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The Rivers
Near the center of Canyonlands National Park, the Green and the
Colorado join to form one great river, the Colorado. The combined
flow of both tributaries spills down Cataract Canyon with remarkable
speed and power, creating a world-class stretch of white water.
Above the Confluence, both rivers remain calm, providing opportunities
for quiet enjoyment by canoeists, kayakers and others.
There are no facilities and no potable water sources along the
rivers in Canyonlands. Vault toilets are available at Hardscrabble
and Potato bottoms on the Green, and Lathrop Canyon on the Colorado.
All groups on the rivers are required to have a cleanable, reusable
toilet system.
River flows are dependent upon snow melt, with high water periods
generally stretching from early May to late June. See chart below
for recorded river flows during the past two years.
Access
The most common river access points are at Green River State Park
or Mineral Bottom for the Green, and Potash or the Moab dock on
the Colorado. See chart below for mileage information. There is
no vehicle access to the rivers near the Confluence or Cataract
Canyon.
Hiking to the rivers from any of the other districts generally
involves a descent of 1,000 feet or more over rough terrain. There
are established hiking trails leading to the rivers in each of
the districts.
Guided tours
A list of park-approved outfitters offering raft trips is available
from the park's information office. Many different types of trips
are offered. The park service does not operate guided river trips.
Flat water
Flat water trips may float down either the Green or the Colorado
to the Confluence or Spanish Bottom.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the river ways up
stream of the park boundary, which include most launch locations.
Permits are not required for overnight use or launches on BLM
land. Green River State Park and Ruby Ranch both charge a small
fee for launches. Call Ruby Ranch at (435)564-3538, or Green River
State Park at (435)564-3633 for more information.
The calm water stretches of the Green and Colorado rivers are
slow moving. Average distances covered may vary between 15 to
20 miles per day during high water, to 10 to 15 miles per day
during low water, depending on the amount of time spent hiking
or how much you paddle.
Flat water trips must arrange their own take-out from the Confluence
area. Jet-boat shuttle service is available for a fee from two
licensed concessions operators, both located in Moab: Tag-a-Long
Expeditions, (435)259-8946, and Tex's Riverways, (435)259-5101.
The National Park Service does not operate a shuttle service.
A permit is required for all overnight flat water trips in Canyonlands.
See page 5 for more information about back country permits.
There are no restrictions on launch dates or group sizes for river
trips, although the park recommends groups be limited to no more
than sixteen people. People interested in flat water permits should
make their upstream travel arrangements before contacting the
park.
There are no designated campsites along the rivers in Canyonlands.
During periods of high water, camps are more difficult to find,
especially for large groups. During late summer and fall, sandbars
are plentiful and make ideal camps.
Cataract canyon
Cataract Canyon contains fourteen miles of rapids ranging in difficulty
up to Class V. It is a particularly hazardous and isolated section
of the Colorado River and is subject to extreme water level fluctuations.
A permit is required for all trips through Cataract Canyon. See
page 5 for more information about back country permits and trip
reservations.
Most Cataract Canyon trips put in at Potash, Moab, Green River,
or Mineral Bottom. Individuals interested in boating through Cataract
Canyon should also read the section on flat water.
The common take out for white water trips is Hite Marina on Lake
Powell, in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Due to fluctuating
water levels on Lake Powell, rowing trips may want to arrange
a tow across the lake to the take out. Contact Hite Marina (435)684-2278,
or the San Juan County Travel Council (see page 2) for more information.
Fishing
Within Canyonlands National Park, only the muddy waters of the
Green and Colorado rivers contain fish. About 99 percent of these
fish are exotic species, predominantly carp, catfish, sand shiners,
red shiners and fathead minnows. While no special use permit is
required to fish in the park, visitors must have a valid Utah
State fishing license and must comply with all state fishing regulations.
Small populations of native fish still exist in the park. Due
to resource development, competition with non-native species and
a variety of other factors, native populations have declined and
continue to struggle in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Colorado
squawfish, razorback sucker, humpback and bonytail chub are endangered
and may be found in the park's waters. Visitors should become
familiar with these endangered fish and the proper techniques
for releasing them unharmed, if you are unable to identify a fish,
please release it back into the water alive.
For More Information
- Contact
- Canyonlands National Park
- 2282 S. West Resource Blvd.
- Moab, UT 84532-8000
Phone: (435)259-7164
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