[2tomcat2]

Well I just want to experience a little Colorado on a budget. If there was a pick up point right at the estuary I would take it but there doesn't seem to be one.

I have also been looking carefully at the other peoples pictures on Google. The river should be low after summer but will depend on recent rains. Looking at the pictures I will steer left of the central wave avoiding the sharp rocks. Apart from this one point it seems a nice way to get into river rafting.

I have done just about every other type of boating. Built my own inflatable sail boat and sailed 10 miles out to sea. Took a 2 man Ocean catamaran 4 miles into the Caribbean last year. Have to start somewhere!

Actually my main reason for posting was are there any restrictions for taking a van to these places? Still a bit concerned about the proposed lake exit though after randaddy's coments.[/QUOTE

If you are looking to experience the Colorado, consider having your raft back hauled from Lee's Ferry to the dam....15 miles of flat water. 4-5 hours from Phoenix, here's a link for more info:
Backhauling Services | Colorado River Discovery

 

[Randaddy]

Jademann, do you own a raft? You seem arrogant about your ability to navigate rivers, but you seem to have no sense of logistics, terminology, or anything about river running. Please don't get yourself and your son killed because you use Google to get experience. ..

 

[oarboatman]

If your looking for a fun mello stretch for the off season check out the section below the Hoover Dam called the Black Canyon. I haven't been on it since the bridge was completed so will still require some research. Google canoe trips below Hoover to find an outfitter and they can give you the skinny on permits and logistics.

 

[Osseous]

I used a SUP on a lake one time- paddled wayyy out into the middle- where it was all deep and stuff. I'd like to drive my van to Mavericks and try this whole ocean surfing thing. It looks easy on Google Earth.....Are there any toll roads on the way?

Sent from my SM-N900V using Mountain Buzz mobile app

 

[carvedog]

I guess that leads to this solution..

It will cost me about $700 for two, for half a day rafting, and I cant even say I did it myself which is VERY unsatisfactory..

If you want to do it yourself I would suggest starting with an easier rapid than Pearce. Your picture from google may make it look benign but over the course of the last five years as drought has lowered the level of the lake the rapid has been class 5+ at times. It is certainly almost always class 4. Since you seem unfamiliar with the terminology or rafting Class six is considering certain death. Class five is a notch down from that. Class 4 means serious hazards exist with multiple moves required or serious consequences of not making one of a few major moves. Most people start with class 2 or 3. I have been flipped in a raft twice in class 3 and surfed a hole in a class 4 rapid for over a minute before being ejected.

That you can post up pictures of 'serious' ocean waters doesn't matter to the river in the slightest. She will kick your ass if you go in the wrong place regardless of your internetting ability. Approach this endeavor with more respect or it may end badly for you. There are river runner clubs and groups all over the west to help people do self guided trips.

Best of luck.

 

[jademann]

fdon, I am new here and so when you said to go find out about the Verde route I did and put the link in my post for my own later use. apologies you took it wrong way.

Randaddy, again I am new to rafting and to AZ, we all have to start somewhere and any help much appreciated. Gosh I started this thread asking for help!

It is starting to look like we might do the diamond creek run for $350 each. I think there is an 18 month queue though and it is not the same as doing yourself.

Osseous I never been to Mavericks, sorry. I did beginners surfing at various places.

Thanks Tomcat, oarboatman and amv for suggestions, I will look at each. I am looking for the easiest run to start. I mistakenly thought that the end part of the Colorado into mead was easier but there are you tube videos for that one point which show it is harder than I thought. This is for a possible trip in 12 months.

 

[jademann]

Thanks Carvedog, that is very useful info.

I was watching youtube videos last night of the Diamond creek run, looks very cool. I saw some guys body boarding down there. Again I came here for all this kind of advice and thanks for that.

 

[carvedog]

Thanks Carvedog, that is very useful info.

I was watching youtube videos last night of the Diamond creek run, looks very cool. I saw some guys body boarding down there. Again I came here for all this kind of advice and thanks for that.

Not sure if they are open to non-students but most universities have whitewater clubs of some kind too.

Whitewater | School of Earth and Space Exploration

Info on AZ rivers.

Arizona White Water Rivers and Paddling Spots

A quick search bring this up. I don't have personal knowledge of any of these groups or clubs.

Phoenix Kayak Club (Phoenix, AZ) - Meetup

SAPC_Home

 

[GCHiker4887]

I think there have been several very good recommendations to check out some easier portions of the river. Glen Canyon to Lees Ferry is a great suggestion as is Black Canyon. You can do the Diamond Down stretch yourself, but I would recommend you go with a group who is more experienced. There are still several large rapids below Diamond, one that can be a boat eater. Of course, there is lots of flat water after Gneiss.

Find a group, go get some experience, take some mellow float trips to see what it is all about. Safety first out there! The River is big, powerful, and quite unforgiving if not paid due respect.

 

[jge1]

You can do the Diamond Down stretch yourself, but I would recommend you go with a group who is more experienced. There are still several large rapids below Diamond, one that can be a boat eater.

Yeah, there's Killer Fang Falls (RM232). But there are others. I did a private GC trip, Lees to Pearce, in a dory with a fellow who's probably the finest boatman I've ever known. The closest we came to flipping, and we came damn close, was in a little "nothing" rapid called Bridge Canyon. Just so you know.

 

[fdon]

fdon, I am new here and so when you said to go find out about the Verde route I did and put the link in my post for my own later use. apologies you took it wrong way.

OK Jademann, I came on a little strong cause I was thinking you could be a troll or just another run-of-the-mill idiot who might jeopardize others. Just your continuing in the conversation after the rough handling pretty much tells me that you are sincere. My apologies.

Look, you can do day runs close to Phoenix that are not too hard. Tell us about your boat. Do you own or are you planning to rent? There are a couple of places in town that own rental stables that are very easy to deal with. One in Tempe even will guide you for a price.

Share what you want to do and when you want to do it and with what craft and you will find the Buzz to be a marvelous resource of highly qualified boaters with a solid knowledge of equipment who are most willing to help you out.

 

[Preston H.]

What's the big deal? Just bring a lighter and a clif bar and you'll be fine.

 

[caverdan]

I was thinking about a day trip in our Van from Phoenix with my 18 year old son and I, where we enter the Colorado river in a raft at Pearce Ferry and exit at South Cove about 18 miles downstream. I estimate it would take about 7 hours. (2-3 mph)

I just wondered are there any issues for taking a van here? and if there is any reason why such a trip is inadvisable? There is some white water at Pierce Ferry rapids, but it doesn't look so bad compared to Ocean Kayaking I have done. Looks fun and relatively easy?

I'd like to suggest you take a look at Lake Powell. I was just there and we were camped around Bullfrog. We saw at least a dozen or so sea kayaks camping on the lake and exploring it's side canyons. The place is crazy beautiful.

 

[jademann]

Thanks everyone for suggestions. No worries fdon.

To be honest I consider boatless at the moment, my inflatable is borderline serviceable and my kayak is for the ocean and not stable at best of times so I am going to need a fully inflatable raft I think. I just saw your post caverdan, thanks!

What kind of budget craft do you recommend for some of the easier rivers around phoenix? Assuming they have water!

Thanks to youtube videos I am certain that the Diamond creek run is NOT something I would do alone without doing it with a group first. Does anyone here put together groups who share costs for runs like this?

 

[mdignan]

It could look like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT2UXZcxWAc

 

[Andy H.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT2UXZcxWAc

I saw the line I'd take in the video but it'll require good hiking boots and getting a lot of dust on your feet....

Jademann, Welcome to the Buzz and congratulations for hanging in this long. If you're interested in running whitewater and are boatless, you will likely want a self-bailing raft & possibly an oar frame and a few other goodies to go along. Check out the MB sponsors up under the "Partners" tab and you'll find lots of great raft dealers and manufacturers listed there. And if you're in the market for used gear, don't forget the MB gear swap as well - there are usually plenty of good deals there. If you're interested in doing your own river trips, stick around and read what folks are saying, keep an eye out for members in your area and there may be someone willing to have you along or point you in the right direction if nothing else. Read up on the rafting commandments for some good things to know if you're joining a private trip; you'll notice some common threads have emerged.

Before posting a basic question, please remember to try the search function first - there's a wealth of great info on the Buzz and you'll find entire discussions on newbie topics right at your fingertips.

SYOTR,

-AH

 

[amv48]

Northern Arizona university runs the verde and the diamond down and they take non-students. Not cheap but worth it to go rafting in Grand Canyon and learn a lot too. If you're interested in a great father son canoe trip, someone had mentioned black canyon below Hoover dam. I used to guide there as well. Call black canyon/willow beach river adventures for permit and shuttle. Pm me if you want and my cousin who lives in Vegas and also guides down there might run shuttle for you for cheaper than the company

 

[Tom Martin]

Yes, you can drive your van to the Colorado River at Pearce Ferry. Lake Mead does not allow put ins here. They were supposed to re-visit that policy years ago and have not yet. We wrote them to reconsider, You can too. Till then, the way the Pearce to South Cove run works is you have to hike your kayak or inflatable raft downstream from the ramp to the base of Pearce Ferry Rapid, about 1/2 mile. The run from below the Pearce Ferry rapid (almost a fall at this time) takes most of a day. There is one other nick point rapid at this time at Devils Cove, with an easy portage on the right if you are nervous about it. The last two miles is flatwater lake paddling, brutal if the afternoon winds have picked up. There are areal photos of the journey taken mid last month here Lake Mead Rapids September 15, 2014 -
You will want to wear a life jacket at all times when you are on the water. Once you get to South Cove, your Van will be about 7 miles away. I have biked it after leaving my bicycle at South, and have hitched it. Yours, tom

http://rrfw.org/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=55

 

[jademann]

Thanks Tom, will do.

Thanks amv, this trip is a year away. Only considering rafting now.

mdig, looks hard dangerous and fun! I have been watching craft go over that. I was hoping to get a smaller raft though.

Tom, my wife is willing to drive our van to pick us up. Thanks that might be a solution to put an inflatable raft in half a mile down just below the Pearce rapid. I wouldn't want to break any law though, and it seems like the intent might be to not have be people entering around here, I don't know why?? I think I would interested in doing this, and as you say I could bypass devils cove rapid. I always where life jacket, always. I will review the photos. It sounds like it would be a great day long trip.

 

[followthebubbleline]

Hi Jademann, I'm up in Flagstaff and run the Verde all of the time but mostly do the stretch above what's been mentioned above, Beasley to Gap or Childs. I run a float stretch from White Bridge or Clear Creek to Beasley. This is just easy Class II boating with small ripples. When water is higher and more pushy in the Spring there is more danger from the trees along the bank. This stretch is ideal for inflatable kayaks, kayaks or canoes and is typically not consistently wide or deep enough for a raft.

The day run on the Upper Salt is great for rafts, kayaks or IK's and is rated Class III but is only running in the spring with snow melt.

The day run on the Colorado in Moab is a great Class II-III trip for rafts, kayaks or IK's.

The San Juan River beginning at Bluff, Utah is a beautiful 3 to 8 day Class II-III trip but requires a permit throughout the year.

If you want to hit the Verde some Saturday let me know.