  • Desolation and Gray Canyon

Knock out two canyons in one river trip with this 84 mile float. The Gray/Deso combination is a beautiful river trip in eastern Utah with great views and fun class 2-3 rapids and an abundance of native American history, wildlife and spectacular Utah River Rafting scenery.

4th Graders get a National Parks Pass for FREE!

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The Ultimate Kids Trip: 4th graders and their families get in to the Monument for FREE.

I have the reputation as the “kids” guide at Dinosaur River Expeditions. Every time there’s a trip with someone under the age of 13, they are inevitably my favorite guest (sorry adults). I can talk for hours with a 10 year old about their favorite candy, or listen to stories about the time they rode sleeping bags down the stairs, completely captivated. This fact is the reason that when Dinosaur booked their first trip with more children than guardians, I found myself rowing the kids’ boat down the Green River.

It was a late August Gates of Lodore trip, and we had made it through all the big rapids like Hell’s Half Mile. I volunteered to take the kids’ boat the night before, assuming not all of them would want to come with me. The next thing I knew, I was rowing through Whirlpool Canyon with, no joke, a raft overrun with twelve animated children. We listened to the three Twenty One Pilot songs I happened to have downloaded on my iPod, on repeat, repeatedly. The kids’ faces were caked with seven colors of zinc sunscreen: a creative dad brought them to trick the kids into protecting their young skin from the sun. “War Paint!” They yelled every morning, excited to be decorate themselves; no one questioned what they were at war with…

National Park

They stood on the frame, and along the tubes of the boat, with the impressive balance of someone who doesn’t know they should be falling over. They danced (some with terrible kid moves you couldn’t help but love and some who should seriously consider dance as profession) with abandon. “Rapid!” I would yell, pausing the music, and 12 little bodies would suddenly sit down and hang onto “something strappy” on my command. As soon as the rapid ended, they flew back into the frenzied floating dance party.

We floated through the canyon, experiencing our own versions of perfection.

 

We arrive at camp and the kids scatter, digging in the sand, catching lizards, playing a kind of tag they invented.

 

A few minutes, later the US Fish and Wildlife Biologists stopped at our camp. They had seen our trip of kids and stopped to treat us with a few cool tidbits about the fish in Dinosaur National Monument. The kids piled onto the boat, the biologists pulled out ten fish from a cooler, and showed them each one before tossing it back into the water. The kids squealed with glee as each fish splashed into the river and swam away.

 

Doesn’t this sound like a kids’ paradise to you? The billion-year-old rocks aren’t fragile, they can touch everything in sight (except the petroglyphs). The kids won’t care if there is sand in every crevice of their body, about the geology, or the history of the place, but they feel its enchantment. Your family can dance, make s’mores, bury each other in the sand and make new friends. Some friendships will be a fleeting reminder of the freedom you felt on the river: like when you see a lizard you remember the one you caught named Gary. Other friendships might be the kind that last a lifetime. What can I say, the kids and I get each other. I never grew out of my kid phase: I want to touch the water, the sand, the river, breath in the hot air, and believe in magic.

 

National Parks Foundation seems to understand the kids too, as they started the “Every kid in a Park” initiative. Every 4th grader and their families can get into any National Park or Monument in the country for free. The magic in the National Parks is greater than Disneyland and this program allows every kid and their families to experience it.

 

https://www.nationalparks.org/our-work/campaigns-initiatives/every-kid-park

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