[mwm4211]

looking for casual river to float w/girlfriend

looking for a 1-3 night float w/in 5 hrs of Boulder

-I am not experienced but have rowed a dory style fly-fishing boat
-planning on renting boat/gear
-want to go soon within 2 weeks
-want to camp on river
-thinking class 1-2 (maybe class 3)

any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited

thanks!!

 

[leery]

pumphouse

check out pumphouse outside wolcott. its perfect what your looking for.

 

[melted_ice]

Pumphouse is good, the hot springs will probably still be flooded though.

 

[webby]

Rancho del Rio on the Colorado River ( 4 miles east of State Bridge) rents boats and can help w/ shuttle. This would make an excellent put-in for the 20 mile float to Catamount. Some class II rapids between Rancho & State Bridge. FUN! and a few more near Windy Point. With high water (say over 2,500) a few rapids above Rancho are class III. Needles Eye & Yarmony can flip boats.

 

[webby]

horsethief & ruby canyons near loma is great, maybe one class II (black rocks) in 25 miles. Great camps and hikes. Alittle bit of a drive, but highly recommended.

 

[captishmael]

To the above add Labyrinth on the Green- very pretty, very flat water -and- Yampa River fromCraig to Juniper Springs- also kind of pretty. A lot of people do the Yampa in Canoes- might be easier for you logistically.

If pumphouse run should see a big increase in flow, over 4k cfs, stay away from it. A guy drowned last yeat at Eye of the Needle, several have drowned over the years there. Yarmony is a flipper at higher flows. At 2500 cfs and below, it's a piece of cake

 

[rsmiller]

North Platte is also a good one... put in at 6 mile gap and take out at treasure island. Will probably only flow for a couple more weeks. Great fishing and some really pretty camping.

 

[Snowhere]

Last year at pumphouse for my first try at oaring a loaded raft, it was running 6900. Needles Eye was washed out but Yarmony was a giant boat eating hole. It was still simple to avoid by just hugging the left bank. Just the same there was plenty of carnage around. I saw a few duckies eat it because they did not hug the bank. At that level, eddies were tough to catch as the river was so high.

I just did it this past weekend with my 6yr old aboard. At 3250 you had to make a move at Needles, no problem. Yarmony was easy too.

 

[wreckoftheairefitzgerald]

Horsethief/Ruby Canyon on the Colorado River is a great beginner trip. Drive is a little long, past Grand Junction. You can rent boats at Rimrock (above Loma). Much warmer than Pumphouse for early season trips but can get a little crowded.

 

[jhalseth]

I 2nd the Platte. A really pretty run, great camping and fishing. Get on it soon.....

 

[wayniac]

looking for casual river to float w/girlfriend

looking for a 1-3 night float w/in 5 hrs of Boulder

-I am not experienced but have rowed a dory style fly-fishing boat
-planning on renting boat/gear
-want to go soon within 2 weeks
-want to camp on river
-thinking class 1-2 (maybe class 3)

any suggestions would be greatly apprecaited

thanks!!

I think the advice about Pumphouse and the character of the rapids in high water are solid. Very few people have seen it about 2K and it can be a stretch for the casual boater at higher levels. I like Webby's advice about the Rancho Del Rio to Catamount stretch. If you don't mind crowds you could float from Grizzly Creek on to Glenwood Springs on the Colorado and plan to camp (if you call it that) at the resort at No Name. Allows you to go out for decent food in Glenwood in the evening- but sounds like the camp trip is the thing so maybe best left for later. All floats below the South Canyon wave and bridge are straight forward enough and there are many options for putin and takeout along this stretch.
have fun
wayne

 

[penguin]

I second Stillwater canyon if you can increase your driving and travel time on the river. The whole trip needs a week.

 

[bth]

what are the logisitics on the n platte run? (put in/take out, min flows, length, etc.) always looking for good runs to do with my young daughters.