Reviews
Yampa River Rafting
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Meet at 7:30 AM at the Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham (1041 S 1500 E, Naples, UT 84078). Enjoy the scenic 2-hour drive to our put-in at Deerlodge Park. We will start our adventure with a thorough safety orientation and then we will hit the river!
The start of the trip is welcomed by a relaxing scenic float through Deer Park. Depending on time and preferences, we may stop for swims and/or short hikes before lunch on a beach. Keep your snacks handy in a fanny pack or other waterproof “carry on”. Further downstream we’ll enter Yampa canyon where Weber rock walls extend all around us, rising to heights of 1000 ft. The river picks up the pace where we’ll splash through a few class II-III rapids.
In the evening we’ll stop for camp where the sand is silky and lush with desert flora. While your guides set up the outdoor living spaces (kitchen, camp chairs, groover- the portable toilet), you can settle in by setting up your tent. Once home is set for the evening, you’ll have plenty of time to lounge on the beach, explore hikes, start a game, or anything that means relaxation to you! Enjoy hors-d’oeuvres while the guides prepare a delicious gourmet dinner followed by dessert. As the sun sinks behind the canyon walls you’ll have a campfire to keep you cozy. Share stories or simply stargaze under the glimmering Milky Way. Drift off whenever you please into a deep night’s sleep.
Wake to the smell of fresh coffee and a crackling fire. If you’re up and at ‘em, you can catch a breathtaking sunrise painting the canyon with vibrant, Instagram-worthy hues. After a hot and filling breakfast, the guides will get the day going by breaking down camp while you pack up your gear and tent. Once the boat is rigged, you’ll get back on the river for a day of awesome adventures.
Back on the water, you’ll travel the boat-soaking rapids amongst marvels like the Grand Overhang, Cleopatra’s Couch, and Tiger Wall. After you’ve kissed Tiger Wall (the guides will explain) the famous whitewater of Warm Springs Rapids awaits. After the splash of your life, the drift may come with more gorgeous side hikes to caves, petroglyphs, and sites for big horned sheep.
Business, as usual, arrives in the evening as we come to camp on another pristine beach. Gorgeous side hikes like Jones Hole trail reveal crystal clear creeks in flourishing forests, waterfalls, and ancient Puebloan artwork. Beach games, naps in hammocks, shooting the breeze around the campfire commence along with another satiating meal and dessert into the sunset.
The following day we meet the Green River at the confluence in Echo Park. The scenery transitions into a more unique and stunning geology like the Mitten Park Fault before sprawling into a rolling green landscape. We’ll float into Split Mountain Canyon where non-stop splashes take us to the end of our adventure. As we reach our take-out at Split Mountain we prepare to say goodbye to our new friends, cement in our minds this magnificent scenery and prepare to adjust back to the hustle and bustle of life.
As the river changes, so does each trip! Depending on water flows, the number of participants, and other circumstances Mother Nature imposes, our itineraries are just estimates!