San Juan River Beta, Please

[Mut]

I'm applying for a permit for the fall and would like some beta.

For a 3 night trip, what is the best section? Sand Islansd to Mexican Hat, or Mexican Hat Down?

When is the best time to go? Is there enought water in early September?

Thanks for the Help.

Mut

[gapers]

WHy go for just 3 nights? Might as well do 5. The best viewing and terrain comes after mexican hat. GOOSENECKS!!! That place is the shit. But the whole trip is stellar. Do the whole 84miles

[gapers]

Oh and we did it at the end of june,almost july. It was easily 100 everyday with no clouds. It still kicked ass. Just a very red ass. Bring shade if ya go in the dead of summer

[Mut]

Thanks for the input. I'm taking the little kids and just don't ahve time for the whole trip.

Do you recomend Mexican Hat down over Sand Island to Mexican Hat?

Thanks

[El quapo]

Mexican Hat to Clay Hills is definitely the better stretch. Great camping in the canyon.

[watahwatah]

If you're only doing 3 nites, and with kids, I'd suggest the upper 1/3. Take out at Mexihat. Shuttle is a little easier too that way. The kids will have fun and never know the difference.

Say hi to Juan for me.

[slickhorn]

it really depends on what you wnat out of the run. The section down to mexican hat is home to some fantastic ruins and petroglyph panels, but it's much more open that the goosenecks.

I believe a permit is needed to hike on river left.

below mexican hat, the goosenecks are indeed a more impressive canyon, though I don't remember much slickrock until down in oljito wash area.

There's still good hiking, but it's more work for sure. good hikes at honniker, slickhorn, and oljeto. is there a grand wash as well? can't quite remember.

al low flows, in a gear raft, the trickiest part of the run is navigating the silted riverbed below oljito wash. class I consequences, but class IV difficulty -- very easy to miss the channels.

[El Flaco]

Hey Mut-

I would consider hitting either stretch at close to peak flow because there's zero difficulty at just about any level; plus the time on the water is a lot shorter, which leaves more time for the incredible side hikes. We put on in the beginning of June at about 7000cfs, and it had dropped below 5K by or last day....and we were kinda missing the extra water. The first two days I barely had to put an oar in the water, while the last day required 'puttin' to' the oars to make it out before the winds got heavy.

Either leg has its own merits, but the one minor hassle about the lower (goosenecks) section is that you have to sign up for campgrounds below a certain point. That means you'll likely have a pretty long day (mileage-wise) on either day two or three, depending where you camp. IMO the scenery is better Mex-CH, but they're both great and the River House makes the upper section way worth it. I've done the Upper once, the Lower once, and the whole trip back in '96, and they've all been fantastic.

If you do the Lower, try to get a Grand Gulch campsite- some of the best hikes are here, plus some fresh pools to swim in.

I don't know the ages of your kids, but that factor might steer me towards the SI -Mexi section because of logistics, and they would dig the River House.

Enjoy your trip-

[bth]

would there NOT be enough water for this trip in early august?

[rock_ski_cowboy]

Lower part is more scenic and better camps. Slickhorn gulch is awesome as is Grand gulch. Top half is nice too. Easier shuttle.

DO NOT do lower half in early august. Sand bars on the last day will make your life hell for rafts if you're not running on runoff. Unless you're in kayaks or canoes, then go for it, but it will be slow and tough or impossible to do in 3.