Colorado River Canoe and Camping Trip from Denver - 2 Days

Colorado River Canoe and Camping Trip from Denver - 2 Days -- Your overnight canoe trip will cover a 26-mile stretch of spectacular canyon country between Loma, CO (west of Grand Junction) and Westwater, UT. The river current is gentle with occasional Class 1+ rapids to add spice to your journey. The steep walled canyons give the area a true wilderness setting. Meals included. Minimum age 8.

There will be ample time along the way for hiking into canyons, swimming in the cool river or simply relaxing along its banks. Floating through Horsethief and Ruby Canyons, you will pass high walls of red standstone and shale deposited during the age of the dinosaurs. Interesting side trips into deep box canyons will leave you awed by the immensity of geological time and the silence of the wilderness. Special treats include paddling through remnants of an ancient volcano and hiking to some ancient Indian pictographs.

Your trip begins with breakfast at the put-in site. about a 4-hour drive from Denver. That location will be specified in your confirmation. After breakfast, we will run a car shuttle. The car shuttle consists of the driver of each vehicle driving his car to the take-out and the drivers returning to the put-in with as few cars as possible. This allows most of the cars to be parked at the take-out point of the trip. While the shuttle is being run, everyone else will be packing gear and preparing to paddle when the drivers return. The car shuttle generally takes one and a half hours. Once we are on the river, lunch is usually the first stop. We will make camp around 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm, allowing ample time for you to set up your tent and explore. Hors d'oeuvres will be served around 5:00 pm and dinner about 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. You should be off the river around 2:00 pm the following day and homeward bound by 3:00 pm. We strongly suggest you arrive at the put-in with at least a half-tank of gas in your car. All meals are provided, beginning with breakfast the first day through lunch on the last day. We are proud of the "River Fare" we provide, which may include rib-eye steaks and chicken fillets cooked by our guides-as-chefs.

What to Bring:

Jacket - Long Pants and Shirt - Wool Socks - Tennis Shoes or SECURE sandals - Swimsuit/Shorts (quick drying are best) - T-shirt - Light Jacket - Personal Toiletries - Bio-Degradable Soap - Tent - Sleeping Bag & Pad - Flashlight - Camp Chair - Spare Car Keys - Rain Gear - Insect Repellant - Sun Hat - Day Backpack - Sunscreen - Sunglasses with Strap - Water Bottle(s) - Small First Aid Kit. We suggest you keep any small items not being worn easily accessible in a daypack at all times. Optional items are Hiking Boots - Swiss Army Knife - Musical Instrument - Disposable Camera/Film - Seat Cushion - Snacks - Cold Drinks - Medium Size Cooler (ice blocks, not cubes) and Garbage or Zip-Lock Bags to help waterproof your gear. You may bring any other items you feel are essential, but keep in mind that what you bring MUST BE TRANSPORTED IN YOUR CANOE with group food and equipment. There is nothing worse than arriving home after a canoe trip and discovering that you've misplaced some of your gear. Gear is typically lost at the take-out. We urge you to put name, address, and phone on all personal belongings and take an inventory of your gear before heading home after your trip. Once personal gear is lost, it is very difficult to retrieve.

What NOT to Bring:

Jewelry - Pets - Firearms - Unprotected and Expensive Cameras

What We Provide:

Chemically Treated Porta-Potty/Privacy Tent - Canoe - Paddles - Life Jackets - First Aid - Rescue Equipment - Drinking Water - All Meals (If you have special dietary needs, you are encouraged to bring any food to accommodate those needs and we will be happy to help you prepare it) - Dry Bag for Your Gear (3.8 cu. ft./16" diameter x 33" tall) - All Kitchen Gear - Fire Pan for Campfires/Cooking - Complimentary Wine with Dinner.

Equipment Rentals:

If you wish to rent tents ($28), sleeping bags ($21), mattress pads ($10), or camp chairs ($5), that can be arranged through your guides if you make those reservations at least one week prior to your trip departure.

Your Guides:

Your guides are the people that make the difference. They are mature, competent, fun-loving individuals that elevate a good trip into a great one! All are successful in their own careers and have chosen to guide for the pure joy of working with people and being on the river. Your guides come from careers as geologists, teachers, professional photographers, information system engineers, lawyers, nurses, etc. Many of the 45+ guide staff have been with us for years. All have completed an American Canoe Association Certification course in river canoeing and hold current American Red Cross First Aid and CPR cards. Many of our guides also hold Wilderness First Responder certification. Safety is our primary concern and your guides are very experienced; all of the Head Guides have logged over 500 river miles. Gratuity is encouraged to show appreciation for your guides. If you choose to tip your guide by personal check, please make the check payable to your guide.

Safety Information:

Previous canoeing experience is necessary for this trip. Basic paddle strokes and safety procedures will be taught in the morning at the river put-in and thereafter as needed. Insurance regulations require that life jackets be worn at all times on the river and your guides will make sure this rule is strictly followed.

Commitment to the Environment:

We appreciate and respect the beauty of the wilderness areas we visit. We understand their fragile nature and the impact we humans make upon them. Please join us in our pledge to leave only "footprints" when exploring these natural wonders.

River Rapid Class Rating System:

Class I -- Easy - Water with riffles and small waves and few obstructions that are easily missed.

Class II -- Novice - Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels. Some maneuvering required. Rocks and medium waves are easily missed.

Class III -- Intermediate - Rapids with moderate, irregular waves that are difficult to avoid with tight passages, strong eddies and currents.

Class IV -- Advanced - Intense, predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling, with some unavoidable waves and tight passages.

Class V -- Expert - Extremely long or very violent rapids. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and tight chutes with complex routes.

Important Information:

This tour does not include hotel pick-up or transportation to the put-in site. No one allowed under the age of 8. Child price applies to children ages 8 to 12. Price includes all taxes and fees. Please reserve online, or call us toll-free at 888-848-0734.