Mineral Bottom to Hite Marina float time

[TriBri1]

I'm looking at an August or early September launch. I am trying to figure out how many days to take. What is the float time in a raft without a motor on the stillwater section? Then what is the float time from the confluence to Hite Marina?

[wildh2onriver]

From Green River or from Mineral Bottom? Low water will mean non-stop oaring until Cataract. It took me 10 days on one spring break trip--using a motor judiciously when the winds kicked up and down stream travel was impossible without it. We launched at Green River that time. It's basically a pond except for the rapids section, and then it's more pond.

[TriBri1]

Yeah, on the Green. Thanks, that is what I am trying to figure out. Is it flatwater with current or just flat water? So next question... Would starting at Moab be better?

[wildh2onriver]

Wait, Stillwater is the lower section from Mineral Bottom yes? If so, my bad. It's been a few years since my last trip.

[wildh2onriver]

I would most definitely start on the Green--either at Mineral, or at Green River if you have the time. Done both sections (Moab only once, the others 3 times) and prefer that run because of the hikes, less peeps, and so on. Camps should be ok, as there will be sandbar/low water options. The tammies were terrible though at some camp approaches the last time I floated it, has to machete my way in to a couple.

[asleep.at.the.oars]

3 days down to the confluence, 1 (long-ish) day through the rapids, 2 days to Hite if there's current. If the lake stays up, the trip to Hite takes longer rowing. That's assuming keeping a mild portagee going the whole time you're on the water and reasonable days. Add time for hikes, layovers, or if you don't like to let your oars get wet on flatwater.

[wildh2onriver]

Very little current.

[86304]

it's still all flatwater form moab to the confluence as is mineral bottom to the confluence.

have only rowed from mineral to hite once, many years ago. it was a bit of a row. maybe 4 nights to spanish bottom. not even an eddy. that was a june trip, maybe 12,000 cfs.

i prefer the moab side to the green river side but many like the green.

bottom line IMHO it's gonna be a long row without a motor, could be pretty warm in august, bring all your own water and lots of it, the rapids will be a hoot (and scary and fun) and you will probably have a great time.

bob

[TriBri1]

Perfect, we were planing on 6 or 7 float days which would give a layover day or two for hiking. Thanks...

[BCJ]

Whether you put in at Mineral Bottom (on the Green) or below Moab (on the Colorado) it's roughly 50 miles to the confluence, then 8 miles or so through the rapids section (I forget just how many, but not more than 10 I don't think) then another 30+ to Hite. Depending on lake levels, you may have current as far down as Dark Canyon, but it could run out long before then too. I have never run it without a motor, but have never spent more than 5 days. I tend to like the Mineral Bottom side, because the Mineral Bottom Road is, well, something to see, and it seems more isolated on the Green. Very few camps above the confluence, until you get down to Spanish Bottom and the Dollhouse area. If you have upstream winds, it will be a grind with no motor. We've done all night full moon floats and only get maybe 2 mph at best. Depends on river levels, but there can be some real long frog-water sections. It is not like the San Juan, which has a lot more gradient, even though no rapids. It is more like the first 20 miles of Deso - - very flat. A nice trip though, and worth the effort, but be ready for mosquitos at Mineral Bottom. Not as bad as Sand Wash, but not far behind it. Late August and early September are perfect weather patterns, i.e., you may get lucky and get some desert thunderstorms. Wish I were going!